5 Tips for Mix-and-Match Throw Pillows

5 Tips for Mix-and-Match Throw Pillows

There is nothing in this world quite on a par with sinking into a sumptuous, plush bed – rolling back onto a cloud-soft chaise – or disappearing between the pillows of a well-dressed sofa and saying a fond farewell to the rest of the world for at least a little while.

It’s the homeowner’s rite of passage – festooning every seat with cushions and dressing the sofa with more soft accents than it was intended to hold. It is, in our opinion, one of the most satisfying ways of marrying comfort with style. The sofa is there to embrace tired bones, but also to exist as a thing of beauty when it has been sufficiently plumped and smoothed.

All but the most minimalist styles demand at least some variation between patterns, prints, and colours – but creating something harmonious is an artform in and of itself. Here are our tried-and-tested tips.

Think Bold, Think Small

Pattern represents a mighty beast for interior design and mastering it – rather than feeling overly influenced by it to the point of ‘playing it safe’ – takes time, creativity, and plenty of confidence. It’s something we’ve written on more broadly when it comes to coordinating curtains with bedding with upholstery with everything else, but one of our most universal tips is to avoid boxing yourself into a corner when it comes to print size.

Abstracts and florals, or florals and stripes, or stripes and geometric patterns can and do enjoy one another’s company, but variance is key. 

A thinner stripe will often pair much better with a bold floral than a fine one, just as a big geometric print will create a more striking contrast with a smaller, abstract pattern.

Variance creates depth and dimension and prevents your patterns from appearing as though they’re at war with one another.

Repeat Fabrics Sparingly

Repeating a particular pattern or print across more than one pillow is a good tip for making the space feel more cohesive, and filled with textiles that have been chosen intentionally, rather than purchased on a whim.

Then again, you can always have too much of a good thing, so striking that delicate balance – and avoiding ‘clusters’ of the same fabric on one piece of furniture – is just as important as suffusing your space with your chosen prints.

Try to not be too rigid about spacing your patterns, either, as you’ll find yourself caught in a sequence of, say, floral-stripe-plain-geometric that repeats across the entire room.

In essence, don’t overthink it. Separate twin pillows, but don’t create a new pattern in the process.

Create a Colour Story

Unless you’re willing to embrace the entire spectrum of colours, you’ll probably want to be at least a little selective about which colours you introduce into each room. Obviously, dressing the sofa, armchairs, or bed in a number of pillows that represent your core shade is likely to be a top priority, but the soft accents also represent a good opportunity to contrast, and introduce a complementary colour into the scheme.

Create contrast not just with a new colour, but with one that offers a very different hue. If your room is predominantly navy blue, contrast with a smooth caramel, pastel blush, or a bright gold or copper (or a combination of all three) through your pillows.

Generally, three colours represent the ideal colour story for a single room, but increasing your palette offers the opportunity for more depth. Click here to take a look at our full range of fabrics if you need a little inspiration.

Size and Shape Matter

While we’re on the subject of depth and dimension, one of the oldest tricks in the book is, of course, ensuring plenty of variation between the sizes and shapes of your pillows. It’s another way of making your contrasting textile choices feel intentional, and of achieving that irresistibly plush and layered look.

Consider the fact that the different patterns and prints you choose will also be of varying sizes. Keeping things too regimented when it comes to the sizes of the cushions themselves will limit the impact of choosing such a strong combination of fabrics. Go for a mix of square, rectangular, long, thick, and round.

Don’t Forget About Texture

One of the most enjoyable things about sinking into a plush pile of cushions is the rich combination of textures. Even when you’re limiting yourself to a particular textile, like linen, it’s possible to explore a range of textures and weaves in order to embrace more than just colour and pattern.