The Sunday News
Yoliswa Dube
MASTERING the throw-pillow mix is not rocket science. There are no hard and fast rules; it’s really about switching things up until you find the right combination and arrangement which will make your living space pop.
Remember that sometimes the combinations that cannot be explained or broken down in any way are the best ones around.
You can start simply by using a combination of a patterned pillow together with a solid colour one.
This is a simple mix that can have a big impact. When using a strong pairing of opposite colours such as orange and blue for example, all you need for a backdrop is cream or white.
A combination of a bold pattern and a small pattern can do you a lot of good. The subtle pattern can pass as a solid colour and will blend quite easily with the bold pattern.
Keeping a simple palette allows you to have fun playing with the shape of the pillows (squares, rectangles, bolsters, etc).
All florals all the time can be a somewhat exciting combination. Anyone who has visited a cottage in England knows that there are no two floral prints that clash with one another.
When a pair of floral prints appear to be clashing, simply add a third. If those look like they are clashing, add a fourth, and so on, until it all just works. This mix has a wide range of floral styles, colour palettes and scales, and the result is sophisticated and inviting.
Pairing black and white with a colourful pattern is an unexpected move. The pillow patterns will certainly enliven a dull room.
You can use as many patterns as you like as long as the common denominator is the same colour palette. When you do this, be sure to vary the scale of the patterns as much as possible. — houzz.com
