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Here's How to Master the Throw-Pillow Mix
9 design formulas for piling on the pillows with panache
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
Don't fret, mastering a throw pillow mix is not rocket science. While I've broken some of these masterful mixes down into some simplified design formulas, don't take them too seriously. There are no hard and fast rules; it's really about switching things up until you find the right combination and arrangement.
Here are a range of throw pillow combinations that run from "I can do that!" to "don't try this at home without a decorator." Remember that sometimes the combinations that cannot be explained or broken down in any way are the best ones around.
Here are a range of throw pillow combinations that run from "I can do that!" to "don't try this at home without a decorator." Remember that sometimes the combinations that cannot be explained or broken down in any way are the best ones around.
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| 1. 1 Pattern + 1 Solid. This is a simple mix that can have a big impact. When using a strong pairing of opposite colors such as orange and blue, all you need for a backdrop is cream or white. |
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| Here's a way to try 1 Pattern + 1 Solid in a more minimal room. The patterns are subtle, except for the strong geometric diamond pattern on the pillows. A few solid pillows pick up on the same gray tone from the diamonds to add balance. |
| 2. 1 Bold Pattern + 1 Small Pattern. This is the next step beyond tip No. 1; the pattern on the cream-colored pillows here is so subtle that it practically reads as a solid. |
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by Liz Stewart
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| 3. Base of Primary Colors. Keeping a simple palette allows you to have fun playing with the shape of the pillows (squares, rectangles, bolsters, etc). Primary colors plus a few punches of orange dominate this throw mix. The designer also has played with different sizes and shapes in the ottoman mix. |
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by Tamar Schechner
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| 4. All Florals, All the Time. Anyone who has visited a cottage in England knows that there are no two floral prints that clash with one another. Tip: When a pair of floral prints appear to be clashing, simply add a third. If those look like they are clashing, add a fourth, and so on, until it all just works. This mix has a wide range of floral styles, color palettes and scales, and the result is sophisticated and inviting. |
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by Tara Seawright
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| Here a pair of very different pop floral prints mix and mingle. Pairing black-and-white with a colorful pattern is an unexpected move. The pillow patterns certainly enliven the big brown sectional; without the pillows this large and dark piece of furniture could have dragged this room down. |
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| 5. Pattern 1 + Pattern 2 + Pattern 3 + Pattern 4 + Pattern 5 ÷ Same Color Palette. In other words, use as many patterns as you like as long as the common denominator is the same color palette. When you do this, be sure to vary the scale of the patterns as much as possible. |
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6. 1 Theme. By sticking to these geometric tribal patterns, the designer has collected an interesting and harmonious group of pillows.
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| While the colors and patterns in this mix are very diverse, most of the pillows are kilim, which ties the large group of them together. |
by Caitlin Wilson
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7. Opposites Attract. White-on-periwinkle toile meets David Hicks' geometric La Fiorentina, underlined by a slash of gold? If you'd said this out loud, I would have thought you were crazy, but it's so striking and appropriate here. The solid gold throw grounds the two patterns, and their large scales stand up to the very large scale of the script on the rug.
by Caitlin Wilson
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8. 1 Big Geometric + 1 Small Geometric + 1 Bold Floral: This is a masterful mix, and keep in mind that the ottoman and wallpaper are tossing in even more scales, colors and patterns. However, when you break it down to basics, it's simply those three scales and shapes tied together by a lovely palette of opposite colors, orange and blue.
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| 9. It Just Works: Now, I could deconstruct this and talk about using black and white and neutrals punched with pink, but seriously, who knew an eye chart, a pink Union Jack, one large flower, some sequins and contemporary botanical-ish prints would work? This is an example of just having fun and throwing everything into the mix with wild abandon. If the spirit grabs you, toss the formulas out the window and just have fun. |
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Again, I have no idea how to explain why this eclectic mix works so well, but it does.
Tell us: What's in your mix of throw pillows?
More:
Pattern Play: Mix Prints for a Traditional-Modern Look
Inspired by the Runway: Mixing Patterns
Patterns: Ikat
Tell us: What's in your mix of throw pillows?
More:
Pattern Play: Mix Prints for a Traditional-Modern Look
Inspired by the Runway: Mixing Patterns
Patterns: Ikat
Ideabook published on Jan. 4, 2012.
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XO,
Candace
I love the pix you have used.