Liana, The Pillow Master’s Advice
What Is The Best Size Pillow For Your Decor
Liana says “An interior designer will be able to determine the right size and number of pillows to best suit your furniture.”
Know Before You Buy Another Throw Pillow That:
A Pillow Cover will have different dimensions when empty versus full with a pillow insert.
In this case, we have a 20″ high x 20″ wide pillow cover.
Once stuffed, the cover will become a different dimension, and its depth will be a number of inches taken from the height and the width of the flat cover.
Pillow Dimensions Size Chart
These are approximate dimensions. I found a pillow insert source recently on Amazon since the manufacturer I used for years closed. I buy 24″ inserts for 22″ throw pillow covers so that they are fuller. You might want to pin this!
Note that a standard throw pillow size of 22″ becomes 15″ x 15″ when filled.
Follow the proportions of your sofa…
Measure your sofa’s BACK HEIGHT and SEATING DEPTH
Number of Pillows?
It’s a personal preference whether you want an even or odd number, how you want to layer them and how much free space you want on the seat cushions.
Again, measure the BACK HEIGHT, SEATING DEPTH, and SEATING WIDTH. Choose the pillow height at half of the chair’s back height, and pillow width at the zipper, as close as possible to the seating width.
A lumbar pillow should give enough seating depth, but if your chair has extra-deep seating, choose instead a large square pillow to provide full back support of an added back cushion.
Banquettes
If you have a backless banquette (like a window seat for instance), choose large square pillows that will function as back cushions and will provide full back support (leave at least 15″~16″ of depth for comfortable seating).
If your banquette has a padded or upholstered back, then lumbars or smaller square pillows should give you the right amount of support. Remember to save at least 15″~16″ for comfortable seating depth.
With my 6-foot wing settee, the back is high enough to accommodate 24″pillows but the seating depth is not deep enough. The best way to address this situation was using taller lumbar pillows which are less deep than squares, to balance the higher back. I used here three 18″x28″ lumbar pillows.
This was incredibly helpful! I have two chairs coming that are wider and shorter as far as the back cushion goes (about 29 wide by 16 tall excluding arms). I was going to go with an over-stuffed look with 22 x 22 beautifully patterned pillow that I had picked out, but I’m wondering if I should get them made in a 12 x 20 or 12 x 24 instead? What would you do! I can send photos of the chair if you’re willing to take a look!
It’s really the look you want. 22 x 22 are comfortable on our low back mid-century modern chairs (my husband likes them bigger and better than the lumbars)…but I prefer the look of a lumber pillow that’s about 12 x 22. Do you have a 22 square in your house that you could try out?
Wow, thank you so much for this post.
I was trying to find covers for my husbands old couch pillows and definitely would have ordered the wrong size!
They’re about 15 years old, 20 inches square, and have lost most of their loft (I don’t mind, they’re broken in to an almost ideal comfort level). I was thinking they needed 20” covers; I am so glad I researched further!
That being said, if they appear a squished 20in*20in/ 5in, synthetic fiber, with a corded edge, does that make the case likely still 28” or some strange size in between?
Are you sure you don’t want fresh inserts and covers? Are they foam? Or feather and down?
Fantastic tips! I need this. 🙂 I’ve been agonizing over pillow sizes for my new sectional. For an 84″ loft size sectional (Gus Modern Jane 2 Loft Sectional) I’m wondering what to do at the corner. Should I fill it with two 20″ pillows with a smaller one in front? Or fill the corner with a 20″, 18″ plus something smaller. I’ve been going round in cirlces with this LOL. Thanks so much!
Just found your site. Love it!
How do I choose and arrange pillows for two 84” sofas arranged in an L shape?
That’s a complicated question…as it depends on how deep and how high the back is. An easy formula would be four 22″ pillows (two of one kind) on each sofa that match.
Thank you for these helpful tips! In your opinion, do you think it would look okay to have a 22×22 inch pillow paired with a 18×18 inch pillow? Or would it be better to do 20×20 and 18×18 pillow together? Thanks for your help!
Yes…22″ with 20″ or 28.”
This is so incredibly helpful! Thank you. I sure miss Liana on Etsy. Her pillows were incredible, and her photos gave so many excellent ideas regarding mixing patterns. I imagine she is now to the trade only?
Thank you again for this…..
Mary Ann,
Best of luck to your sister. I’ve recently done the same. It feels good to have just what I need and use.
Great information and I will flag it so that I can refer to it when I need to. I know I wouldn’t remember all of the details. Haha,
xo,
Karen B.
We are still editing things! And tomorrow hanging art.
Good info. I’m wondering if two facing sofas should have exact matching pillows. Thanks.
I really think that is up to you, Hilda. I’m my case, mine don’t match exactly but they blend.
I actually had no idea there was a pillow formula, thank you for sharing Mary Ann. I have bookmarked this post and am sharing it on my Friday Favorites as well.
I still refer to the chart, Elizabeth!
Good for folks to know….and that they always need to buy an insert 2″ larger than the pillow they’re filling! Also, do you purchase Interior Linens to purchase to fill your pillows? Wondering how their price compares to my work room! If you do, what “feather combo” do you use?
thank you!
Jaye
I use the 90/10 feather/down combo. Their inserts cost more but they are double-lined so that the feathers don’t come out as easily.
Am I the only one who finds all these pillows, while lovely to look at, just a little bit silly? For the most part they do not improve the comfort of seating, and must be moved when people choose to sit. If 3 people want to sit on a sofa, where do the pillows go? Why not simply purchase seating that is an appropriate depth for most people, and avoid all the pillow shuffling? Same thought on the masses of pillows on beds. They look pretty, but putting them in place and then removing them every night just seems silly to me. I prefer the old adage ‘Form Follows Function’ for a more livable space. Just one opinion. I know many people love their pillows…
I DO love my pillows for the comfort, color, and texture that they provide…you sink into them and they can provide back (and neck if you are lying down) support. On the rare occasion, we have three people on one sofa…a pillow is easy to move. I am so happy you shared your opinion though!
Excellent information that I’m certain will be useful. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks, Carolina.
Thanks, MA and Liana … this is so helpful and I’m saving in new folder ‘Pillow Strategy’ … yay! xo
You are a lucky one with some of Liana’s pillows, Juliet!
so what size insert (square) would you purchase for a 20″ square cover?
If you buy from a designer pillow place like Interior Linens you get a 20” Square. But size up if you buy from a retail store like Pottery Barn. They will let you try them out in the store.
This post is THE BEST! Answers a lot of questions to help me get that perfectly proportioned look. So, so glad to have this as a reference….Thank you and Liana for sharing your wisdom!
Thanks, Holly!!
great article! thank you!!
Debra
Thanks Debra!!
This was very helpful. I’m hoping you could tell me what size inserts to buy for the different size pillows. You mention oversized down. the exact size for each size pillow cover would be very helpful to me.
Thanks very much.
If you buy from a designer pillow place like Interior Linens (the link is above) you get the same size as your insert dimensions. But size up if you buy from a retail store like Pottery Barn. They will let you try them out in the store
Great post! So very helpful! Do you have a good source for quality pillow inserts? Thanks!
I like Interior Linens…link above.
Thank you very much Mary for those tips. I will share it on my Instagram and Twitter. Really very very helpful. Thanks again.