Throw Pillow Mistakes, Real Fixes + a New Idea You Missed

Throw Pillow Mistakes

You might think a pillow fight is a throw pillow mistake. But I say you SHOULD have pillow fights! Regularly in fact. They are soooo much fun! (And should be followed by a tickle fest, for the willing.)

What are Throw Pillows?

Throw pillows are those extra pillows on your sofa, your bed, chairs and porch swings. You use them to lean against. Or to prop your head up when you fall asleep during a late-night viewing of The Twilight Zone.

(Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone you drooled on it.)

Other names for these little buggers are “toss pillows” or “accent pillows.” I suppose if you want to sound like a designer, you should say “accent pillows.”

Accent pillows are one of the final touches in a space—unless, of course, you fall in love with one and decide to build the whole room around it (hey, it happens). Not sure what to buy when? I’ve got a post for what to buy first. 

Let’s get started with mistakes you can make with accent pillows. 

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When to Avoid Accent Pillows; Throw Pillow Mistake Number One

You don’t have to have accent pillows. That’s not a law. 

No one’s going to bang down your door and arrest your sofa! 

Some designs look better without throw pillows. If you’ve got a masculine space, or your sofa has major personality, like this one, go ahead and toss the toss pillows. Same goes for minimalist styling. Although let’s be clear: minimalism doesn’t mean “please make me suffer.” If your vibe is clean and simple but your spine still enjoys support, then yes—bring on a throw pillow or two.

Another reason to skip ’em? If you exile your throw pillows to the floor and let them live there for the next three months… yeah, just let them go.

So, if you do decide your space would be groovier with throw pillows—what should you avoid?

Robin Bruce Sofa at Rowe Furniture

Can’t I Just Use the Pillows that Come with the Sofa?

Many new sofas come with accent pillows. But don’t assume they’re the right ones for your space. That’s definitely a throw pillow mistake. More often than not, they’re… not great. Either they match the sofa fabric a little too perfectly, or they don’t vibe with your personal style at all.

Still—don’t lose those toss pillows just yet. I’ve got a budget-friendly tip for repurposing them at the end of this post.

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Say No to the Pillow Fortress

Don’t go overboard. If there’s no actual room to sit—or it takes a full excavation team to find your bed at night, that’s high on the list of no-no’s. Unless you’re a maximalist and that chaos brings you joy—in which case, pile away!

For everyone else, keep it simple. A few well-placed pillows are all you need. Sofas can handle anywhere from one to six, depending on the size of the sofa. Same goes for larger beds. Throw pillow mistake number three-having a mountain of accent pillows-is a no-go. 

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Size (Variation) Matters-Getting Stiffed by this Throw Pillow Mistake 

Look at the picture above. Not only is this a full-blown pillow fortress, but every pillow is nearly the same size. Make this mistake and you’ll miss the impact you hoped for. 

Here’s the deal: if you want to actually see the design on the pillows in the back, the ones in front need to be shorter. Otherwise you get a wall of fabric and a faint outline of something happening behind it.

A total pillow blackout.

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Don’t Let Your Pillows Put You to Sleep

Not only should you avoid pillows that are the same size, but they shouldn’t all be the same color, and be devoid of variation. If you do, congrats—you’ve created the least exciting pillow party ever. Even your sofa looks bored.

Remember, they’re called accent pillows for a reason—they’re supposed to stand out. Add a little pop. A little contrast. If your pillows just sit there blending in like furniture camouflage, they’re not doing their job. Avoid throw pillow boo boo number five; the snooze fest-pillow pile. 

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Be Careful Though, Pillow Chaos Is a Real Thing

Using color, texture, pattern and size as a way to avoid pillow boredom is your goal, but going wacko-wild can backfire. If you’re not sure what you’re doing… maybe leave it to the pros. Variety is great—but too much, especially with bold colors, can be, well…yucky.

Freepik

The Final Word: Your Pillows are Not Acrobats

Lastly as far as mistakes are concerned, let me say…please don’t place your pillows on their corners like they’re doing cartwheels. I see this more with certain cultures— and maybe I’m being culturally insensitive here—but a sofa is a place you relax.

How are you going to relax when your toss pillows are working their buns off? 

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Better Ways for Better Displays

So what can you do to level up your toss pillow game?

Start with color. Your pillows should connect to the colors already in the room—they’re part of the whole story, not random extras.

