Never underestimate the power of a well-placed throw pillow. Refreshing your living room doesn’t require maxing out your credit card or wrestling an oversized sectional through the front door. Sometimes, all it takes is a strategic pillow arrangement to make your sofa look like it belongs in an interior design magazine.
Take a cue from Jessica Bennett, owner and design principal at Alice Lane Home Collection, who recently shared a foolproof formula on TikTok: two solid-colored pillows plus one showstopping patterned pillow. It’s an easy-to-replicate combination that delivers a designer-approved look without the guesswork or eye-popping price tag.
Start With Symmetry
First, select a pair of matching, solid-colored pillows. Place one on each end of the sofa; this anchors the furnishing while providing symmetry. When choosing a color, find inspiration within other pieces in your living room — perhaps the terra-cotta threaded through your area rug or the navy blue painted on an accent wall. Soft neutrals such as creamy ivory, charcoal gray, or dusty blush are nearly guaranteed good choices, but don’t be afraid to go bold if your space could benefit from a splash of color.
Then Add a Pop of Pattern
For the wild card third pillow, let your personality shine. Throw pillows are an affordable way to mix up your living room’s design, so choose a pattern that pushes your comfort zone — whether a stripe, geometric, or floral design. Place this scene-stealer on one end of the sofa, nestled in front of a solid-colored pillow.
Create Depth
Color and pattern are a strong start, but for a truly luxurious feel, play with texture too. Mix linen or boucle solids with a velvet or wool patterned pillow for a richer, layered look. Textural contrast is an easy way to add warmth and depth without visual clutter. It’s the difference between a rigid hotel lobby couch and one you want to curl up on at the end of the day.
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If you’re working with an oversized sofa or sectional, three pillows may appear puny. In that case, scale up to five pillows — three solids and two patterns — while sticking with the same principles: symmetry, textural depth, and a bold moment.
Ditch the rigid “karate chop” on your pillows — that approach is stiff, much like your grandma’s plastic-covered formal sofa. Instead, embrace the gentle scrunch by lightly pressing on the top, bottom, and each side of the pillow. Slightly compressing all four sides exudes an effortless coziness.
