7 Ways to Arrange Decorative Cushions

There is no doubt that decorative throw cushions are essential in increasing the aesthetics of a room. They add colour, character, texture and make a bed look stylish, cosy and inviting.

A bed without cushions can look empty and uninviting however having too many cushions can appear messy and busy. Cushion arrangements usually come down to personal preference; a colourful, textured, fuller look will appeal to some people, whilst others may prefer a simpler, minimalist approach.

Style your bed to perfection with our tips for arranging bed cushions!

Minimal Approach

Stack four standard white pillows at the head of the bed as a backrest for your accent cushions to lean on – you can either have these laid down or standing up. For a minimal and symmetrical look stick to even numbers for the accent cushions. Using variation in cushion sizes and shapes adds interest and a layered look.

Mix It Up

A general rule of thumb that our stylists swear by when styling a bed is to always start with four standard white pillows and white bed linen. White is a universal colour, it’s fresh, crisp and gives us endless opportunities to create new colour combinations through art, accessories and soft furnishings.

A similar approach to the previous arrangement, these cushions have been mixed around so that they are not symmetrical on each side. This form is playful and fun yet still maintains a simple sophisticated look.

Incorporating Colour

Odd numbers between Three and Five cushions can make your bed more interesting. Stack two cushions on each side and one in the front middle, remembering to mix up the sizes and shapes to keep it interesting. The eye is instantly drawn to the textured cushion at the front in this arrangement, and it becomes the focal point.

Drawing colours from other elements in the room and using these in the soft furnishings can create a cohesive look and colour palette through the room.

Luxury Hotel Style

European cushions add a touch of luxury to a bed. They are larger, create a fuller look and appear cosier and more comfortable. In this look, the cushions are a range of sizes and cascade down the bed to emphasis the patterned ones at the front.

Adding dark accent cushions to a white bed creates a contrast and sense of drama. The odd cushion on this bed has been placed in the middle at the back of the arrangement.

Palette Play

Here an even amount of cushions have been arranged to form an unsymetrical look. The colour of these cushions have been drawn from the artwork hanging above, and play on the colour palette, using variations of pink and purple shades. This 3, 2, 1 arrangement is elegant and completes the head of the bed.

You may notice the indent in the front three cushions. This is known in the industry as a ‘karate chop’, and is done on purpose on feather filled cushions to shape them and create a crisp, tailored look.

Mix It Up

Who said cushions need to match? What we have seen trending at the moment are small cushions shaped as objects such as fruit or circular knots. These cushions give a bedroom a quirky touch and is a more fun and playful approach; especially for a children’s room.

In this arrangement, the accent cushions have been placed more freely and less uniform. The small novelty cushion makes for a great space filler and adds an element of fun.

Trio – Triangle Arrangement

Although the cushions on this bed compliment the artwork above, it is the patterned cushion in the front and centre that makes the ultimate statement. The triangular arrangement of these three cushions forces the front cushion to stand out.

Have a go at styling your bedroom cushions similar to one of our arrangements! Mix it up every few months to freshen up the look. The only limit is your imagination.

View more images like this in our Lookbook