How to choose the perfect sofa cushions for your living room

• Home textiles
• Living room
• Design tips

Only the lazy don’t like to decorate their home, and therefore, you and I are constantly searching for the best solutions for decorating our own home. Sofa cushions are those pleasant little things that create comfort and a relaxed atmosphere. That is why we decided to devote a separate article to the correct selection of such a seemingly familiar decor.

Speaking of the material from which the cover of the pillow you like is made. It is necessary to imagine in advance whether its texture will match the upholstery of a sofa or armchair. That is, if the upholstered furniture in the living room is made of velvet or velor, then cotton or linen textiles will be inappropriate. In this case, fabrics such as velvet, wool with the addition of shimmering thread, and fur will help achieve harmony. Conversely, more practical and affordable materials such as chenille, cotton and jacquard accept the use of simple and lightweight fabrics.

Material and appearance

The material of covers for sofa cushions is chosen based on the texture of the furniture upholstery and the design style of the room as a whole.
⦁ For furniture upholstered in velvet or velor, soft, fleecy fabrics identical to the upholstery, as well as fluffy wool and fur, are suitable.

⦁ If the surface of the sofa is smooth: made of chenille, cotton, tapestry - you can use cotton, linen, jacquard for covers.

Knitted pillow

Trendy knitted blankets and pillows are increasingly appearing in design magazines. Such things are quite expensive, and knitting them yourself is too time-consuming and difficult.

You can make a “knitted” pillowcase much easier by altering an old chunky knit sweater.

Knitted fabric is cut in the same way as plain fabric, with one difference - it is best to carefully glue the edges of the cut with textile glue so that the pattern does not “crumble” when sewing. Next, the pillowcase can be sewn according to the usual pattern.

Size and quantity

The size and number of pillows are selected based on the dimensions of the upholstered furniture: for a small couch 1-2 small ones will be enough, for a large corner sofa their number can reach 5-6, and the size can be more substantial.
Also, do not clutter the sofa with a large number of accessories, especially with an active pattern, if there are other expressive accent details in the room - wall panels, original-shaped furniture, etc.

DIY pillows

It is most practical to sew a pillow with your own hands - this way you are guaranteed to receive a product of the desired color, shape and softness.

Color

Depending on the color of the upholstery of the upholstered furniture, choose the color of the pillows.
⦁ On a neutral background

In a muted shade, bright elements in rich colors, including those with an active print, will look impressive.

⦁ On light upholstery

Pillows in lush green, raspberry, and yellow colors will look good;

⦁ For a sofa with dark upholstery

- blue, purple or gray - you can choose accessories in red, white, bright blue tones.

When choosing a color, you should pay attention to the print.

⦁ Colors with plant motifs

successfully complements the furnishings, designed in the Provence style, as well as classical English.

⦁ For oriental interiors

Prints such as paisley, damask, and ikat are suitable.

⦁ Neutral prints

like checks, polka dots, zigzags, houndstooth are considered universal and suitable for both modern and classic settings.

Standard pillow

The unspoken standard for this product is the size of 30 by 30 cm. Making a pillow of this size is not difficult - a simple master class will help. For this you will need: a piece of plain light-colored cotton fabric, a ruler, a simple pencil, threads matching the color of the fabric, scissors, filler.

First you need to cut the fabric, drawing a rectangle with sides 60 by 30 cm. You need to cut the workpiece taking into account seam allowances - leave 1-2 cm of fabric on each side. Fold the piece in half, wrong side out, to form a square and stitch around the edges, leaving a small pocket.

Turn the workpiece inside out through the pocket and fill it with filler. It is best to use hypoallergenic holofiber for this purpose. Then sew the pocket closed with a blind stitch.

It’s easy to sew a pillowcase for such a pillow - just increase the length and width of the pattern by 10 cm, and insert a thin zipper into one of the sides of the pillowcase.

Note!

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Form

The shape of the pillows is chosen based on the style in which the furniture is designed.
⦁ Massive low sofas

elongated shapes are well complemented by bolster pillows, as well as products in the shape of an elongated rectangle.

⦁ Classic furniture

combine with square pillows with slightly rounded corners.

⦁ For sofas and armchairs with original elegant shapes

You can put round pillows decorated with tassels and fringe.

Purpose

Even decorative pillows have not lost their practical purpose - to bring comfort. Most often in everyday life you can find sofa cushions - they most often have a quadrangular or round shape, less often - in the form of bolsters and are designed for a more comfortable position of the back.

Also, small and elegant pillows fit perfectly into the decor of a children's room. Their shapes can be varied: crowns, pillows - letters, animals. In this case, the choice of textile decor depends only on your imagination.

Chair cushions are most often used in kitchens, making the interior a little softer and softer. Typically, simple quadrangular pillows are used, attached with ties to the seats and backs of chairs.

What to combine sofa pillows with

It is important that the accessories are not only expressive in themselves, but also combined with any element of the room’s design.

