Mixing It Up: 12 Pillow Pairings That Work
Photo: Sara Ligorria Tramp
When it comes to pairings, some things just work (like peanut butter & jelly, black & white, pencil & paper) But what about pairing up your pillows? How do you know what works? While there’s no pillow equivalent of a perfect sandwich (we wish!), with a few tips, it’s just as easy to create perfect pillow pairings in your space.
So where to start when pairing your pillows together? Like most things in life, creating a grouping of pillows is all about balance. If you have a pillow with a bold pattern, you want to balance it with a solid or more subtle pattern. The same is true of pillows with a lot of texture or details- they should be paired with more subtle textures and simple shapes to keep things balanced.
For easy pillow pairings, follow these rules:
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Stick to a palette of 2-3 colors
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Pick one pillow that has a larger scale pattern or a lot of texture or detail
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Pair that pillow with one smaller scale patterned or textured pillow, and one solid color pillow.
Stick to these steps, and your grouping will be balanced, while still being visually interesting. (Keeping all that in mind, rules can be broken, so you will see some pairings below that use 3 patterns or mix in more colors.)
Ready to put all this talk into action? We’ve taken the guesswork out of wondering “Will these look good together?” by compiling 12 pairings that include a large size, medium size and a smaller accent pillow that will work regardless of what room they’re used in. And no matter what your style, we’ve got a pairing (or two) that will work for your space.
1. PRIMARY COLORS
Gold and blue geometrics pair with a velvet oval for a fun mix.
Gold and Ivory Tufted Deco Half Circles Throw Pillow | Checkerboard Woven Cotton Square Throw Pillow | Velvet Oval Shaped Throw Pillow
2. ALL LINED UP
A pairing of simple black, white, and grey patterns creates a unified grouping.
3. COOL AND ECLECTIC
A balance of large and smaller patterns makes this teal, blue, and burgundy grouping work.
4. BLACK & WHITE
A neutral palette helps keep these stripes and simple patterns from competing.
Plus Stitch Square Edge Pillow | Pendleton Lyons Cross Stitch Throw Pillow | Gowan Embroidered Wool Lumbar Throw Pillow
5. EARTHY TONES
This pairing has a simple palette of brown tones but mixes up pattern and texture for visual interest.
Pieced Suede Pillow Cover | Textured Woven Stripe Pillow | Gemma Pillow
6. FARMHOUSE FOREST
Green velvet, plaid, and a simple stripe make a handsome grouping.
Plaid Corduroy Square Throw Pillow | Washed Cotton Velvet Throw Pillow | Reversible Dinah Pillow
7. BLUSHING BOHO
A bold pattern and round tufted pillow in shades of mauve are balanced out by white fringe.
Moroccan Cactus Silk Patterned Wool Throw Pillow | Four Sided Tassel Throw Pillow | Bridgette Velvet Round Pillow
8. SIMPLE SCANDINAVIAN
Blue stripes and white faux fur create a mix of textures, while keeping things very simple.
Mongolian Faux Fur Throw Pillow | Monterrey Indigo Pillow | Handloomed Spoor Pillow
9. Bold variety
Varying styles are unified by a color palette of teal, orange and white.
Castello Velvet Pillow | Palm Pillow Cover | Arlo Linen Round Pillow
10. WHITE WARMTH
Texture, fringe, and chunky knits keep this pairing interesting, while a neutral palette keeps it from being too much.
Textural Solid Square Throw Pillow | Cotton Stripe Fringe Pillow | Bouclé Bolster Pillow
11. GOLDEN GROUPING
An array of textures and patterns in golden yellows makes for a warm and rich pairing.
Golden Velvet Throw Pillow | Plaid Striped Silk Pillow | Bayeux Tassels Cotton Reversible Throw Pillow
12. PERFECT POP
A unifying motif of circles and bright blue makes this a fun, statement grouping.
Patterned Pillow Cover | Cobalt Blue Line Pattern Pillow | Velvet + Wool Circle Pillow
Thank you! This is so great!!!! My couch needs this TLC!!!
Glad to help! Thank you for reading.
Thank you for examples . It really helps . I don’t have that flare for selecting and arranging decor.
I’m interested in couches. Not high end because I live on a VERY limited budget. I have a small dog. I am 72 years old. I appreciate your help.
MJF