Cushions and throws are a quick and cost-effective way to style your sofa – and change things up whenever you feel like it. You should see cushions like accessories to an outfit – they can dress a sofa up or down and change the look to suit your style. This blog post is packed full of tips on how to style your sofa, but let’s start with a video… This blog post started as a vlog originally, but I had so many set-backs creating it that it just wasn’t happening – so I found this fab one by HipVan to show you instead.
If you’re totally stuck on finding your own personal interior style – then create a Pinterest Board and start pinning images that you like. You should start seeing a theme develop in the images you choose which will help you when you style your sofa. Interior design blogs and magazines are great too – but one big tip is to visit some boutique hotels for inspiration. I love the Firmdale Hotels collection designed by owner and interior designer Kit Kemp. Fresh modern English style filled with colour and pattern – you can recognise Kit Kemp’s style anywhere. In fact, I went to a blogging event recently with Debenhams Beauty which was held in a London Townhouse. As soon as I walked through the door, I said ‘this is Kit Kemp’ and turned out that it was!
Don’t be afraid to mix pattern and colour
My first tip when it comes to styling your sofa and a great way to bring some character and charm into your living room. Follow Kit Kemp’s example and be bold with your choices of fabrics and colours. Don’t be too matchy matchy and bring the room together by using elements of colours from your walls, artwork or accessories. Check out how the piping around the cushions in the images below work so well as finishing touches.
Toned down doesn’t have to be dull
When choosing one colour for your cushions, mix things up by playing with different shaped cushions, textures and pattern too. Floral, stripes, geometric and spotty can all work perfectly together if they’re tied in with the same colour.
Delcor Designer and Petite
STIX SOFA by Archer & Co
As an architect, my fiancé (soon to be hubby!) has a more reserved taste in interiors and it’s important that a home works for everyone who lives there. He’s used to handing over the interior design reigns at work and although I’ve managed to push his boundaries (especially with our bedroom and kitchen), I don’t want to push my luck! He likes simple elegance and as a sailor, he’s inspired by the coast. Our living room is also very tiny and so using a muted colour scheme works well in this space. I played around with cushions to show you how you can mix things up when you style your sofa.
Kylie Minogue Orla Stone Cushion
Pushing my luck here definitely came in the form of this gorgeous Kylie Minogue Orla Stone cushion from House of Fraser. I wanted to add some more texture and what better contrast to soft fluffy cushions, than sequins? The cushions isn’t too silver and isn’t too shiny and so I just about got away with this one! A touch of glitz which adds some interest and contrast to our sofa.
Graham & Brown Ink Tie Dye Cushions
I love these ink tie dye cushions from Graham & Brown. They bring a bit of boho chic into our living room and the colours really reflect the changing light and reflections from the water that you get down on the Solent. Made from 100% cotton, these cushions are so cosy yet plush at the same time.
An accent cushion, like this Plumb & Ashby Bertie cushion brings some character and is a bit of a talking point when guests come over too! The two nautical cushions are from Space & Shape and are normally in our bedroom, but I wanted to show you how they can also work on a sofa too. For those of you who don’t like to style your sofa with too many cushions, choosing just two is a great no-fuss way to finish your sofa off.
Adding a contrasting rug (you can read the review of my Habitat rug here) works really well against a neutral sofa like ours. I’ve previously written a guide to choosing rugs for your home which will help you choose the right one for your space.
What do you think of my styling your sofa guide? Has it inspired you to change things up?
Natalia xo
Love your nautical cushions!