Cushions: The Perfect Accessory for Your Living Room

Did you know that breathing life back into your living room can be as simple and affordable as adding or changing out decorative cushions? Designing your living space doesn’t just mean paying attention to details such as paint shades, size of sofas and rugs, or which widescreen TV to purchase. It’s the little and subtle design details that matter too.

As a company that operates in the home décor industry, we believe that decorative cushions and throw pillows are often the unsung heroes of interior design. Want to make a neutral sofa stand out? Add a pop of colour with a decorative cushion. Looking to make a statement? Add throw pillows with diverse patterns.

It’s true that new fabrics and colours can give your living room a completely new feel, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to cull through the thousands of different cushion options out there to find the ones that are right for your space.

If you’re currently wondering how to pick decorative throw cushions that suit both your style and personality, you’ve come to the right place. Below, we provide some fool-proof tips to help you find the best decorative cushions to give your living space that certain je ne sais quoi.

Tips for Choosing Decorative Throw Cushions to Match Your Living Room Style and Decor

Don’t let this part of styling a room bring you down. Choosing the right accessories for your sofas and armchairs is a fun experience. After all, cushions can be considered as beautiful little artworks for your living room space.

Before you dive in, it’s important to keep a few things in mind. You will need to have a clear idea as what you’d like the decorative cushions to achieve. Do you want them to make the room more cohesive? Or, do you want them to draw attention to one particular corner of the room? Knowing which colour palette you’re working with is also beneficial.

Having said that, following these tips will surely help you make a decision.

1. Choose one cohesive colour palette and stick with it - Choose colours that are complimentary to each other. Cushions can often look out of place if they don’t link with another item in the room. Try picking a focal colour from a piece of art and choose a solid cushion cover in the same colour. This will make the room feel more cohesive.
2. Use the pattern formula - When in doubt, aim for the following: one simple print, one solid print, and one busy print. This will help you to narrow down your options.
3. Don’t be afraid of patterns - One of the biggest mistakes that people make when designing a living room is playing it too safe with patterns. Yes, there is the possibility of going overboard but when done tastefully, mixing and matching patterns can truly liven up your space. The trick is to find a common link between the patterns - either a colour or tone. And remember, no more than three different patterns in one space.
4. Have a range of decorative cushion sizes - Ideally, as you move towards the outside of your sofa, your pillow arrangement should get larger. Add your large 24-inch cushions to the far corners of your furniture and keep the smaller ones for the centre.
5. Think about the inserts - Throw pillows are only as good as their inserts. Foam inserts can often make a cushion look too ‘boxy’ and their shape can get distorted easily. That’s why feather or polyester inserts are best. You can even go with an eco-friendly option, such as recycled polyester. This latest initiative by Westex reduces our carbon footprint by keeping 25 plastic bottles out of landfills with every cushion filled.

Is it Possible to Have Too Many Decorative Cushions & Throw Pillows?

The answer to this is quite simply yes.

If you don’t have any space left on your sofa or armchair to sit down, this is a sign that you have gone too far. For a statement chair, always aim to have just one decorative cushion to attract the eye. When it comes to a sofa, knowing when one cushion is one too many depends on the size of your sofa and your choice of pillow arrangement.

Pillow arrangement is an art in itself and we’ve spoken about the best pillow arrangement ideas for living room sofas and beds before. However, here is a good rule of thumb to follow when choosing how many cushions to use for your furniture.

• For a love seat, use a maximum of three cushions as you’re more limited on space.
• For a standard sofa size, four is an ideal amount.
• For a sectional sofa, the more cushions the better. A larger sofa allows you to add more colour, texture, and patterns without overpowering the sofa. Aim for a maximum of seven cushions.

What a Difference a Few Cushions Can Make

Here at Westex, we have an extensive range of decorative cushions to suit every room and every person’s taste. From textured solids and chenilles, to novelty design and even an exclusive collection of cushions inspired by Canadian artist, Lonny Doherty, you’re sure to find something that will bring joy to your space.