Throw Pillows: A Guide To Sizing

Throw pillows look nice on their own but if you want to use them to their full potential, you should be mindful of the pillow sizes you’re using. Don’t worry, these aren’t rules you have to use to legally buy a throw pillow. However, when it comes to throw pillows, a guide to sizing can help you turn a piece of furniture into a stunning display of beauty and comfort.

There’s an eclectic range of throw pillow sizes, including 12x24, 14x20, 18x18, 20x20, 22x22, 24x24, and 26x26. How many pillows you place on a single piece of furniture depends on both your personal preference and the amount of space you have available. For example, smaller chairs can benefit from simply having a single 20” or 22” pillow in the center. Similarly, if you’re placing the pillows on a large couch, having one 22” pillow on each side, as well as one in the center (if there’s enough room), will do the trick.

Having one pillow on a piece of furniture gives it a nice look and an extra level of comfort, but layering will help you achieve appealing visual depth, especially if you’re dealing with larger furniture. Ultimately, the size of the pillow you use in the first layer depends on the size of the furniture it’s on. Although the first layer size varies, you’re typically going to use 22” and 24” pillows—though 26” inch pillows are available if you have an immense amount of space to play with.

For instance, if you’re placing the pillows on a large bed, consider using two layers of 26” throw pillows, and scale down in size with one or two additional layers, preferably with 22” and 18” pillows. The same principle goes for large couches, but, more often than not, you’ll want to use pillows in the 20”-24” range for such areas.

Additionally, don’t feel like you need to match the number of pillows per layer. Just because you have two 26” pillows on your first layer doesn’t mean you need two pillows for each following layer. For this example, let’s go back to the large couch. If you have two 22” pillows as your first layer, using a second layer of 20” pillows on each side and throwing a single 14x20 pillow in the center can help make each layer pop, especially if you play with contrasting colors and textures.

If you visit our custom pillow shop, you’ll see throw pillows come in quite a variety of textures and colors that can help you achieve the look and atmosphere you’re aiming for. It can be tough to really break down how you should design any given room because, at the end of the day, the pillow arrangement should be achieving one thing: your vision. Although, if you want to throw symmetry out the window and use a cluster of three pillows on one end of the couch and a group of two on the other end, you can still capture a visually appealing, cozy display.

When it comes to throw pillows, a guide to sizing is an effective starting point. Ultimately, go where your heart takes you. Sure, it sounds cheesy, but that’s truly how you’re going to get the most out of your arrangement.