How to Dress and Style a Sofa Like an Interior Designer

Interior designers dress a sofa in layers: cushions in two or three sizes, a restrained colour palette drawn from the room, a mix of textures, one well placed throw and supporting pieces such as a lamp and side table that frame the seating. The real secret is restraint, as fewer, carefully chosen cushions look far more considered than a crowded row of matching squares. In this guide we start with the sofa itself, explaining how its shape and colour shape every styling decision. We then show how to build a three colour palette from your rug, curtains or artwork, how to mix smooth and textured fabrics, and how to scale cushions to the sofa using symmetrical or relaxed arrangements. You will also learn where to place a throw, how lamps, coffee tables and console tables complete the composition, how to hang art above a sofa and how to refresh the look as the seasons change....