Master the art of sofa styling: 5 essential rules to follow
A well-styled sofa starts with plump cushions in varying shapes and sizes, as well as scales of pattern.
It avoids symmetry through odd numbers and pulls this together using shades or patterns inspired by existing décor.
And let's not forget a lavish throw – folded or draped with insouciance across the arm or back – which helps to garnish the look.
But if you're wondering how to properly style a sofa, read on for insider secrets for a picture-perfect focal point that brings comfort and cohesion...
1. Update neutrals
A neutral sofa is accepting of all colours, so you can change the decoration easily. Mix cushions in your favourite fabrics for a unique look and add a throw to break up the blank expanse of a plain sofa.
Also, double-sided cushions are a great style trick. They look good front or side-on and offer a swift update flipped one side to the other with an entirely different print on the reverse.
2. Coordinate furniture
Place a console table behind a sofa that's not against a wall to build-up height – ideal for statement lamps and jugs of foliage.
Also, be sure to think of the bigger picture when making sure the sofa and all its trimmings work with the rest of the room, to thread it together in unison.
3. Know the power of cushions
An artful jumble of cushions at each end of a sofa leaves space to show off a decorative back (buttoned, for example). You can always slide one of the cushions across for extra comfort when you sit down.
Also, don't be afraid to embrace a cushion clash, even on a patterned sofa.
4. Be guided by the sofa style
This helps when deciding how many scatter cushions to add. Comfort is paramount, without the need to remove cushions to sit back.
As a basic rule, the more cushions the sofa has as part of its shape, the fewer scatters it needs. A pillowback, for example, needs very few.
5. Keep it relaxed but ordered
Rearrange cushions and throws frequently so that a well-enjoyed sofa doesn’t look messy and unkempt.
What's more, blankets and throws not only add decorative texture but, when placed in favoured spots, they can prolong the life of the upholstery.
Our little black book...
Styling a sofa? Here’s a few of our favourite places to shop.
The British Blanket Co. For wool blankets – herringbone, waffle, ‘wildweave’ – in a nature-inspired palette of solid colours, stripes and checks.
Colours of Arley Use these striking bolster cushions, available in three sizes, on sofas and beds, or customise your own.
Eleanor Pritchard A small weave studio in London crafting contemporary blankets in calm colours.
Original BTC Elegantly simple, the bone china Hector lamp is a design classic. Place a floor lamp as a reading light at one end of the sofa.
Scumble Goosie Traditional hardwood furniture inspired by the 18th-century Gustavian and French styles, often with an English or Shaker twist. Sold unfinished or painted in a range of house colours.
Studio Humbug Printed to order cushions made in small batches in playful designs of patchwork stripes and oak leaves.
Harlow Console in Panna Cotta
Tulip Cushion in Midnight & Copper
Country Living Sloane Nesting Tables
Scalloped Circular Jute Rug
Knot Garden Throw
$199.00 at melintregwynt.co.uk
Rattle Table Lamp with Ikat Shade
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