Updating with Cushions

Many of us don't have the time or the money to invest in a complete overhaul of the living spaces in our homes and instead stick with what we've got until we can't take it anymore, or until there's enough money saved up for a major shopping spree.  Well this decorating mentality doesn't have to continue any longer!  Apart from my previous posts on introducing decorative objects and art into your space (which of course I approve of) a quick and easy way to not only inject some colour but to also transform your space is to change (or add) cushions.


I know you must be thinking "no way, it can't be that easy", but it is really that easy.  A simple decorators trick is to either add an array of cushions on the sofa, an armchair, the floor, the bed, etc or to simply change what already exists.  Many of us have purchased a sofa in our day and without a doubt that sofa came with coordinating or matching throw cushions, and yes, you're probably looking at your sofa right now and thinking "yeah, so what?"  well why not change those throw cushions to something different?  Either replace them altogether or give them a new cover.


I'll show you some examples of how easily you can update the look of your furniture and your room by introducing new cushions.  This concept can also be easily adopted for a transformation throughout the seasons.  This is a quick and easy trick to spruce up your place without breaking the bank, and yes, this trick can (and should) be applied to every room of your house.


Coordinating or Contrasting?


Now that you've decided to make the transition and change those throw cushions in your home you have to decide whether you want to make a coordinating or contrasting addition to what already exists.  This is where the task of selecting new cushions (or covers) can become overwhelming, but it really doesn't have to be.  The trick is to select cushions that  either complement what's already existing or create contrast, and by this I mean do you want your cushions to enhance or stand out.


Here's an example of coordinating vs. contrasting cushion selections for a basic white sofa:

Now I know that not everyone has a white or light coloured sofa in your homes but this is just to show how easily one can adopt the coordinating or contrasting colour scheme for the sofa (or furniture piece) that you have.


Here are some coordinating cushions for the white sofa above:

 As you can see from the pillows selected here they vary in neutral shades to complement the colour of the sofa but not so much so as to blend right in.  If you select cushions that match the sofa I recommend that you opt for only one or two amongst a group and that those matching cushions are textural, this way they don't get lost against the similar hue of the sofa.


Here are some contrasting cushions for the white sofa above:

The selection of the chartreuse and apple green really make for a dramatic pop against the white of the sofa and therefore constitute as a perfect contrast.  You could easily incorporate any colour with the white sofa as the backdrop and they would stand out predominately; colours such as pink, turquoise, lavender, canary yellow, etc. would make an impact statement on this type of sofa.

TIP: remember when selecting cushions opt for texture and pattern as they add depth and dimension.  Don't only stick to the traditional square pillow try cushions in varying heights, shapes and sizes as well.


Coloured Sofas and Furniture...what cushion do I pick?


Now if you're not the adventurous type and don't have a white sofa or white furniture in your home and instead have a coloured sofa (mainly to mask the wear and tear of the family) you're probably wondering what you can do to enhance your space with cushions.  Most of us have traditional brown or black sofas/furniture and every now and then red, yellow and green can be found in households - I personally have crimson, yellow and sage sofas in my home, which I know sounds horrifying but I assure you they're not all in the same room!


With this being said, as the majority of households have brown/camel/tan coloured sofas I will use this colour choice as my next example:

Here are some complementary cushions for the chocolate coloured sofa:

Metallics such as gold, copper and bronze work well against the dark chocolate colour of the sofa and introducing warmer colours such as yellow, camel and tan work to soften up the overall tone.


Here are some contrasting cushions for the chocolate coloured sofa:

As you can see the bright blue and purple hues create a lovely contrast to the grounded chocolate brown in the sofa.  The hits of green, orange and magenta create a sense playfulness and work together to create harmony and intrigue.  In this case I would recommend that you select the same brightness level for all your cushions i.e.  vibrant or muted.


TIP: Opt for different patterns when selecting your cushions, the trick is to select patterns that have similar colours found within and therefore, will all work together harmoniously.


The key to selecting cushions to update or revamp your space is to select colours that don't clash with the majority of the fabric/colour found in your furniture.  For example, if you are planning on selecting cushions for your sofa, keep in mind that your colour selection will be based on the overall colour of that sofa, similarly, if your cushions are meant for the bedroom, you should select based on your bedspread, etc.  So if you have a funky retro sofa in a tangerine colour try to stay away from cushions that are pinkish in hue overall.  If however, you select a cushion that has hits of pink but are comprised of other colours that work well with your tangerine sofa (such as yellow, red, medium blue, green, purple, etc.) I say go for it.  The overall key is to have fun with the selection of your cushions, because after all they are so easily removed, replaced or re-covered!


Happy Shopping!


Courtesy of:
Crate and Barrel
Structube