The secret to a beautiful and comfortable bedroom is learning how to arrange cushions on a bed perfectly to create that luxurious hotel look at home. Cushions are just the finishing touch on any room, but they can completely transform it into a beautiful retreat.
While arranging cushions can initially be a daunting task, there are a lot of tricks you can use to make it easier. After a lot of trial and error over the years as an interior designer, I have found the perfect way to make sure that your bed always looks luxurious and comfortable.
So here are all of my tips on how to arrange cushions on a bed
How to arrange cushions on a bed
Let’s start with a colour scheme
When styling anything in your home, starting with a colour scheme is always a great idea. This will make sure that any items you choose will always work well together and look like a designer has styled them. There are a few different ways to create a colour scheme for a cushion layout. The first is to use colours that are an accent colour within the room. This can be a brighter complementary colour to the other colours in the room. This can help balance the scheme, ensuring it does not feel overwhelming and pulled together.
The second way of creating a colour scheme within a room is to use a monochromatic scheme. This will create a calming and relaxing environment. When working with a monochromatic scheme, it is essential to vary the types of materials used in the room so that the scheme still has some interest. For example, you could choose to use knitted or silk cushion covers with cotton bedsheets.
Lastly, using patterns on your cushion covers will add an extra detail to the room’s design. A solid-coloured bedsheet will add a sense of luxury and sophistication to your room. Once you have done this, you can add patterned cushions to ensure that the room still has a cosy charm. The rule of thumb is that the more detailed and small the pattern, the more traditional it will feel. If you want a contemporary look, using a bold block-coloured pattern is better to achieve this.
Related Post | How to create a colour scheme for your house in 3 simple steps
Consider the size of the cushions
The other thing to consider when choosing cushions to style your bed with is the size and shape of the cushion covers. You will need to make sure that the cushions are the right size for the bed you are styling. Too small and they will be lost, while too big and they will overwhelm the bed, making it look out of proportion to the rest of the room.
It may seem obvious, but starting with larger cushions at the back of your arrangement is always good, as this creates a good background for the rest of the cushions. These should be at least 50x50cm square cushions, even larger if you have a bed bigger than a double bed. Once you have chosen these, it is important to have a few small cushions, such as square 45x45cm ones or smaller ones. Bolster cushions are also an excellent option, as they can help to tie an arrangement together.
Make sure you upgrade your cushion inners
Once you have chosen your cushion covers, the next thing you need to do is make sure you use the right cushion inners. It is always essential to use a size bigger for your inner than the cushion itself. So, if your cushion cover is 45x45cm square, then you will need to buy a 50x50cm square inner. This is to ensure that the cushion has a plump look and remains that way for years to come. The fillings of an inner cushion can be grouped in two ways: feather or down and polyester or synthetic.
A feather cushion inner will give your bed an overall look of luxury. But, they are high maintenance and will need to be plumped often. Feather inners will create a cushion that moulds to you and creates a more cosy feel. To create a fuller look, stand the cushion on the bed and karate-chop the top. This trick of the trade has been used for years to make a cushion look more plump.
On the other hand, a synthetic cushion inner is a much better choice if you or your family suffer from allergies, as they are widely known to be hypoallergenic. Cushions with these inners will not need to be plumped up as much as a feather cushion, although they will not mould to you as well as a feather inner, so your bed will not feel as cosy.
Best place to buy feather cushion inners
Best place to buy synthetic cushion inners
Create a good foundation
To make sure that your cushion arrangement stays looking its best throughout the day, it is an excellent idea to use two pillows per person. Two pillows are needed for a single bed, and four are needed for all other sizes. Even if you sleep with only one pillow, using two when styling a bed is a good idea, as this will help to support the cushions you choose to style the bed with.
It is also an excellent idea to use a plain colour for the rest of your bed linen and to add colour through the cushions and throw blankets you choose. If you are unsure, the best colour for your linens is white or neutral, but if it does not work with your colour scheme, a different, more cohesive colour will be a better choice.
Ideas for how to arrange cushions on a bed
Here are 5 different ways to arrange cushions on a bed to inspire you to style your bedroom beautifully.
Arranging cushions on a single bed
As mentioned before, the best place to start when styling a single bed is to use two pillows to create a good foundation for the cushions to rest upon. Once you have these in place, it will be time to add your biggest cushion to create the background for the others. For a single bed, you will need one bolster cushion or two small cushions, 35x35cm square is a good size. Using these smaller cushions to have fun with the design can also be a lovely idea, especially if you are decorating a children’s room. Bright colours, fun shapes, or highly embellished cushions are always a winning choice.
Arranging cushions on a double bed
The arrangement of cushions shown here is a more formal and structured way to style a bed. It works well with a more traditional design style in your bedroom. Once you have the pillows in place, the first thing to add to the bed is matching 50x50cm square cushions. This will create the backdrop for your styling and should be placed in the centre of each pillow. It is essential in this type of styling that you make sure everything is symmetrical, as it will show up easily with this layout. The next thing to add is a 45x45cm square cushion to each side. This is an excellent time to start adding some patterns and any accent colours you would like to use. Lastly, add a bolster cushion to each side 50x30cm is a good size for this cushion. This should be your most decorative cushion, as it will be a focal point of the styling.
A different way to arrange cushions on a double bed
If you want your bedroom to have a more relaxed and modern feel, this cushion layout on a double bed will help you achieve that. It still has the structure of the 50x50cm square cushions to create the background. With two smaller 45x45cm square cushions in front to create some interest. The key piece of this layout is the bolster cushion at the front. This should be a bigger size than in the layout above. In this case, 60x30cm is a great size as it will stretch across both sides of the bed. As before, this cushion should be your most decorative, either in colour, pattern or embellishment, as it is the focal point of the bed.
Arranging cushions on a king-size bed
Most cushion layouts from a double bed will work well with a few tweaks when styling a king-size bed. The simplest thing to do is to increase the number of the largest cushions you have; these should be 50x50cm square cushions. By using three of these to create the backdrop of your styling, you will make sure that the whole of the bed is included in the design. The layout above is a simple and modern way of styling a king-sized bed. Three 50x50cm square cushions will give a great background. It is better if these are plain colours and patterns. A 60x30cm bolster cushion or a larger one in front of these square cushions will add interest to the styling. Using a decorative bolster cushion will make sure that your bed has a more hotel-like feel.
A different way to arrange cushions on a king-size bed
This layout is excellent if you want your king-size bed styling to have a more structured and formal look. Start with 3 50x50cm square cushions to create a backdrop for your styling. Plain colours work well for these cushions, as the other cushions will create interest in the design. Next is 2 45x45cm square cushions. These should have a simple pattern to them as this will add a layer of interest to draw the eye around the styling. Finally, you will need to add a bolster cushion. The larger the cushion, the better; 60x30cm is a good size. This should be patterned or embellished as it is the focal point of the bed. Using an accent colour in this cushion is also a good idea to help tie the colour scheme together.
This post has been all about how to arrange cushions on a bed to help you create a luxurious designer look in your home.
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