Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Throw pillows can transform a sofa from simple to sophisticated, boring to bohemian, when the right combination of size, shape, color, and texture is applied. We turned to the designers at Olive + Opal Interiors to learn their secrets to selecting, and then styling, accent pieces for a sofa. Anna Neal and Melinda Christman, the firm’s founders, arrive with designer Stephanie Brunt at our photo studio to show us how to create three distinct looks using one sofa as our backdrop.
Dimensions
“The scale of a couch will determine the size of your pillows,” says Neal. A large sofa can support a Euro pillow, 24 to 28 inches square, combined with smaller lumbar pillows or small square pillows. Large sofas or sectionals call for more than one grouping; a love seat may benefit from an 18-inch square pillow and smaller accents.
Fabric
When considering textiles, it’s important to take into account the style and color scheme of the room and sofa. “We like to look for a print and for a texture, a solid color, or simple pattern to pair together,” says Brunt. She points to the faux–leopard print pillow and a pair of nubby black-and-white mudcloth pieces as an example: “We stay away from a mix of all complex patterns, which can get chaotic.”
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Colors
Brunt recommends shades that support the room’s palette or accents to bring in color. The elegance of these Greek key–pattern pillows is enhanced when they’re grouped with a more complex pillow design, like the floral urn motif piece shown here. Our designers envision the pairing in a room painted white, buttery yellow, or a blue tone.
Symmetry
In addition to pattern and color, Neal looks for uniformity in her arrangements. Placement of pillows matters: Sit a big pillow in a corner on nights when the sofa’s owner is looking for a soft place to land. A lumbar pillow, true to its name, gives good back support.
Texture
The designers again emphasize texture as an important consideration. Pair smooth leather with a nubby pattern or a solid. See how the rich rust color of the fabric pictured here creates a satisfying contrast with the smooth texture of the faux-leather pillow? (Tassels and ball fringe are interesting ways to achieve this, too.)
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Sources
“We recommend down pillow inserts, sized 2-inches larger than the cover, for the best look,” Neal says. Where do the designers find these exquisite pillow covers? They study Pinterest boards, visit Etsy shops, local fabric stores, and surf their favorite home sites—and you can, too.
