How to Style Throw Pillows on a Sofa: Our Go-To Formulas

Looking to refresh your living room? One of the easiest ways to update your space is by styling your sofa or couch with throw pillows. Whether you have a small condo-sized sofa or a full-sized statement piece, a thoughtful pillow arrangement can instantly add personality, comfort, and a designer touch to your home. While we don’t believe there’s just one “correct” way to style throw pillows (design with your heart and follow what feels right!), this guide will help point you in the right direction with tried-and-true sizes, combinations, and styling formulas to achieve a perfectly layered look every time. Want to see it in action? Watch our YouTube video: How to Style a Sofa with Throw Pillows.


Here's What We'll Cover:

✨ Step 1: Choose the Right Pillow Sizes
✨ Step 2: Choose Your Pillow Styles & Colors Using Our Go-To Formulas
✨ Step 3: Choose a Layout Based on Sofa Size


Shown here: 1. Liora 20x20 Pillow, Pine  2. Georgia 20x20 Pillow, Orchid Pink  3. Finn Stripe 22x22 Pillow, Natural

 

✨ Step 1: Choose the Right Pillow Sizes


Mixing sizes is key to creating a balanced and inviting setup. At Tonic Living, three of our go-to sofa pillow sizes are:

  1. 22x22: A larger pillow often used as the base or "backer"
  2. 20x20: A medium sized pillow for interest
  3. 14x20: A smaller lumbar pillow that brings size variation. You can also use a 12x24 sized lumbar pillow here.


These decorative cushions, also commonly known as accent pillows or toss pillows, are available in a variety of styles to suit your space. 

Kalida Walnut 22x22 Decorative Cushion, Valentina Velvet Truffle Brown 20x20 Toss Pillow, Harper Stripe Coffee Brown 14x20 Lumbar Throw Pillow

1. Kalida 22x22 Pillow, Walnut  |  2. Valentina Velvet 20x20 Pillow, Truffle  |  3. Harper Stripe 14x20 Lumbar Pillow, Coffee

 

Proportion and balance are key. Oversized pillows can overwhelm a sofa, while smaller ones may feel lost. Think of it like the Goldilocks principle — you want the pillow arrangement to feel just right.


✨ Step 2: Choose Your Pillow Styles and Colors Using Our Go-To Formulas


With the sizes sorted, you can now dive into the fun part: picking pillow styles and colors. To create a visually appealing mix, we recommend following one of these 2 simple formulas:

Solid + Texture + Pattern

or

Small Scale Print + Large Scale Print + Solid/Texture

 

These simple styling formulas make it easy to layer throw pillows in a way that adds depth and visual interest while keeping your space cohesive and polished. Whether you're decorating a living room, cozy den, rec room, media room, or even a home office, this versatile approach works beautifully across a wide range of interior design styles and color palettes.

Example 1: Solid + Texture + Pattern

Valentina Velvet Nutmeg 20x20 Decorative Cushion, Bella Pearl White 22x22 Toss Pillow, Amara Pool 20x20 Throw Pillow

In this example, we've used 1. Valentina Velvet 20x20 Pillow, Nutmeg as the Solid, 2. Bella 22x22 Pillow, Pearl  as the Texture and 3. Amara 20x20 Pillow, Pool as the Pattern

 

Example 2: Small Scale Print + Large Scale Print + Solid/Texture

Kensington Lagoon 14x20 Lumbar Pillow, Elora Forest Green 20x20 Throw Pillow, Lane Chambray Blue 20x20 Decorative Cushion

In the example, we've used 1. Kensington 14x20 Lumbar Pillow, Lagoon as the Small Scale Print, 2. Elora 20x20 Pillow, Forest Green as the Large Scale Print and 3. Lane 20x20 Pillow, Chambray as the Solid/Texture


Both of these throw pillow arrangements combine prints and patterns, textures and solids to create a cohesive and inviting look — perfect for styling your sofa like a pro.


