Throw pillows for red couch: colors, patterns, selection tips, and design ideas

hackrea / June 19, 2021

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You can hardly name a piece of furniture that would look as bold and effective as a red couch. It is the red couch that becomes the indisputable visual center of the room and a bright color spot that invariably attracts the eye even of homeowners who have the opportunity to contemplate it for weeks and months. However, as the designers like to joke, with excellent decorative power comes great decorative responsibility – and therefore, it is imperative to fit a red sofa into the interior in such a way as to avoid its transition from an object of universal admiration to a constant irritant.

However, in the case of this beautiful color, things can be more complicated than it seems. Choosing a decor that complements the bright color of a red couch is often tricky due to the ambiguity and saturation of the shade. That is why it is important to use solutions that simultaneously emphasize the luxury of the red hue and, at the same time, soften it precisely to the extent that the contrast is not too sharp. Correctly selected throw pillows can become one of the win-win solutions. How to choose them and what nuances you need to pay attention to – let’s talk in more detail.

Choosing pillows for a red couch: basic rules

We have already mentioned above that when choosing decorative elements for a sofa in red tones, it will not be so easy. However, we have no doubt: you knew what you were doing when you chose such spectacular furniture, and therefore you do not regret anything. You just have to figure out the accessories that can help bring out the perfect balance of a bright and inspiring motive with the environment – and we are ready to help you with this.

Professionals have long deduced specific rules to avoid mistakes when choosing decorative pillows for a red couch. There are not so many of them, and it is not difficult to follow them – and this is good news for everyone who is just trying himself as a designer of his own home and is very afraid of mistakes. So, these are the rules:

Be sure to choose shades at the appropriate color temperature. This point is crucial because the contrast between cool and warm hues in the case of red can create powerful visual discomfort. We will talk in more detail below about which tones are cold and which are warm reds.
Drawing is preferable to monochrome. Red is so self-sufficient and catchy that it will undoubtedly create a more or less pronounced contrast in combination with monochrome elements of other colors. However, a living room with such a sofa often requires rhythm and variety rather than opposition – and ornamented pillows successfully achieve this.
Matching the texture is required. Furniture upholstery in red will not tolerate any confrontation in texture and will indeed “take revenge” with visual imbalance or with its faded or, on the contrary, eye-cutting appearance. So, when choosing materials for decorative pillowcases, we act on a one-to-one basis. The only exception is fur throw pillows – but exclusively in neutral shades.

As you can see, these rules are pretty simple and do little to limit the flight of imagination. The shape, the type of pattern, the size of the pillows – everything is entirely at your discretion.

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What color throw pillows go with a red couch?

In fact, the list of colors and shades suitable for complementing a red couch is not that wide. Leaving aside the win-win red-on-red principle (it works anyway if you guess the color temperature), and focus on colors that can be confusing.

White

Very expressive and catchy, but at the same time a refreshing contrast. This combination is considered classic, but in some cases, it can seem a bit harsh. The situation will be normalized using plain white cushions and decor of the same color – but with an ornament to match the sofa.

Beige and cream

Cushions in sophisticated and calm beige and cream tones can soften the excessive brightness of the red couch and make it warmer and more welcoming. In this case, you can safely try accessories decorated with expressive decors such as brushes and lace. These pillows will look incredibly charming on a red background.

Gray

Gray with red is a somewhat ambiguous and strict combination, but at the same time, it is pretty modern. If you are not opposed to diluting the saturation of red upholstery with such a calm and neutral option, give preference to soft and warm colors – or products with sequins if you want to add a little more chic.

Blue

Blue throw pillows on a red couch are not used as often. However, if you are not averse to experimenting, you should not deny yourself such a pleasure. Just remember the golden rule: the darker the upholstery, the darker the accessory should be. And, conversely, don’t be afraid to match bright blue accessories to a bright red sofa – this combination is especially true for the loft-style.

