TIPS TO MIX AND MATCH YOUR PILLOWS LIKE A PRO

4 min readOct 5, 2022

Using throw pillows is one of the simplest ways to spruce up your living room, family room, or bedroom. And it’s a shame to limit yourself to just two or three solid-coloured pillows — or, worse, the set that came with your couch — when there are so many reasonably priced, attractive pillows available. Remember that your pillows don’t have to be the same colour as one another. If they don’t, you’ll look more sophisticated and professional. The tips below will show you how to mix and match different patterns and/or colours to quickly refresh your room with a coordinated but not matchy-matchy look if you lack confidence in your ability to choose pillows.

Throw pillow blending and matching can be done in a variety of ways, and sometimes it does require a trained eye. Even if no two pillows are the same colour, pattern, or design, a room can nevertheless appear to be very polished and modern. If you don’t have the time or desire to research or shop as much as you’d like, these recommendations are the ideal formula to help you make selections and streamline the process.

CHOOSE THREE COLOURS

To start, decide on a “colour narrative” that will direct your cushion selections. Use three unique colours that come from different areas of the room, such as the rug, your bedding, the wall colour, or the curtains. If the pillows all share the same colour scheme, the impact will be cohesive even if you choose a variety of pillows with different designs. To choose your ideal colour, please visit our SHOP BY COLOR department.

CHOOSE THREE PATTERNS

If you want to combine three separate designs, just make sure that each one incorporates at least one of the hues from your three-colour story. Beginning with your “lead” design, which is normally the largest and contains all three colours in your colour story, is usually simpler. You can only use one or two of the colours in the secondary designs you select. It is far more difficult to choose a lead design by working backwards from the pillows you currently own.

CHOOSE THREE PATTERN SIZES

The magnitude of your designs must be taken into account while applying the Rule of Three because you don’t want them to compete with one another. Choose three different designs instead, and let one of them take centre stage.

Your lead should be the largest pattern in the group, followed by a medium-sized print, like a stripe or little houndstooth. The third pattern needs to be the most understated, like a solid colour with an odd texture, a swiss dot pattern, or a damask stripe with a subtle tone-on-tone design.

BREAK THE RULES IF YOU WANT

Once you’ve mastered the techniques, remember that every rule is meant to be broken, especially when it comes to design! Using the method described here, it’s acceptable if you begin combining your collection of gorgeous throw pillows only to find that you prefer four colours or two sizable patterns over one. Use this Rule of Three only as a beginning point for inspiration because, in the end, all that matters is that you like what you see. You’ll get stylish results if you follow the recipe exactly, but don’t be afraid to experiment until you find the appropriate combination for you.

ADDITIONAL TIPS

Consider these other ideas employed by room designers once you’ve mastered the Rule of Threes:

Odd numbers look more modern: When arranging your throw pillows, keep in mind that three or five again are good examples of odd numbers that work well for a modern aesthetic. In most design tastes, odd numbers always appear to be more artistic. Also, keep in mind that fewer, larger pillows look more contemporary than a jumble of smaller ones.
Even numbers appear to be conventional: Particularly on your bed or sofa, an even number of identical pillows, like two or four, looks clean and orderly for a balanced and symmetrical design.
Additionally important is blending textures: Although pattern and colour blending are crucial, the texture should not be overlooked. Play with the contrast between soft and fuzzy, rough and silky. I can think of faux fur, velvet, linen, knit wools, and tasselled accents. If you maintain your colour and pattern theme in mind, you may use touch and sensation in inventive ways.