Decorative Pillows

Scatter cushions should match the style and colour scheme of the room. In Scandinavian interiors, soft pastel shades and minimalist patterns work best. In boho interiors, on the other hand, go for cushions with ethnic motifs and bold colours.

The best scatter cushions are made from durable, attractive materials such as cotton, velour, linen or plush. Velour suits modern interiors, linen rustic spaces, and cotton works with almost any style. For outdoor use, choose waterproof Oxford polyester, while the most common filling is siliconised polyester fibre, known as silicone ball fibre.

Natural fillings such as down, feathers or wool are most often used in scatter cushions. Down cushions are exceptionally soft and hold their shape well, but they cost considerably more than synthetic fillings.

Many colours go with a grey sofa, but mustard, yellow, bottle green, navy, dusty pink and burgundy look particularly striking. Contrasting colours such as yellow are a good choice, as are cosy materials like velour or velvet. Geometric and floral patterns, as well as the classic combination of black and white, also work beautifully.

Scatter cushions are best cleaned by removing the covers and washing them at 30–40°C on a delicate cycle. Synthetic inners can be machine washed at 30–60°C on a low spin, ideally with tennis balls to stop the filling from clumping. Cushions with feathers, foam or delicate embellishments such as tassels or beads should be hand washed or spot cleaned.

To make scatter cushions look plumper, choose an inner larger than the cover – for example, a 56 × 56 cm inner works well in a 50 × 51 cm cover. The material also affects how full they look; velvet usually gives cushions a more generous shape than linen.

The 2-2-1 rule is an easy styling method using five cushions: two large, two medium and one decorative cushion as an accent.

In the corner of a corner sofa, build depth by placing more 50–55 cm cushions and adding lumbar cushions. This part should have the most layers to create a cosy focal point. At the ends of the corner sofa, you can layer further 50–55 cm cushions over those already in place and finish with a lumbar cushion.

You can build colour balance and harmony using the 60-30-10 rule. The dominant colour should take up about 60% of the room, for example the walls, the secondary colour about 30%, e.g. furniture or larger accents, and the remaining 10% can be contrasting accessories such as cushions, pictures or decorations.

Sponge cleaning can give excellent results. For scatter cushions that cannot easily be machine washed, gentle spot cleaning is a good option. Simply use a good-quality upholstery shampoo and a sponge, gently working the product into the soiled areas to remove stains.

Today the most fashionable scatter cushion colours are all about warmth, depth and versatility. Natural neutrals soften a room, blues and greens bring calm, and earthy terracotta and spice tones warm up the scheme. Jewel tones, meanwhile, add elegance and rich depth.

For example, cushions in sage, olive or pistachio tones go beautifully with a bottle green sofa. You can also add interest with texture by choosing velour or linen covers, or designs with geometric stitching.

The most popular scatter cushion sizes are 40x40 cm, 45x45 cm and 50x50 cm. Larger models work well on beds and large corner sofas.

Yes, scatter cushions are often used in bedrooms to dress the bed. They help create a cosy, elegant look.

A standard sofa usually has 3 to 5 scatter cushions. This number strikes a balance between looks and comfort.