Six Designer-Inspired Pillow Combinations
Pillows in our guest room: blue embroidered block print and taupe grid lumbar
Changing up the throw pillows on your sofa or bed is one my favorite easy and affordable ways to update the look of a room. It’s amazing how new patterns, styles, or colors can make a space feel fresh! The tricky part though? Figuring out how to combine different pillows them to create a cohesive look.
Have no fear though - I’ve done the legwork for you and pulled together six designer-inspired pillow combinations that are guaranteed to look good together. If you’re a fan of designers like Studio McGee and Amber Interiors (I sure am!), I think you’re going to love these - they pick up on the coastal California meets modern traditional vibes of those two talented ladies. Following their cues and my own style, the colors are a bit more muted and muddy, and there’s a mix of solids, stripes, and patterns.
I sourced all of these from Etsy, which is one of my favorite places to find pillows for my clients and my own home. The reasons I’m a big fan of this online retailer as a resource are because…
There’s a huge variety of fabrics available
Shops can often make any size you need
And you’re supporting small businesses
That’s a triple win in my book!
So let’s take a look at these, shall we?
Combo 1: Neutral Windowpane | Rust Floral | Teal Block Print Floral
Combo 2: Block Print Floral | Denim Stripe | Cream Stripe
Combo 3: Sage Textured | Blue Floral | Green Grid
Combo 4: Rust Geometric | Ivory Stripe | Patterned Gray
Combo 5: Taupe Block Print | Black & Cream Nubby Stripe | Neutral Print
Combo 6: Teal Floral | Tan Stripe | Blue Solid
(*This post contains affiliate links, which means Mix & Match Design Company earns a small commission from your purchase at no cost to you.)
Pillow Sizing & Inserts
The other keys to creating that designer look with your pillows are choosing the right sizes and inserts.
On a sofa, I like to start with a larger foundational pillow in the back like a 22” (or 24” if you have a big sofa) and then move down a size or so for each pillow that follows. So for example, a solid combo is 22” + 20” + 14x20” lumbar or 24” + 22” + 20” on a larger sofa.
For a bed, there are lots of combinations out there, but my go-to right now for a queen is two 22”-24” + 16”x36” long lumbar. If you have a king, add a third square pillow. I like to keep it pretty simple!
Good inserts are also going to be your friend. If you can, go for feather-down. They fluff up better and hold their shape way better than polyester. If not feather-down, down alternative is ok too. Pottery Barn has inserts in a wide variety of sizes and I’ve been impressed with these from Amazon.
I hope this helps you as you shop for pillows for your home!