There is a 60-30-10 rule of thumb for color balance. It’s not set in stone, but it’s a solid guide:

• 60% of the room should be your main color (a mix of neutrals counts as one).

• 30% is your secondary color.

• 10% is your accent color—this is where throw pillows and other decorative touches come in.

Throw pillows are a super easy way to hit that 10% pop of color.

Texture Is Your Friend

For the best impact, texture on pillows should be noticeable. Think leather, velvet, chunky knits, faux fur—stuff that begs to be petted, like Uncle Joe’s eccentric alpaca.  

The texture you choose depends on your style and what kind of vibe you’re after. A mix of textures can bring dimension to a space, especially if your color palette is more toned-down.

If your pillows look interesting enough to touch—you’re on the right track.

Mix with Pattern

Pattern can be tricky—but don’t skip it. Mix it with solid textures and vary the scale to keep things interesting. What do I mean by scale? It means that the patterns should have different sizes. 

Take a look at this photo. There are three pillows in varying shades of gray. One has a fine, delicate herringbone. Another has a medium-scale floral. And the third? Bold, wide stripes. They’re not all the same size—variety is the secret sauce of good pillow styling.

Classic Toss Pillow Arrangement

Traditionally, pillows are placed in the corners of the sofa—right where people sit or lean. Both sides often mirror each other, which is known as the symmetrical approach.

Change Up Your Accent Pillow Game

That being said, did you know you don’t have to match both sides? You can actually (gasp) put more pillows on one side than the other. Welcome to the asymmetrical approach—where things feel a little more relaxed and modern, and a lot less like Great Aunt Mildred’s house, where the cleaning products are alphabetized and the remote manual is laminated.

The Toss Pillow Secret No One’s Talking About

I bopped into BoConcept recently and noticed something surprising—their toss pillows were sitting in the center of the sofa. Naturally, I asked why as I’d never seen that before. 

The designer told me it’s intentional. Pillows in the middle leave the arm spots open for easy sitting and yet they’re still easy to grab when needed. It looks good, and keeps the seating functional.

It’s one of those simple shifts that makes the whole room feel more modern.

Your Pillows, Your Rules.

You’ve made it this far. You know what not to do. You’ve got the tools. It’s your turn.

Start small. Be bold. Move stuff around. Toss and retoss until it feels right to YOU. You don’t need to get it perfect—you just need to get started.

I’ve pulled together a few pillow-perfect spaces from a couple of designers who know what they’re doing. Take a peek. Get inspired. Then go make your sofa proud.

There are so many choices!

Here’s a Designer Who’s Got it Right

This designer’s name is Yvonne and she owns Stone Gable. I can tell this orange kitty is on board. Plenty of space for him and his peeps, plus a sweet mix of pillow sizes, textures, and colors. Color balance-wise, white is holding down the 60%, taupey-gray is rocking the 30%, and soft gold brings in that juicy 10% accent. I’d bet money that Yvonne made sure the cat matched the palette. That’s a winner. 

Elegant Simplicity is On The Ball

Elegant Simplicity nailed it in their Queen Anne Walkup project in Seattle. They’re following the rules—a perfect number of pillows, a good mix of textures, and interesting patterns. No sign of crazy-pants overload.

It feels pulled together without trying too hard. Love that.

Clever Bed Pillow 

This bedroom by Etch Interior Design is squeezing all the good stuff into one pillow—color, pattern, and folded texture for flair. It’s like the Swiss-Army knife of throw pillows. Maximum style, clean and snappy.

 Last TIP: Don’t Toss Those ‘Unworkable’ Pillows Just Yet—Here’s Why!

Before I go into the last quick tip, here is another designer who has very pretty accent pillows; Caitlan Marie. This is so fresh!

Okay, did you know that you can still use the throw pillows that came with the sofa by putting new covers on them?

Way to save money (high five)!

You can change out the covers for seasonal looks and keep them folded in your linen closet. 

Nice idea. Right?

Now you know a lot of wrong ways to do throw pillows and a few key right ways. Get out there and toss some pillows! Start by checking out the available ones below. 

Toss Pillow Marketplace

Before I sign off, here are a few adorable accent pillows I’ve found in my affiliate marketplace. If you purchase any of these, the merchant will pay me off, I mean, give me a small commission. It doesn’t cost you anything additional. I appreciate you shopping through my links because it keep my blog running and Romeo flush with treats.