The Best Affordable Throw Pillow Covers For Every Home
Throw pillows are a decorating staple. They can be used throughout your home to add color, visual interest, and style to your space.
To get a modern look, throw pillows should be styled in a mix and match method. However, selecting the right colors, patterns, and textures for a pillow combination set can be confusing and challenging.
This post covers the best tips for all things throw pillows, including where to purchase them, how to style them, and tons of examples of coordinating throw pillow color scheme combinations. You’ll find everything you need to know about throw pillows here.
Throw pillows add a level of comfort and softness to any space. They bring in fabric and texture elements that help to break up any hard surfaces you have in your home.
Adding throw pillows is a great way to introduce color and texture to a neutral space.
They can also be used to change an accent color in your home for a new season.
I like to switch my pillow covers for each of the major seasons.
By changing the covers of your throw pillows, you can affordably create a new look for your space.
Instead of buying all new pillows, you can buy just the pillow covers.
Most pillows come with covers that have an invisible zipper. This makes it easy to swap the cover for a new one whenever you want.
Where to Buy Cheap Throw Pillows
Throw Pillows on Amazon
I’ve found that Amazon is the best source for cheap throw pillow covers.
One thing I’ve always been frustrated by is how expensive pillow covers can be. Especially if you want to create a designer styled look for your home.
Many of my favorite throw pillows are from high end designer websites. But those designer covers can be over $80 each, and many times even more than that! I’ve always loved the pillow covers from Studio McGee.
Related: Shop the Target Studio McGee Collections
While there is a benefit to investing in high-quality pieces that will hopefully last many years in your home, I have not been able to justify the designer price points yet.
Especially since I’m currently in a phase of life where my house is a family home. There’s kids, pets, and lots of activity throughout our house.
I want people to actually be able to use my throw pillows and not worry about ruining them because they were $100 for just the cover.
Amazon is one of my favorite places for finding affordable and cheap throw pillow covers.
Not only is a great place to search for a large variety of pillows, but they also normally have free shipping with Amazon Prime. I can get a whole set of covers for the price of just 1 designer throw pillow cover.
In the past, I think Amazon was lacking in their selection of throw pillow covers. But recently I’ve found so many great options. It’s become a very good place to find affordable decorative pillows for your home.
I want to show you that it is possible to get beautiful, cohesive, styled throw pillows on a budget.
50+ Throw Pillow Color Combinations
In order to get the look of styled throw pillows in your home, you need to combine them into a cohesive collection.
Here are 52 different styled throw pillow combinations using affordable pillow covers from Amazon.
All of the pillow combinations have been grouped by major color palettes. Each of the color combination sets are in groupings of 3 pillows. Feel free to remove pillows to create smaller groups as needed.
Mauve Throw Pillows
Mauve is a pale, muted shade of pink and purple that falls somewhere between lavender and dusty rose in color. It is often described as soft and subtle, and is known for its calming and soothing properties.
In home decor, mauve is a popular choice for those who want to add a touch of color to their space without going too bold. Mauve can be paired with a range of other colors, including neutrals, pastels, and jewel tones, and it works well with a variety of decor styles, from traditional to modern.
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Earth Tone Throw Pillows
Earth tones are a range of natural, muted colors that are inspired by the hues found in nature. These colors include shades of brown, green, and beige, and are known for their warm, grounding, and calming properties.
In home decor, earth tones are a popular choice for those who want to create a cohesive, natural look. They can be paired with a variety of other colors, including neutrals, pastels, and bold hues, and work well with a range of decor styles, from traditional to modern.
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Olive Green Throw Pillows
Olive green is a muted, earthy shade of green that is named after the color of olives. It is often described as being a neutral color that can complement a wide range of other hues.
In home decor, olive green is a popular choice for those who want to add a touch of natural, rustic, or organic style to their space. It can be paired with a variety of other colors, including neutrals, pastels, and bold hues, and works well with a range of decor styles, from traditional to modern.
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Blue Throw Pillows
Blue is a versatile color that is often associated with calmness, tranquility, and trustworthiness. It comes in a range of shades, from pale and ethereal to deep and rich, and can complement a wide variety of other hues.
In home decor, blue is a popular choice for those who want to add a touch of calmness, elegance, or sophistication to their space. It can be paired with a variety of other colors, including neutrals, pastels, and bold hues, and works well with a range of decor styles, from traditional to modern.
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Common Throw Pillow Sizes
Throw pillow covers come in a variety of different sizes. It can be overwhelming to look at all of the different options and know what to use in your home.
To make it easier, I normally use 5 main throw pillow sizes throughout my home. I just mix and match these sizes to get different looks.
