How to style with Throw Pillows | Designer Finds
Hey everyone! One of my favorite décor items to shop for is throw pillows. They are such a simple yet beautiful way to refresh a space. Pillows can bring in pops of color, gorgeous textures, pattern, and visual interest, helping a room feel more styled and complete. Want a quick redesign without changing your furniture? Simply swap out your pillows. You can create a whole new look from season to season by changing the colors, fabrics, and patterns. Design Tip: Keep your larger furniture pieces, such as your sofa, in a neutral palette. This makes it much easier to change out your decorative accents over time and refresh your space without having to start from scratch. Selecting your pillows Steps Step-by-Step Guide to Designing with Throw Pillows Throw pillows are one of the easiest ways to make a room feel finished, styled, and cozy. They add color, texture, comfort, and personality without having to redesign the whole space. Step 1: Start with the Room’s Color Palette Before choosing pillows, look at the colors already in the room. Pull colors from: Area rug Artwork Curtains Accent chairs Wood tones Wall color Décor pieces A good rule is to choose 2–3 main pillow colors that connect back to the room. This keeps everything looking intentional instead of random. Example:If your room has beige walls, a navy rug, and warm wood furniture, you could use pillows in cream, navy, rust, and soft tan. Step 2: Mix Pillow Sizes Using all the same size can look flat. Layering different sizes gives the sofa, bed, or chair more depth. For a sofa, try: 22×22 pillows in the back 20×20 pillows in the middle One lumbar pillow in front For a bed, try: Larger pillows in the back Medium decorative pillows in front One long lumbar pillow across the front This creates a designer-style layered look. Step 3: Mix Patterns Carefully Patterns make pillows interesting, but too many can feel busy. A simple formula: One large pattern + one small pattern + one solid Example: Large floral pillow Small stripe pillow Solid velvet or linen pillow You can also mix: Stripes Florals Plaid Geometric prints Vintage-inspired patterns The key is making sure they share similar colors. Step 4: Add Texture Texture is what makes pillows feel cozy and high-end. Try mixing materials like: Linen Velvet Bouclé Cotton Woven fabric Faux leather Knitted textures Fringe or tassels Even if you stay neutral, texture keeps the design from looking boring. Example:Cream linen + beige boucle + tan leather + woven stripe looks calm but still interesting. Step 5: Use Odd Numbers for a Relaxed Look Odd numbers usually feel more natural and less stiff. For a sofa: Small loveseat: 3 pillows Standard sofa: 5 pillows Large sectional: 7 or more pillows For a more formal look, use even numbers and keep both sides balanced. Step 6: Think About Shape Not every pillow has to be square. Use a mix of: Square pillows Lumbar pillows Round pillows Bolster pillows A lumbar pillow is especially helpful because it breaks up all the square shapes and makes the design feel more custom. Step 7: Balance Both Sides Your pillows do not have to match exactly, but they should feel balanced. For example, one side of the sofa could have: Large solid pillow Patterned pillow Small lumbar The other side could have: Large textured pillow Coordinating pattern pillow They are different, but the colors and sizes still work together. Step 8: Don’t Overcrowd the Furniture Pillows should make the space comfortable, not make people feel like they have nowhere to sit. A good test:Can someone sit down without removing every pillow? If not, there may be too many. Step 9: Choose the Right Inserts This is one of the biggest designer tricks. Use pillow inserts that are 1–2 inches larger than the pillow cover. Example: 20×20 cover → use a 22×22 insert 22×22 cover → use a 24×24 insert This makes the pillows look fuller and more luxurious. Step 10: Style Them Naturally You can do the classic “karate chop” in the center of larger pillows, but don’t overdo it. Let the pillows look soft, comfortable, and lived-in. For a cozy home look, slightly angle the pillows instead of lining them up perfectly straight. Easy Designer Pillow Formula For a sofa: 2 large solid pillows + 2 patterned pillows + 1 lumbar pillow For a bed: 2 large pillows + 2 medium pillows + 1 long lumbar pillow For an accent chair: 1 beautiful pillow or 1 lumbar pillow Final Design Tip Throw pillows should feel like they belong in the room, not like they were added at the last second. Repeat colors, mix textures, vary sizes, and keep the overall feeling comfortable and practical. That is what gives a space that styled, designer-finished look. Designer Finds I’ve selected some amazing pillows for you to check out! Click on images below. Many awesome pillows to choose from. Some of these are pillow covers and others are not. |These links are affiliate links. There is no cost to you. If you make a purchase I might get a small commission. This helps me to keep my blog going. Disclosures & Privacy Policy| When designing your space with pillows what size do you choose for a sofa and a bed? How many do you get? I’ve created a guide you can follow. Looking to redesign your home? Needing some guidance on how to pull it all together? I would love to help. Let’s chat about your next project. Check out how my E-Design Services can help you. Click here These other blogs might be of interest to you. Check it out! 6 Steps How to design your home Design Tip: Area Rug Arrangement Design Tip: Window Treatment Design Tip: Art Hanging Want to stay in touch? Join my Newsletter! I share each week design tips, inspirations and decor finds etc.
