The couch has long been the social hub of a household as everyone gathers around it to chat, eat, and be merry. Even if no one ever actually sits down on the sofa, it serves as a centerpiece and a conversation topic for everyone at home. Plus, it’s just darn comfy to plop onto a sofa after a long day. While many sofas come with a pillow or two already included, you may want to improve your style and add some more — but what are the best throw pillows?

It’s not as simple as simply…ahem, throwing a pillow onto the couch and calling it a day. This guide will take you through choosing the right throw pillow for your particular needs.

Some Throw Pillow Considerations

This will depend mainly on what you are looking for out of your new cushions. Some people want a flexible option they can use in many different ways, while others want a single buffer that provides added comfort.

Regarding your main cushions, the choice is typically between a type of fabric (such as synthetic fiber or leather) and foam. Both are great, although there are a few different features to consider.

Thickness

There are many different pillow thicknesses available, and it’s worth exploring to find the one that’s just right for you. Just think about the porridge due diligence of Goldilocks.

If you want a pillow that provides a little more support, look at having one between six inches and eight inches thick. These will be the most durable, and they have a filling that helps them retain their shape better. Thinner pillows tend to lose their shape pretty quickly, but there are times when more delicate and malleable cushions can come in handy.

You might also want something thicker if you have a chronic pain condition or if you suffer from back problems. Certain types of pillow covers can change the look and feel of your couch, too. Thicker pillows provide more support and often last longer, but can be heavy and more easily pick up odors from sweat or pets. If you want something soft and breathable, you might want to go with a thinner pillow.

Color

When it comes to color, think about whether you want something more playful or subtle. If you buy throw pillows for a specific reason, such as a gift or an interior décor project, you may have already chosen your color palette. If not, take some time to consider what colors will work best with how your home is decorated.

A brightly colored pillow might pop in one room and blend into the background in another. How often will your couch be used? How much attention do you want to draw to it? In some cases, you might just fall in love with a pillow that’s your favorite color — even if it clashes with the couch itself.

Best throw pillows for leather couch

A leather couch adds a certain feel to any home, and you get extra style points for sitting on it while wearing a leather jacket. It might seem a little less common to include throw pillows with a leather couch, but there are ways to ensure that your pillows look perfect no matter what type of material you use on your leather furniture.

The best throw pillows for leather couches are ones that integrate well with the couch cushions. Look for material that goes well with your leather, such as microfiber-fabric pillows or other leather pillows. Though it sounds a bit bizarre, a wood pillow pairs very nicely with a leather couch, too — and it serves as a solid support for your neck or back. Whichever route you go, only choose pillows with a firm filling. If there is no strong filling, the stuffing will move around and create a lumpy appearance on the chair cushion.

You may also use self-adhesive throw pillows for this issue because these cushions won’t cause any damage to the leather couch when placed on it. Make sure to get pillows that match the size of your seat and will not be oversized when placed in the center.

Best throw pillows for grey couch

Some people have trouble choosing the best throw pillows for grey couch, and that’s often because there are so many shades of grey (up to 50, in fact).

If your couch is more of a cooler shade (closer to blue), keep your pillows in a primarily dark blue or light green range — think navy blue, kelly green, or mint. If your couch is a warmer shade (closer to brown), choose a brighter color, such as a vibrant yellow, coral, orange, or gold.

It can also be fun to vary your living room’s walls to pair with your sofa, which can tie in well with the throw pillow color. For instance, if you’ve got a taupe-grey couch, paint the wall a darker shade of grey, such as charcoal. That combination will really make those vibrant throw pillows pop.

Best throw pillows for a brown couch

Though it’s also a neutral color, brown is a bit less versatile than grey. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find a perfect match.

Brown sofas are often seen as sturdy and dependable, almost like they came right from the earth. Earthy tones are a great combination for a brown sofa. White, black, green, or yellow are solid, safe choices for a brown couch. For a bit of a riskier pick, red, orange and pink can add a unique flavor to your home. And if you love autumn, this color combination will give you fall vibes all year long. Bring out the apple cider and pumpkin spice lattes!

Think about the shape and design of your couch, too. An L-shaped sectional with a chaise lounge extension might be a better home for an oversized pillow (about 22-24 inches). But a more compact brown couch will do well with a pair of standard (20-22 inches) or undersized (18-20 inches) throw pillows that you can place on both ends of the sofa, next to the armrests, with one in the middle for good measure.

It can be easy to overload your sofa with throw pillows, but a good rule of thumb is to use three on smaller sofas and five on larger ones.

Best throw pillows for brown leather couch

A brown leather couch is an excellent choice for many people looking to add comfort and style to their living area. While most of the same rules apply to a brown leather couch as they do to a black leather couch or a non-leather brown sofa, brown leather offers a couple of unique challenges.

If your brown leather couch is actually a faux or combination couch, such as leather mixed with vinyl, you may experience peeling and cracking. Keep those sofas away from windows and vents, as they can accelerate the deterioration of leather. Our natural body oils also can lead to discoloration on leather couches, which is more pronounceable on a brown surface.

While a throw pillow can help hide some of these defects, you still want to avoid clashing. If you have a lighter, warmer brown, a yellow or green option works well. Darker browns pair well with more taupe or olive colors, as well as white or off-white. While you can look for leather pillows to match the aesthetic, other material and fabrics pair seamlessly with leather couches, too.

Best throw pillows on Amazon

If you’re able to view a throw pillow in person, you can often get a sense of its texture, firmness, and color scheme. However, you usually can’t bring your couch with you to a store (and if you did manage to do so, you’d probably be asked to leave it outside). So, an alternative option is to use Amazon from the comfort of home, since you can view different types of pillows and compare them to your couch — perhaps even while sitting ON your couch.

In most cases, your best bet is to get some classic pillow inserts and then throw covers so you can mix and match to your heart’s content. You could change your style by seasons, such as a light blue or purple hue for spring while going more green and yellow for summer.

These Boho textured pillows offer a delightful mix of earthy tones, creating the impression of a sunset bursting from your couch. If you’re a velvet fan, the MONDAY MOOSE collection gives you multiple vibrant colors such as orange and teal while maintaining a perfect blend of sturdiness and softness. Plus, you get a cute moose pin with your purchase!

For more quirky options, why not go with a flower-shaped pillow? This type of pillow also works great for chairs. A shaggy faux fur look is also a slightly oddball classic, and the Amazon Basics option won’t let you down. Finally, a brown leather look works with most couch colors and fabrics, and this faux leather pair from HOMFINER is a great addition to your home.

Best throw pillows on Etsy

For those looking for a unique look for their couch, there are many different types of pillows available on Etsy. The marketplace’s pillows come in a variety of shapes and colors and can be used to fill the corners of your couch. They can also go great with any other decorative pillows on the sofa.

Try these knot pillows, which are like sitting on a cloud. Or for a more vibrant look, these abstract bright-colored pillow covers will perk up any room.

Ultimately, the best throw pillows for couches are the ones that make you happy. But we still love some good style, and following a few key color combination rules goes a long way.

For instance, the 60-30-10 rule will help keep your colors in balance. The main color makes up 60% of a room, a second color is 30%, and an accent color is 10%. That still gives your throw pillows plenty of time to shine!