- 24”x24” Oversized Square (24 inch pillow cover)
- 20”x20” Standard Square (20 inch pillow cover)
- 18”x18” Small Square (18 inch pillow cover)
- 12”x20” Small Lumbar
- 12”x24” Large Lumbar
Square Throw Pillows
Throw Pillow Covers 18”x18”
A throw pillow cover that measures 18”x18” is the smallest square size pillow that I use. This is the perfect size cover for a small accent patterned pillow. This size of pillow is normally not styled alone. Instead, it’s layered with a large pillow or pillows to create a collected look.
Throw Pillow Covers 20”x20”
A throw pillow cover that measures 20”x20” is the standard square size pillow that I use when decorating my home. This is the most common size pillow cover and generally looks the best wherever you put it in your home.
Throw Pillow Covers 24”x24”
A throw pillow cover that measures 24”x24” is an oversized square pillow. I use these on couches and on beds layered with smaller pillows. While these pillows may seem very large at first, they really help to fill out a space.
Lumbar Throw Pillows
Throw Pillow Covers 12”x20”
A throw pillow cover that measures 12”x20” is a small lumbar pillow. This rectangular pillow is perfect as an accent and normally is layered in front of other square pillows.
Throw Pillow Covers 12”x24”
A throw pillow cover that measures 12”x24” is a large lumbar pillow. This rectangular pillow is perfect as an accent on a large bed or on a very large sectional couch.
Throw Pillow Inserts
One of the most important things about styling throw pillows is choosing the right inserts. The insert you choose matters.
Throw pillow inserts come in a variety of different materials. Down is the ideal filling for pillows because it produces the most plush, full pillows.
In order to get the fluffiest looking pillows, I recommend using natural materials like a down insert rather than a polyester insert.
Down inserts have a weight to them that helps give a throw pillow shape. They also allow you to karate chop your pillows to get that designer throw pillow look.
The Best Down Throw Pillow Inserts
The most affordable inserts I’ve found are these down throw pillow inserts from Amazon.
These pillow inserts come as a set of 2, so they are very budget friendly.
Once you purchase the inserts, they can be reused again and again with different throw pillow covers.
When purchasing square pillow inserts, make sure you choose 1 size bigger than the pillow cover you are using. That will give you the fluffiest looking pillows that won’t lose their shape.
- Pillow Cover 18”x18”
- Pillow Cover 20”x20”
- Pillow Cover 24”x24”
For lumbar pillow inserts, I recommend choosing the insert that is the same size as the pillow cover.
- Pillow Cover 12”x20”
- Pillow Cover 12”x24”
My Secret to Finding Cheap Pillow Inserts
One of my biggest secrets to finding nice throw pillow inserts on a budget is shopping the clearance sections.
Stores like HomeGoods, T.J. Maxx, and Marshalls normally have throw pillows from the different seasons marked down in the clearance section.
Search through these sections and feel the inserts. See if they feel like a down throw pillow insert. You can tell by the weight and if the insert is choppable.
You can also start to feel the difference between a feather insert and a polyester insert. So after you test a bunch of pillows, you will start to know exactly what to look for.
Look for pillows that meet the criteria for quality. It doesn’t matter what the pillow cover looks like, because you are going to be replacing that anyway. So try and not worry about the look of the pillows, and if it fits with your style. Just focus on the insert quality.
When shopping for clearance pillow inserts, make sure you choose an insert that is the same size as the pillow cover. You won’t need to size up, just look for the exact pillow size you want. If the pillow looks and feels well stuffed, then you can just use that insert with your new pillow cover.
I’ve found some amazing deals on high-quality pillow inserts by shopping clearance sections. For example, I found 24”x24” pillows marked down to just $8! Once I got them home, I took off the covers, donated them, and replaced them with new throw pillow covers.
This is a really affordable way to build up your collection of high-quality throw pillow inserts.
Can Throw Pillows Be Washed?
Most throw pillow covers can be washed in your home washing machine. Just follow the directions on the tag for the best care. Occasionally some throw pillow covers will need to be dry cleaned. This depends on the material that the cover is made from.
Throw pillow inserts can be machine washed as long as the tag instructions specify this type of care. The down inserts from Amazon that I recommend can be machine washed at home.
If you have different inserts, pay attention to the care tags. Some types of pillow inserts may need to be dry cleaned.
How to Wash Throw Pillows
Washing throw pillows can be done easily. If you have pillows in a family room with kids, pets, or just a lot of activity, I recommend getting machine washable pillow covers and inserts. This is a simple way to keep them clean, and you won’t have to worry about dry cleaning.
Here’s how to wash your throw pillows.
Step 1: Remove the throw pillow cover. Wash it separately from the insert according to the tag care instructions.
