Throw pillows add coziness to any room, and are a simple way to refresh your space. Keep reading for pillow combinations and styling tips.



Welcome friends! So happy to have you drop by Caitlin Marie Design today. I promised a post dedicated to throw pillow combinations and finds, and here it is at last! While my hubby claims he will never understand my love for a perfectly chopped pillow, I know you are my people 😉 Whether it be a bold pattern, cozy texture, or classic stripe, pillows seem to make the design world go round! Here you will find pillow combinations, tips for layering, and my current favs. Grab a cozy drink and let’s get started!
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Pillow Combinations
First up, pillow combinations! I created six looks and did a budget and investment grouping for each style. I will be sharing even more pillow finds at the bottom of this post.
Note: If possible, I always recommend using down inserts. These 20″ inserts are great and only $10, but sometimes out of stock. I also love THESE and THESE for all different sizes.

Cozy & Collected: one / two / three / four / five / six
Earthy Texture: one / two / three / four / five / six
Subtly Festive: one / two / three / four / five / six

Modern Coastal: one / two / three / four / five / six
Floral & Feminine: one / two / three / four / five / six
Neutral Minimalist: one / two / three / four / five / six
Pillow Layering Tips by Room
Living Room Pillows


Here are my tips for styling pillows on a sofa or sectional:
- Place a larger pillow at the back. Here I have used 24″ pillows at each end and in the center of my sectional.
- Layer smaller pillows in front. The rest of my pillows are mostly 20″ with a lumbar thrown in, but 22″ would also work!
- Include a few solid, basic pillows. This gives your eyes a place to rest so the design isn’t too busy. I used this pretty linen pillow on the left and this subtle plaid pillow in the center.
- Feel free to mix stripes and patterns! The key is to keep things balanced. Notice how the stripes on the mauve and green pillows are oriented in opposite directions (one horizontal, one vertical). On the left, I balanced a bolder striped pillow with a botanical print.


I recently purchased the brown Britney and mauve Kayleen pillows from my friend Jasmin’s shop! She sources textiles from around the world and her pillows are just gorgeous. Had to give her a little shout out here!
Bedroom Pillows

Shop our fall guest room here!

I love styling cozy bedrooms, and layered pillows play a big role in the design. Here are a few tips for styling pillows on a bed:
- Again, place larger pillows at the back. For both of these bedrooms I used 24″ pillows for my foundation. The bed with the cream headboard is a queen and the bed with a charcoal headboard is a king. You could also use two 26″ pillows or three 24″ pillows on a king.
- Layer smaller pillows in the front. On both beds I used two 20″ pillows and a lumbar. The lumbars are 14″ x 24″ and 14″ x 30″. You could also group two to three different pillows at the front for a more casual look!
- Decide whether you prefer a bold or soft look. In our guest room I included deeper tones for an earthy, saturated color palette. In our master I kept things light to balance our charcoal headboard.
- Don’t forget texture! In both of these bedrooms I included pillows with nice texture to add to the coziness of the space.
Pillow Finds by Shop
Here are some of my favorite pillow finds! I am sharing some larger stores as well as small shops. Many of the small shop pillows are an investment because they are handmade from quality textiles that are often vintage or handwoven. I think these pieces add so much character to a space and I love supporting other small businesses when I can! My strategy is to combine budget finds with investment pieces that really elevate the design.
Target
Budget friendly, many are sewn seam but some have zippers. I always replace with down inserts when I can.
H&M
Budget friendly, great basics and seasonal finds.
Serena & Lily
Coastal inspired pillows with beautiful texture and detail. Investment.
Pottery Barn
Quality basics and pretty patterns. Moderate to investment.
CB2
Modern pillows with great texture. Moderate to investment.
Hackner Home (Etsy)
Lots of great stripes and plaids!
Xasmin Interiors (Etsy)
Beautiful pillows made from global textiles.
Laurel and Blush (Etsy)
Love the floral patterns and tassels.
My Haven Home (Etsy)
Lots of stripes and patterns.
Uusi Studio (Etsy)
Earthy tones with lots of texture.
I hope you found this post helpful for creating and styling pillow combinations 🙂 You will have to let me know which look was your favorite! XO,

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