It can be

⦁ curtains

- covers can be made of the same material as the curtains, or have something in common with it in texture, print, color.
⦁ sofa upholstery
- in this case, the color of the pillows is chosen 1-2 tones lighter or darker than the background, or covers are made from the same upholstery fabric.

⦁ accent details

furnishings - this can be any expressive object in the decoration of the room - a panel, a vase, a floor lamp support or something else. This method of selection gives unlimited scope for imagination and freedom in choosing accent details.

Decorative pillows that look bad and boring

1. Pillows are the same color as the sofa. Don't repeat my old mistake. This step is often driven by the elementary fear of making a mistake with the color. It seems that if you choose a similar tone, then everything will fit perfectly. There is really no point in using decoration that is not visible.

2. Pillows made of the same fabric as the upholstery . They usually go in addition to budget sofas. It’s probably not worth throwing them away right away; perhaps new covers will fit on them and they can be given a second chance. They are bad because they always look very boring and, as in the first case, completely blend into the background.

By the way, the sofas in these photos are also terrible. If you haven’t read it yet, be sure to read the article on how to choose a normal sofa.

3. It looks banal to use the same fabric as on the curtains. Although this option is very often recommended in textile salons. Not worth it. It's very boring and looks like the pillows were sewn from leftover fabric. This is often what happens when they are sold in sets.

4. The fabric of all pillows is perfectly matched to match the curtains. I often see this in the so-called. “two-color” interiors. When one bright color is added to the neutral one and all accessories are matched tone to tone. This combination is simply hopelessly outdated. It’s like wearing shoes and a handbag of the same color.

5. Use only simple, solid-colored pillows. Even if you chose plain, smooth pillows of different colors, this will not be enough. Try to choose options with different textures, even if they feel different to the touch, with different patterns, because there is so much choice. A simple pillow without patterns, as a basic item in the wardrobe. They are needed, but as a basis. If your image consists only of the base, then the eye will have nothing to grab onto. It seems like there won’t be anything to complain about, but usually it’s very, very, very boring.

Case decor

You can decorate pillows with a variety of applications.

You can create an exclusive and interesting thing using decor. The following are considered the simplest elements of jewelry.

• Using braid. This is a narrow, thin strip with patterns. It is used both for upholstery of sofas and interior units. The braid can be embroidered using different techniques at home.
• Using scallops. A strip with patterns of leaves, geometric shapes and other ornaments is sewn on the front side.
• Sewing various mosaics from small pieces of fabric. It is called the patchwork type of sewing.
• Decoration with accessories - buttons, beads, glass beads. In children's rooms you can find rollers decorated with representatives of the animal world; the figures are attached using Velcro.
• Print. The fabric is coated with durable paint that cannot be washed off. Such decorative pillows are well suited for summer terraces and balconies. They don't look boring and don't fade in the sun. They also do not absorb liquid well, so sudden rain is not a problem.

You can make a pillow cover with ribbon embroidery, it will look unique and very beautiful.

What do they have inside?

Decorative sofa pillows (photo below) are filled with synthetic or natural, more expensive, material.

Read about: massage pillow for neck, shoulders: description of massager models, how to choose with prices

The basis of any synthetic filler is 100% polyester. The soft, silky material does not cause allergies, and down mites do not live in it. Many products are made from it, among which the most popular are:

• Holofiber. It consists of siliconized fibers that perfectly retain the shape of the product. This is a non-flammable material that does not absorb moisture and unpleasant odors.
• Fiberlon. Made in layers. This is a “breathable” material that can quickly regain its shape.
• Comforel consists of numerous elastic balls. Products with filler easily take the shape of the body. They are convenient and easy to care for.
• Hollophane is intertwined hollow fibers that provide strong springiness to the structure. Looks like natural down, but is washable.
• Sintepon is the most inexpensive, but also short-lived material.
• Luxury sofas are sometimes equipped with pillows filled with duck or goose down.
• Small products consist of a filler and a cover. Large models are usually multi-layered. They have a core made of latex or foam, wrapped in a layer of comfort filling and covered with a cover.

How to clean and care

At home, you can ventilate and treat with light from a quartz lamp. The use of bleaching agents to remove stains on the canvas is strictly prohibited. The powder will ruin the color. It is best to use washing gels.

When washing in a machine, turn out the diaper, select a temperature of no more than 30 C. Set the mode to gentle, with a delicate spin. It is advisable to wash by hand so that the “inside” does not get lost.

Velor and suede are cleaned exclusively with a microfiber brush, then aired.

Vinyl covers do not need to be washed; they just need to be cleaned with a wet sponge soaked in water with “detergent”. Carefully remove any remaining soap solution and dry in the open air.

When cleaning hair, you can use a regular vacuum cleaner by changing the attachment. You need to vacuum once a week.

It is strictly forbidden to wash the filling in a washing machine. You can clean the packing using a vacuum cleaner and ventilation.