✨ Step 3: Choose a Layout Based on Sofa Size


Two Easy Formulas for Small and Full-Sized Sofas

Now that you’ve chosen your pillow sizes, styles, and colors, it’s time to put it all together. In this step, we’re breaking down two easy throw pillow layout formulas: one for condo-sized sofas and one for full-sized sofas. Whether you prefer a clean, minimal look or a plush, layered style, these layouts will help you find the perfect arrangement to suit your space and comfort level.


Pillow Styling for a Condo-Sized Sofa

Keep your smaller sofa looking polished and comfortable with these two easy pillow layout options:


1. Simple & Clean Look:

▪️One 22x22 pillow on one side

▪️ On the other side, layer:

      ◦ Either a 20x20 and a 14x20 together
      ◦ or a 22x22 with a 20x20 or a 14x20 in front

Acadia Stripe Salt 22x22 Throw Pillow, Carmel Sky Blue 20x20 Toss Pillow, Perry Chambray Blue 22x22 decorative cushion

1. Acadia Stripe 22x22 Pillow, Salt  | 2. Carmel 20x20 Pillow, Sky Blue  | 3. Perry 22x22 Pillow, Chambray


2. Pillow Party Style 🎉:

           ▪️ 22x22 pillows on both ends as backers

           ▪️ Add a 20x20 in front of one

           ▪️ Add a 14x20 in front of the other

Cambie Boucle Chalk 22x22 Toss Pillow, Brunswick Pomegranate Red 14x20 Lumbar Pillow, Astrid Domino 20x20 decorative cushion

1. Cambie Boucle 22x22 Pillow, Chalk  2. Brunswick Stripe 14x20 Lumbar Pillow, Pomegranate  3. Astrid 20x20 Pillow, Domino

 

Full-Size Sofa Pillow Formulas

For a larger sofa, aim for 4 to 5 pillows to create a balanced, cozy look. Here are two easy-to-follow arrangements:


1. Balanced & Stylish:

           ▪️ 22x22 pillows on both ends (as backers)

           ▪️ 20x20 in front of one backer

           ▪️ 14x20 lumbar in front of the other

Brunswick Stripe Moss Green 22x22 Toss Pillow, Liora Pine 20x20 decorative cushion, Ramsey Parchment 14x20 lumbar pillow

1. Brunswick Stripe 22x22 Pillow, Moss  | 2. Liora 20x20 Pillow, Pine | 3. Ramsey 14x20 Lumbar Pillow, Parchment 


2. Plush & Full:

           ▪️ 22x22 pillows on both ends

           ▪️ 20x20 layered in front on one side

           ▪️ 20x20 plus a 14x20 or 12x24 lumbar on the other side for extra volume

Malibu Stripe Navy 22x22 throw pillow, Pierce Navy 20x20 decorative cushion, Cyprus Blue Smoke 20x20 toss pillow, Yarmouth Sandstone stripe 14x20 lumbar pillow

1. Malibu Stripe 22x22 Pillow, Navy  |  2. Cyprus 20x20 Pillow, Blue Smoke  |  3. Pierce 20x20 Pillow, Navy |  4. Yarmouth Stripe 14x20 Lumbar Pillow, Sandstone

 

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to styling throw pillows and accent cushions. Some people love the look of odd-numbered arrangements, while others prefer the balance of perfect symmetry. The key is to create a pillow combination that looks great to you and still allows for comfortable lounging.

While there’s an art to mixing patterns, textures, and sizes, it doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. By following a few simple styling formulas, you can confidently create a polished, designer-worthy pillow look.

At the end of the day, your home should reflect your unique style and taste. Trust your instincts, have fun with it, and if you need a little guidance, our easy tips and curated pillow collections are here to help.

▶️  Ready to see it all in action? Watch our video, How to Style a Sofa with Throw Pillows to see how we bring a layered pillow arrangement to life.

 

 

Two designer black & white patterned pillows styled on a living room sofa

Shown here: 1. Brunswick Stripe 22x22 Pillow, Onyx  2. Togo 20x20 Pillow, Black & Natural

 

Need a little extra help? Our design team is here for you! We offer Free Design Help to make pillow styling easy and inspiring. We'll create custom mood boards tailored to your space and style.

Older articles Back to The Thread: A Design & Decor Blog by Tonic Living