Perfectly Arrange the Pillows in Your Living Room

Do you want to know the secret formula to arrange the throw pillows on your sofa?

Interior designers call it the 2:2:1 ratio. A standard way of arranging pillows on your favorite sofa. The arrangements and style may alter, but the pattern remains consistent no matter what type of armchair or sofa you are adorning with plush pillows.

What exactly is the 2:2:1 ratio?

It is the standard method of placing six pillows on the sofa.

First, place two large square pillows on the ends(both pillows usually share the same color/pattern). Then put two smaller pillows next to them, this pair will share a design that does not match the first set.

Lastly, add a dramatic touch by putting a little pillow in the center. The middle cushion usually has an eccentric or quirky pattern.

Why do we do it?

The graduating pillow sizes and varied patterns add a whimsical effect to the whole couch. This formula allows you to play with different fabrics, patterns, colors and sizes with ease. Furthermore, the arrangement helps you to adorn the living room effortlessly.

While arranging your pillows keep these three factors in mind:

The Holy Trinity of Pillow Arrangements

Shapes and Sizes

Size matters when you are arranging the pillows. We usually coordinate the sizes by balancing out the proportions and keeping the largest in the back and the smallest in the front.

The standard sizes are listed below:

Back Pillows: Large, square shaped (20-24”)
Front Pillows: Medium sized, squared shaped or rectangle (16-20”)
Middle Pillow: Usually called ‘interest’ pillows they are the smallest of the bunch.Mostly accented and have varied shapes. Apart from rectangles, people use circular, cylindrical or other shapes in the middle.

Patterns

Pillows present you with the perfect opportunity to play with patterns and textures. You can add liveliness to the living room by contrasting various colors and shapes together. If you want an out-of-the-box look, then ditch the pairs and make each pillow stand out from the others.

We usually use the solid colors for larger pillows and matching palettes or patterns for the smaller ones.

Balancing Layers

You may not always have enough space for six pillows. For illustration, love seats can only accommodate four pillows and small armchairs two. Sectional couches have room for seven or more pillows.

In instances like these, you must layer the pillows through size or set them according to shapes and patterns. We usually use a semi-symmetrical style that groups two or three pillows on each section or armchair.