How to Style a Night Stand
Hey everyone! I’m glad your here. A little bit about me, I’m Andrea and I’m an Interior Designer, I’m a wife and a mom to 2 wonderful girls. They are the main reason I went into the journey as as E-Designer. I’m able to do what I love which is design and still be a mom and do mom stuff. When decorating your room styling the top of furniture pieces like a night stand, console table and even your dresser are important and need to be addressed. Selecting just a few mindful pieces will bring that furniture piece from being boring into looking more put together. Here are a few steps 1. Lighting Great options for lighting are lamps, sconces and pendants. You don’t want just one type of light fixture which is always that ceiling fixture in the center of the room. Having different lighting sources in your room will give your room a warmth and not feeling stark. 2. Box or Tray A decorative box, bowl or tray are great dropping zone pieces. You can put your lotions, chap sticks, nail clippers and jewelry etc. 3. Height A great way to add height into that space is Artwork or a mirror hanging on the wall. This allows texture, height and color to that area. 4. Final touches The final touches are on how you accessories your night stand. For Instance, some options to consider are a plant, picture frame, a organic shape object. Bring in some sparkle with materials like metals and glass. Just keep in mind of height and size. Don’t over crowd the space. Select a few mindful objects. I suggest a lamp, something for the wall like artwork or mirror, a drop zone and if you have the space add something from nature. You like what you see in the images? Want it in your room? Click on the pictures and it will go directly to site for easy purchase. This is for your convenience. Note: These may contain affiliates links. I might receive a small commission if you purchase something. Don’t you worry there is no cost to you. This helps me keep this blog going. Check out these other How to’s Blog post 6 Steps How to design your home How to Create a color Palette for your home How to Style a console table Needing help with your home or help selecting the right products for your nightstand, let’s talk about your project! I collaborate with clients throughout the USA all online. By taking your inspiration, I will put together a cohesive design for your space that is tailored to you personal design style and lifestyle. I do all of this within your budget. Want to know more on how E-Design works? Let’s talk! Let’s talk
How to create a color palette for your home
Hey everyone! I’m so glad your here. A little intro about me, I’m Andrea and I’m a mom, wife and designer. When I come across some interesting stuff in the design field from frequent asked questions, inspirations and tricks I want to share them with you. Your looking at Pinterest and Instagram and your pinning and saving interiors your LOVING. Your noticing that “WOW” everything looks all put together. I wish my house could look like that. Well, I have great news! It can! I would like to give some quick tips on how to create a more cohesive look through out your home. One key note is that you want the look to be flowing throughout your home. For instance, not just in your living room. It should flow from room to room. It will really would look like you had a designer in your house. Where do you find your color palette Create a color palette. You can get your color palette from: Your favorite color From inspirational pictures. Artwork or area rugs anything that you just need to have in your life structural elements that can’t move Example: kitchen cabinets, flooring and counter tops 1.Favorite colors Do you have a favorite color? Is it a color that would look great in the home? Your favorite color can be spread throughout your home. That would be your great POP of color. For Instance, my favorite color is Blue. I would use that color as my main pop color/ accents. I would add blue in the accent pillow, in the rug and accent pieces. 2.Overall feeling from Inspirational pictures Grab a few pictures from Pinterest and Instagram and create a board. Select anything that catches your eye. Take a look do you see the types of colors and styles you are drawn to? Inspiration pictures can help guide you with your color palette and how your overall style will be. 3. Artwork and Area Rugs Artwork and an area rugs are great ways in coming up with your color palette. Loving an art piece that is in your home or it might be in a store that you have been eyeing all this time? Take a look in the colors being used. Select 1-2 colors out of that piece. You don’t have to use all the colors in the piece just select a few. How to create your color palette 1. Select a neutral select 1 or 2 neutral colors. Neutrals for instance like gray, taupe, tan, brown, cream and black 2. Select a white The white or off white will help coordinate with the neutral colors. The white could be used on the trim, ceiling and doors. 3. Select your pop of color then add 1 shade lighter This is your overall color that will be seen throughout your home. How to use your color palette 1. Main color The neutral will be your main color and overall wall color. Use that main color in different ways throughout your home. This helps coordinates with the neutral. The white could be used on the trim, ceiling and doors. I suggest starting with a neutral sofa. For one main reason if you chose just say a “red sofa” because you liked how it looked at the time or you were following a trend. Then you started not liking this sofa? Will you replace it? If you don’t mind spending money then this would be fine. I suggest investing in a good neutral sofa. You want quality and durability. It’s more affordable to replace throw pillows, artwork and area rugs then keep replacing a sofa. Also, choosing a neutral sofa is easier to coordinate the colors throughout the home. Down the road you have decided that you wanted a change. You already have a neutral canvas already to work with from your neutral sofa and walls. 2. Pop of color The color would be seen on accent walls on pillows and accent chairs. The shade lighter will give you depth . Tip: Colors should be repeated 3 times in the room to help create the cohesive look. 3. Select an accent color The accent color would be the main pop colors complementary color and/or shade lighter of that color. This color will compliment the main color. Inspiration Photo Let’s look at an example. What’s the color palette in this picture? The neutral is white, brown and black. The pop of color is blue and lighter blue and green and the accents is gold. You will then use these colors throughout your home. Needing help with your home, let’s talk about your project! I collaborate with clients in the throughout the USA all online. By taking your inspiration, I put together a cohesive design for your space that is tailored to you personal design style. I do all of this within your budget. LET’S COLLABORATE