Step 2: Machine wash the pillow inserts in warm water on a delicate cycle. Use a mild laundry detergent.
Step 3: Hang the pillow inserts dry until they are mostly dry.
Step 4: Put the pillow inserts in the dryer on air dry. Do not use heat. To get the fluffy look back, throw in a few dryer balls during the air dry cycle. This will help to reshape your inserts.
Should Throw Pillows Match Each Other?
Pro Tip: Throw pillows do not have to match each other. You can mix and match throw pillows together to create a more professional styled look.
Instead of using all of the same pillow, It’s better to have different pillows that coordinate and look like a cohesive collection. This adds interest to a space and makes it look intentionally styled.
With that being said, it can be difficult to figure out exactly how to choose the right throw pillows that coordinate together. There are a few guidelines that I like to follow when choosing pillow combos.
How Do You Choose a Pillow Combination?
There are no exact rules for pillow styling. It can be more of an art and something that you get better at over time. This is one of those times when practice makes perfect.
When I’m styling pillows, I like to follow some general tips that help me to create winning pillow combos every time.
Tip 1: Keep pillow groups to 2-3 pillows
I like to style pillows together in groupings of either 2 or 3 pillows. This is the sweet spot for the number of pillows to have in one spot. This allows you to mix and match things like different colors, main patterns, and secondary patterns.
Tip 2: Use different size throw pillows
Mixing sizes of pillows also creates interest. This will allow you to create a layered look with your pillows.
It’s always best to start with the largest pillow size in the back and layer the smaller sizes in the front. That way you can see each of the pillows, and that your combination has a balanced look.
I have a few set formulas for choosing the pillow sizes. Here are some of my favorite pillow size combinations.
Groupings of 3
- 24”x24” + 20”x20” + 18”x18”
- 24”x24” + 20”x20” + 12”x20”
- 20”x20” + 20”x20” + 18”x18”
- 20”x20” + 18”x18” + 12”x20”
Groupings of 2
- 24”x24” + 20”x20”
- 20”x20” + 20”x20”
- 20”x20” + 18”x18”
- 20”x20” + 12”x20”
Tip 3: Choose a color palette
Generally I like to keep my furniture neutral and add color using accessories. Throw pillows are an easy way to add color and different patterns into neutral spaces.
Pillows can also be a way to create a cohesive look with other design elements in your space. You can pull color inspiration for your decorative pillows from things like artwork and rugs.
Or you can pull color inspiration as the seasons change with colors and tones found in nature. For example, fall pillows can be used to add a cozy and inviting feel to any space in your home by incorporating fall colors and warmer hues.
Related: Fall Throw Pillows
Choose a color palette when you are selecting pillow covers. It’s best to limit your colors to 2 or 3 coordinating colors that work together as well as some neutral colors and tones.
Tip 4: Create balance by mixing types of pillow covers
You already know that you should try and mix and match the throw pillow covers so they aren’t all the same. But you also will want to create a balance by mixing the type of pillow cover that you use.
Pillow covers will generally fall within 1 of these main category types.
Solid Pillow: Simple fabrics like linen, cotton, and basic neutrals in a solid tone with one main color.
Patterned Pillow: Geometric shapes, floral print, floral pattern, bold stripes, organic prints, and anything that has a pattern. These can come in a variety of different scales, for example large scale prints vs small scale prints.
Textured Pillow: Elevated fabrics with a variety of textures like velvet, boucle, knits, and more. These types may or may not be a solid color, but have more interest because of the different textures in the materials. Also, any type of pillow cover that has a unique element, like tassels or pom poms, would fall in this category.
Some pillow covers may fall within multiple categories and that’s ok. I generally try and categorize my pillow covers into the group that fits the best. The key is to mix these types of pillows together to create a balanced, cohesive look with your home decor.
I have a few set formulas for creating a balanced mix of pillows. Here are some of my go-to pillow combinations.
- Solid + Patterned + Textured
- Textured + Textured + Pattern
- Solid + Geometric Pattern + Organic Pattern
- Textured + Geometric Pattern + Organic Pattern
- Solid + Large Pattern + Small Pattern
- Textured + Large Pattern + Small Pattern
How to Style a Throw Pillow
To get that designer, lived-in look for your throw pillows, you’ll want to master the pillow karate chop. This is the best way to style a down throw pillow.
If you look up the karate chop pillow trend, you’ll notice that some people think this trend needs to stop. House Beautiful did an article claiming that the karate chop ruins the look of the pillow. And Apartment Therapy thinks it makes your pillows look like they are throwing their arms up in surrender.
So why do decorators karate chop pillows? The idea is to make your pillows look like they have a shape and are fluffy.