Green

Combinations of a red couch and green accent pillows are not very popular. However, suppose you want to fit furniture in similar colors into a room where pale green, gray-green, or emerald palette reigns supreme. In that case, you can easily do this with cushions that perfectly match the color of walls or textiles.

Yellow

Yellow and red are ideal partners for a cozy, modern interior. Take a closer look at the throw pillows in dark yellow and golden shades – these accessories will create that very warming mood.

Pillows for a red couch: which pattern to choose

Above, we have already mentioned that it is desirable to complement the red sofa with patterned throw pillows. These accessories will not only slightly soften the intense brightness of color. By matching the ornament in the color of curtains, carpet, or tablecloth (in the case of a living-dining room), you can ensure your interior is in perfect balance.

Depending on the style you choose, as well as the sizes and shades of the couch, the following prints and ornaments are available to you:

Geometric patterns. The precise lines of the red couch, made in the spirit of minimalism, will be favorably emphasized and will allow you to fit it into the interior in a retro-style competently.
Floral prints. This pattern can complement the composition of accessories on the couch in a modern interior. The only caveat: avoid the bright shade of foliage on the pillows, opting for yellowish, pistachio, or dark emerald tones.
Abstract drawings. Throw pillows with such an ornament are an ideal partner for a sofa, which is “lucky” to decorate an interior in a retro, opt-art, or eclectic style.
Luxurious floral designs. The elegant floral design will add coziness to a classic-style setting using a red couch and help create a calmer and inviting composition.
Oriental patterns (paisley, damascus, ikat). An excellent solution for interiors in classic and oriental style. Ornaments made with gold embroidery will look especially impressive against the background of a red sofa – in this case, you can easily create an atmosphere of authentic luxury.

If you wish, you can combine the patterned decorative pillows with plain accessories in the same color. In this case, the composition will turn out to be incredibly harmonious and balanced, and the red couch will look appropriate and natural.

Throw pillows for a red sofa in warm and cold shades

Red is one of the primary colors, and if we evaluate it only in terms of the wavelength of light, it can be attributed to the warm spectrum. In general, its bright and clean tones belong to warm ones, but dark and saturated ones are already colder and restrained. This can be explained by adding not black to red, as is typical for other colors, but magenta or fuchsia. It is the bluish and purple shades that give a noble coldish and at the same time ambiguous undertone, in contrast to the black, which affects only lightness. At the same time, black, gray, and brown accents also reduce the temperature of red.

So how do you tell if your sofa’s upholstery red is cool or warm? Let’s talk about this in more detail.

Cool shades of red

Cooler and more saturated tones with the addition of black, gray, and magenta are usually divided into several subgroups:

red-pink light – red coral, watermelon, red rose;
pale cold shades – cherry, cinnabar, marsala, pink burgundy;
saturated ruby – ruby, crimson, burgundy coral;
dark burgundy – wine, sangria, currant.

Despite the coldness, all these tones are quite soft, have more related tones, and create smoother, discreet, and natural combinations, including contrasting ones. You won’t go wrong if you match your cool red couch with accent pillows in shades such as dark beige, light emerald, steel gray, dark pink, lilac, purple or deep yellow.

Warm red tones

Shades of red related to the warm spectrum can also be conditionally divided into several subgroups:

bright and clean tones – medium and bright red, scarlet, pomegranate;
moderately saturated – pure dark red, coral, terracotta, tomato, cardinal;
light and warm reds – red chicory, alizarin;
warm burgundy – mahogany, port.

The couch in warm red tones feels warm, full of fire and passion. Light, neutral, and equally warm tones – including cream, beige and soft gray, faded blue and yellow, brown and pale turquoise, dusty rose and orange – help to emphasize this magnetism and calm it down slightly. When choosing the color of throw pillows for such a sofa, pay attention to these tones – this way, the probability of error will be reduced to a minimum.

The best decorative pillows for a red sofa: Conclusions + Photo Gallery

Choosing throw pillows for a red couch is a quest-like process. Perhaps it will take you some time, but do not regret the hours spent looking for: choosing the right decor for the red sofa, you can boast of a truly exclusive design.