When combining cushions, the first thing to look at is not the cushion but the sofa. Its colour and texture decide which pattern and colour will work on the cushion.
How to combine cushions: three rules
- One plain, one patterned. If the sofa is a plain colour, the cushion can be patterned. If the sofa is already patterned, choose a plain or very simple cushion; two busy patterns side by side look cluttered.
- Repeat one colour. One of the colours in the cushion should appear somewhere else in the room: the rug, curtains, a painting or the table runner. A repeated colour ties the cushion to the room.
- Mix pattern scales. If you use more than one patterned cushion, one should have a large pattern (big flowers, large motifs) and the other a small one (checks, stripes, small flowers). Two patterns of the same scale compete with each other.
Cushion colours by sofa colour
| Sofa colour | Matching cushion colours |
|---|---|
| Grey, anthracite | Yellow, mustard, blue, pink; almost any pattern |
| Beige, cream | Earth tones, terracotta, green, navy |
| Navy | White-ground patterns, mustard, coral |
| Green | Pink, cream, floral patterns |
| Black, dark brown | Light-ground, brightly coloured patterns |
This table is a starting point, not a rule. When in doubt, grey and beige sofas are the easiest: almost any pattern works with these two colours.
How many cushions on a sofa?
- Three-seater: 2 or 3 cushions. With two, place them symmetrically at the ends; with three, keep the ends the same and make the middle one different.
- Corner sofa: 4-5 cushions; the largest goes in the corner.
- Armchair: 1 cushion.
When mixing sizes, the larger one (45x45 or 50x50 cm) goes at the back and the smaller one (40x40 cm) in front. We explain size selection in detail in our cushion cover sizes article.
Which pattern should you choose?
The feel of the room decides the pattern:
- Floral patterns give a soft, warm look and stand out on their own on a plain sofa.
- Check and gingham patterns have a small scale, so they work well as a second cushion next to a large floral one.
- Fruit and lemon patterns look lively in seating areas near the kitchen and on balconies.
- Ethnic and geometric patterns become a strong focal point in rooms with plain, simple furniture.
Can cushions and the table share a pattern?
Yes; if the living and dining areas are in the same space, this makes the room look connected. When the cushion on the sofa and the runner on the table share a pattern, the two areas are tied together. That is why LaMua Home draws its patterns as series: the same pattern appears on the cushion cover, table runner, placemat and coaster. For the full look in one pattern, see our table runner and placemat sets.
Common mistakes
- Buying all cushions in the same pattern. It looks tidy but flat; choosing a second cushion in a different pattern from the same palette gives a livelier result.
- Buying an insert the same size as the cover. The cover looks limp; the insert should be one size larger.
- Cushions that overpower the sofa. Too many, too large cushions take up seating space.
LaMua Home cushion covers are 40x40 cm, and 43x43 cm in some series; they have a zip and do not include an insert. Browse our cushion cover designs.