With sofas, comfort comes first. But a couch typically “occupies prime real estate” in a room, says the decorator Alexandra Pappas, 47, of Pappas Miron Design — meaning it’s worth thinking about its visual appeal, too. Of course, there’s the standard two-pillows-and-a-throw treatment but, for a truly original look, the more colors, shapes and textiles you can incorporate, the better. Take the former Vogue editor Diana Vreeland’s famous Manhattan living room, designed in 1957, where the same red floral fabric covered the walls, curtains and sofa, which was filled with contrasting cushions, including ones that she’d needlepointed herself; or the eclectic Milanese library of the writer and botanist Umberto Pasti, whose couch is strewn with Moroccan carpets and an antique cheetah skin. For practical advice on creating a similarly inviting layered effect, we spoke to a handful of interior designers who have perfected the art.
Try mismatched, patterned pillows.
The experts agree that a mix of different pillows is more visually interesting than a uniform set. Gabrielle Soyer, 67, the owner of the Paris home goods store Lindell & Co. — which sells hand-embroidered pillows and tapestries from Kashmir, India — says that contrasting shades and styles add depth to a room. In her own apartment, she has lilac, green and brown cushions, “all colors that are present elsewhere in the room, in art and other textiles,” she says, “which helps unify the space.” She recommends using an odd number of pillows, for example two on one side of the sofa and three on the other, because the asymmetry makes the styling look more natural. But “don’t over-pillow,” warns Robin Standefer, 60, a co-founder of the New York design studio Roman and Williams, “and keep them at a reasonable scale.” Generally speaking, that means choosing ones that are not taller than the backrest or wider than the seat cushions of your sofa.
Creating your own pillowcases is another way to add personality to your setup. Pappas’s team “scours antique shops and markets for scraps of vintage tapestries, needlepoints, mud cloths” and other fabrics, she says, then has them sewn into cases for her clients, something that’s easy enough to do with your own finds and a sewing machine — or the help of an upholsterer. The New York-based curator Alex Tieghi-Walker, 47, has likewise brought simple rectangular gray and white cases from Muji to his tailor to fit them to his square cushions. He arranges them among jewel-toned velvet pillows from Etsy on the daybed in his apartment-cum-gallery, Tiwa Select.
Go big with throws and other textiles.
“Blankets and throws are not always meant to be flung” over a sofa’s arm, says Standefer. As an alternative, she likes to create what she calls a “sofa carpet,” an English decorating tradition in which a large blanket is draped over most of the couch, with one side tucked behind the backrest and the other beneath the seat cushions; only the arms and legs of the sofa are visible — helpful if you’d like to protect the upholstery from pets, small children or clumsy guests. The New York-based designer and boutique owner John Derian, 62, also recommends this technique and likes to use Jeanette Farrier’s neutral-colored Kantha blankets — Indian and Bengali quilts hand-stitched from discarded cotton scraps — or antique linen top sheets. Many 19th-century sheets “have beautifully embroidered monograms,” says Derian; prices start at around $40 on Etsy. A go-to for Pappas is an Alpaca throw from Sandra Jordan, a Peruvian textile designer who offers over a dozen colors and the option to create bespoke blankets to match any interior. For something more dramatic, Soyer sells chain-stitched tapestries in the shape of tiger skins, a favorite of decorators such as India Mahdavi. Soyer recommends draping one “as if a real tiger were sitting on top of the sofa.”
Add finishing touches.
Standefer likes to cover seat cushions with black or white sheepskin pelts, a common choice in Scandinavian homes. “It’s earthy and refined at the same time. It’s like the perfect wrap or shrug, but for your couch instead of your body,” says the designer, who particularly loves the way that these pieces contrast with velvet sofas. Pappas recommends putting a small silver or tole tray, or a place mat with raised edges, like the colorful ones made by the Korean artist Huh Myoung Wook, on one of your couch cushions. That way, you can “corral all of the remotes and have a spot for your tea or cocktail,” she says. “Sometimes the coffee table is just too far away!”
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