ONE SOFA six ways | Local Designers Share Tips on Styling Your Seating

What happens when you take a neutral sofa in a lush fabric and pile it with pillows? That depends! You can achieve a variety of looks depending upon the pillows and other accessories you use on and around it. Here, local designers show us how to style a sofa for maximum comfort and flair, and HOME staff take what they learned and try their hands at the styling fun as well.

PATTERNS, TEXTURE AND A TOUCH OF WHIMSY
Mady Greer and Ashley Hilbish of Curtains, Blinds and Bath suggest applying the same design rule-of- threes to your sofa that you’d apply to styling other areas of your home. Here, the odd number of pillows in varying heights, shapes and textures makes for a pleasing arrangement. They also suggest that mixing patterns and textures with consistent colors works best. A bird print, a customizable zip code pillow and oversized tassel trim all add a sense of whimsy in their design. A burnt orange wool and acrylic throw, available in multiple colors, adds a shot of color and a cozy vibe.

Greer and Hilbish also suggest determining if you want the look of down- or fiber-filled pillows; the pillows featured here have fiber inserts which provide more structure than down. They say that for maximum fullness, pillow inserts should be two inches larger than the covers.

PERFECT PAIRS
Oversized plush ivory pillows with down inserts make the perfect backdrop for embroidered pillows featuring a smoke-colored leather welt in this design by Lia Melder of Reid’s Fine Furnishings’ Lynchburg design studio. “Don’t be afraid of mixing patterns and textures,” advises Melder. She says that if you want to play it safe, however, you can always pair a textured neutral with a pattern. A bamboo throw threaded with various tones of gray offers additional color and texture, while a pair of drinks tables by Charleston Forge keeps refreshments within reach.

BRIGHT NOTES OF COLOR
According to Kathy Potts of Decorating Den Interiors, “The more pillows the better on any sofa!” Here, pattern play adds a sense of fun, including a down-filled velvet pillow for texture, a fresh geometric for visual interest, and a linen floral lumbar for variety. She suggests grouping pillows in threes, including a mix of a solid, textured pillow, a large-scale print and a smaller-scale print, with a common color tying it all together. A casual fleece in a bright blue keeps the early-spring chill at bay.

EMBRACE THE MONOCHROMATIC
A monochromatic color scheme from High Cotton Fine Home Furnishings and Gifts is another option for a sophisticated yet fun look. Embroidered tone-on-tone linen square pillows are the backdrop for handstitched, painted burlap oblong pillows that act as a focal point. A charcoal throw in a dotted-patterned, 100 percent-cotton adds depth and movement to the palette.

CONTRASTING PAIRS
Taking a tip from the experts, HOME decided to place a pair of pillows on either end of the sofa for a balanced look, with the contrasting but complementary styles making a statement. A traditional linen floral pops when paired with a deep burnout velvet damask. A cozy but elegant throw in 100 percent cotton adds another bright note of color and an extra element of softness.

PLAYING WITH TEXTURE
HOME created a look focused on incorporating a variety of textures. Velvet pillows with a contemporary animal-print-vibe offer pattern and texture in one, while embroidered linen pillows with an ivory flange bring a touch of the traditional. The fifth pillow, in a soft faux fur, brings in that odd-number magic. A wool throw in shades of taupe, burnt orange and aubergine adds notes of color to this easy neutral palette. ✦