I think the aggressively chopped pillow is a little too harsh. So I like to gently chop my pillows and fluff them back up. That gives the pillows a crease and shape without looking uncomfortable. And it helps to make them look fluffy.
How to Get Karate Chop Pillows
Place your pillow down and then use your hand to create a crease in the top center of the pillow. This will give a shape in the pillow insert. To keep it from looking too harsh, pull at both of the top corners of the pillow slightly to fluff it back up.
Decorating with Throw Pillows
Throw pillows can be used in a variety of spaces around your home. Most of the time we think of using throw pillows on a couch or sectional. But you can also use them on chairs, benches, and beds.
One of the most common issues I see when decorating is using pillows that are too small for the space.
The size of the throw pillows you use should be scaled according to the area of your home and the piece of furniture.
This is especially important in living rooms. When your pillows are too small for the furniture, they can look dwarfed and out of place.
You need a larger pillow to fill the space and complement the scale of your furniture.
Decorating with Pillows on a Couch
It can be difficult to determine exactly how many throw pillows to have on a couch. Here are my tips for deciding how many pillows will look best on a couch.
In living rooms, I like to style 1 set of throw pillows on each corner of a couch. For a standard couch, that means 1 set of pillows on either end of the couch.
If the couch is smaller, each set will be a grouping of 2 pillows on either side.
If the couch is larger, one set will be a grouping of 3 pillows, and the other set will be a grouping of 2 pillows. I think using an odd number of pillows on one side adds visual interest to your styling.
I will also sometimes add different shapes of pillows, like a lumbar pillow in the middle section. This can be a 12”x20” or a 12”x24” depending on the size of the couch.
On a sectional couch, I will style 1 set of throw pillows on each end and then 1 additional set of pillows in the middle corner.
The set in the middle corner of the sectional will be a grouping of 3 pillows. I will always use a 24”x24” as the largest pillow in this corner section.
The sets on the ends of the sectional will be groupings of 2 pillows.
If one side of the sectional is longer than the other, I will also sometimes add a lumbar pillow to the middle section. Just like with a standard sofa, this can be a 12”x20” or a 12”x24” depending on the size of the couch.
How do you Arrange Throw Pillows on a Couch?
Step 1: Place the largest size pillow of your grouping in the back.
Step 2: Add the smaller size pillows in front to create layers.
Step 3: Add additional lumbar pillows (12”x20” or 12”x24”) if needed on the longer sections of the couch.
Decorating with Pillows on a Bed
Determining the number of throw pillows to use on a bed is a little different than a couch.
I will normally use 3-4 pillows on a king or queen size bed and 2 pillows on a twin size bed.
On a bed, the groupings of pillows are created in a different way from a couch. This helps to make the bed look balanced overall. I will normally match the throw pillows instead of doing a completely different look for each pillow.
Here are my tips for deciding how many pillows will look best on a bed.
In bedrooms, throw pillows should be placed in front of the standard sleeping pillows.
On a king or queen size bed, I will place 2 matching 24”x24” pillows in the back. Then I will layer 1-2 coordinating 20”x20” pillows in the front. For a different look, I will sometimes use a 12”x24” lumbar instead of the 20”x20” pillows.
On a twin size bed, I will place 1 20”x20” pillow in the back. Then I will layer 1 coordinating 18”x18” pillow in the front or a 12”x20” lumbar pillow.
For a simpler look, you could also just use 1 20”x20” pillow.
Decorating with Pillows on a Chair or Bench
Throw pillows can also be used to style accent chairs and benches throughout your home.
Groupings of 1-2 pillows look best in these smaller spaces.
I will normally use 1 pillow on an accent chair and 1-2 pillows on a bench.
Here are my tips for deciding how many pillows will look best on chairs and benches.
On an accent chair, I will normally use 1 20”x20” pillow.
If the chair is very large, like a chair in a half size, you can do a grouping of 2-3 pillows similar to one side of a couch.
If you have a smaller accent chair, you could also use a 12”x20” lumbar pillow instead.
On a bench, I will place a 20”x20” pillow in the back. Then I will layer a coordinating 20”x20”, 18”x18”, or 12”x20” pillow in the front.
For a simpler look, you could also just use 1 20”x20” pillow.
Final Thoughts on Throw Pillow Cover Combinations
Adding throw pillows to my home is one of my favorite ways to decorate. They can completely change the feel of a room and add much needed layers to the decorating style in your home.
By choosing the right combinations, you can add color, interest, and style to your home.
Hopefully this post will help you as you create pillow combos throughout your space. Don’t forget to mix and match to create cohesive pillow groupings.
More Throw Pillow Posts
How to Find The Best Affordable Throw Pillow Covers For Every Home