It is advisable to dry it in the open air to prevent shrinkage and the appearance of an unpleasant odor.

Read the instructions on the manufacturer's labels.

If your style allows, you can buy different bedspreads for the sofa. Then the percentage of pollution will drop.

Wipe leather surfaces with a damp sponge (not wet). Apply special sprays once every two weeks.

To reduce the risk of damaging the furniture, and, consequently, the interior itself, it is best to dry clean them once every six months. Professionals work there, they definitely won’t spoil it. Even if they spoil it, they will compensate, but this is unlikely.

How to choose the right one

The choice of pillow depends on the style and character of the interior and even on the time of year. There are some recommendations, following which, anyone can become a designer of their own living room.

Decorative pillows and cushions for sofas in the interior: tips for everyone, photos

• Fabric for decorative pillows can match existing textiles: curtains, carpet, tablecloth, paintings.
• The cover is matched to the upholstery of the sofa or armchairs. In this case, the single color scheme of the ensemble contains different tones.
• Sometimes nuanced combinations are incredibly good. In this case, the composition is made up of colors from a similar spectrum, for example, yellow, red and orange, or blue, green and violet.
• The contrast method is applicable if the sofa has neutral upholstery and the walls in the interior are of calm tones. Pillows take on the role of a color accent; they can be bright and rich.
• Pillows matched to the tone of the walls look extremely elegant when the single background has a different pattern or texture.
• The optimal set of pillows for a sofa: two of different sizes, arranged symmetrically, and a fifth of an original shape, placed between them slightly carelessly.
• Using more than 5 primary colors in the interior creates excessive diversity.
• Bright pillows will create a passionate, sensual atmosphere, pastel colors will add romanticism to the interior, and warm, fluffy fabrics will add homeliness to the living room.

Interior features

The different nature of the interior will entail the choice of different pillows.

• Classic style. Allows the selection of geometrically correct elements. This is a square, rectangle, circle. Cushion cushions are good in such interiors. Material: tapestry, silk, velvet, brocade, leather.
• Modern. Models with a modern photo print made of linen or burlap are ideal here.
• Pop art welcomes heart pillows, candies, sponges. This is a mood style; bright colors, fluffy and shiny fabrics are good in it.
• In high-tech, metallic shine and strict forms are organic. Material – silk, brocade, leather, linen.
• Rustic country is interesting due to its cozy textiles. Checkered, floral, bright and soft tones made of cotton, linen and wool are suitable here. Gorgeous in country and knitted items.
• The safari style will be supported by textiles made of fur or decorated with animal print.

Seasonal changes in the interior

It is textiles in the living room that create the mood of its owners and guests of the house. Cushions on a sofa are the most mobile and quickly replaceable decorative .

• In winter, the sofa can be decorated with little thoughts with Christmas motifs. Products in the form of gift boots and fabulous New Year's scenes will fill the room with a premonition of the holiday.
• Fresh greens and blues are nice in spring.
• In summer, try replacing warm fabrics with cool linen, cotton and silk.
• In autumn, orange and red, beige and terracotta will return. Images of fruits and leaves will remind you of a bygone, sultry summer.

We recommend: A massage pillow for the neck and shoulders is the best option for relaxation after stress during the day.

What to look for when choosing decor pillows:

Small pillows will look impressive on a large, oversized sofa if they are placed synchronously in a row or distributed on both sides of the sofa. When creating an interior, it is important to adhere to a specific style, so when choosing sofa cushions you should consider:

• size;
• shape;
• drawing;
• color;
• room style.

Cushions should be consistent with other items in the interior. As a rule, these are bedspreads, curtains, carpets, sometimes decorative panels and even furniture accessories. An interesting solution would be to use rolled and cylindrical pillow shapes in the interior, as well as unusual shapes that lack clear geometric standard lines. This trend is characteristic of many styles: high-tech, modern, floristry.

We should not forget the fact that a pillow, even a sofa pillow, must carry and fulfill its main function - creating comfort for a person. After all, if you don’t want to lean on a soft pillow or, due to constant caution, “spoil the entire created aesthetic,” then the living room can turn into a museum where you can only go in and admire. The presence of maximum convenience, functionality and ideally selected decor - all this is the main requirement when creating any interior.

Add a specific style to your design

To make your living room design more stylish and attractive, you can add quite fancy and original pillows. You can choose accessories in bolder and more unusual bright colors with an interesting monogram, a classic quote, or covered in glitter.

Whatever you choose, it should highlight your personality. It is important to remember that pillows do not have to be square. Round pillows help give a fairly stylish and interesting look to any sofa or ottoman. Pillows made in the shape of drops, balls or donuts will help give the living room an unusual and playful shade. This will create a joyful atmosphere in the house.

Cushions are the best thing to design as they are affordable, functional and come in a wide variety. If you get tired of a certain home design, you can update it by simply replacing or removing the pillows. In addition, this will give you the opportunity to experiment to find the best stylistic solution.

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