Sectional sofa styling tips: Throw pillows, blankets, and layout ideas

Key takeaways

Proper styling of a sectional sofa allows you to use this piece to define your living area while also enhancing your comfort level and attractiveness.
Adding throw pillows and/or blankets introduces colour, texture, and seasonal flexibility to your seating options.
Utilising a well-planned layout for your sectional will help to create an environment that maximises space, circulation, and areas for conversations.
The use of layered accessories along with furniture arrangement strategically placed within a space will produce an overall cohesive, inviting room.

Introduction

The main piece in the living room helps determine the general atmosphere of the area, and how this area is styled greatly influences that. A sectional sofa is one type of furniture that offers lots of seating as well as an area to showcase your individual style by using your creativity to style with pillows and fabrics. A very well styled sectional sofa will be a great focal point and will maximize comfort, function, and beauty through appropriate arrangement and placement.

Layering throw pillows

Decorative cushions are a fantastic way to add colour, pattern and texture to any sectional sofa from any store. To create some diversity in your design, consider using a variety of different sizes and shapes (square, rectangular, round). A good idea for keeping an equal balance between bold designs and neutral colours throughout your space is alternating them on a monthly basis. Adding luxurious fabrics such as velvet, linen or cotton will also create an inviting and stylish look.

Cozying up with blankets

Sectional furniture can greatly benefit from using throws and blankets because they not only keep you warm but also offer a relaxed, “layered” look. For example, you could place a chunky-knit throw on top of the back cushion of your sectional or use a soft cashmere throw across one of the arms for an inviting, relaxed feel!

To make sure the throws or blankets you select will work well with the colour scheme of your sectional, choose throws or blankets that coordinate well with either your pillows or accent pieces in your room. As an added bonus, by using blankets or throws as accent decor, you are able to add seasonal texture or colour to your installation without making a long-term commitment to permanent installation.

Layout ideas for your sectional sofa

Where you place your sectional sofa can change how your room functions and flows. These layout strategies can help you make the most of your sectional sofa:

Corner Placement: Great for creating a natural gathering place in a large open area while maximizing your available square footage.
Room Divider: Create a separate living and dining area in a large open plan by placing a sectional into the floor plan so that it acts as both a room divider and a visual barrier.
Floating Arrangement: Move the sectional away from the wall to form a cozy gathering place, allowing for the natural flow of foot traffic through the room.

In each option, accenting your sectional with side tables, ottomans, or area rugs will create a purposeful appearance and help define the seating area.

Styling accessories around the sectional

Complementary accessories are a great way to elevate the visual appeal of your sectional. Use two layered rugs to help you define your seating area as well as coffee and end tables. Consider adding floor or table lamps to create some visual interest in the area also. You may even want to think about using pieces of art and wall décor that complement the colours used in your sectional as a part of your overall room design.

Maximize the use of your sectional sofa

The sectional can serve as a functional and stylish foundation in a living space by creating an overall design. When you add throw pillows, blankets, etc., add accessories around them. You can also play around with the placement of your sectional to find the best fit for your area and how you want it to look.

The sectional can be arranged in such a way that it looks good no matter what type of atmosphere or design you want (modern minimalism versus cozy eclectic). These styling methods will allow you to maximize the use of your sectional by making it the focal point of your home, creating an inviting and comfortably beautiful space.