Throw Pillows in Jewel Tones and Metallics: Combos

The simplest way to make a neutral sofa look finished is to pick one deep jewel tone for most of your throw pillows and add a small amount of metallic. Emerald, sapphire, ruby or amethyst gives the color, and a single metallic pillow gives the shine.

If your room feels flat even though the furniture is right, textiles are the cheapest fix. You don't have to repaint a wall sapphire blue. Here is how to mix the two without sliding into glitz.

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How do you choose jewel tones for throw pillows?

Jewel tones are colors as saturated as gemstones: emerald, sapphire, ruby, amethyst and citrine. Because they are deep, they read as heavy and settled, while pastels read lighter and neons louder.

Pick one hero color and let it carry most of the visual weight, roughly 60% of the pillows. If you split emerald, ruby and sapphire evenly, the eye has nowhere to rest. Pair the hero with a neighbor on the color wheel instead. A deep sapphire works with teal or aquamarine, for example.

Check your light too. Deep colors absorb it, so an aubergine velvet pillow that looks regal in a bright showroom can look almost black in a north-facing room. In a dim space, choose a velvet with some sheen or a lighter jewel tone such as topaz or citrine so the pillows still read as color.

Which metallics work best on decorative throw pillows?

You don't need sequins. They snag clothing, feel scratchy to lean on and can look cheap under strong overhead light. I prefer quiet metallics, where the metallic thread is woven into the fabric: a linen pillow with a gold foil print, or a silk blend with a soft copper sheen. The shimmer should shift as you walk past, not flash like a disco ball.

Stay in one temperature family per sofa. Gold, brass and copper are warm and suit ruby and citrine, or contrast nicely with emerald. Silver, chrome and pewter are cool and look crisp against sapphire and amethyst. If you want both, add a bridge pillow that contains both metals in its weave.

Keep metallic to a small share of the grouping, about 10% of the pillow surface. Put the heaviest embroidery on the smallest pillow, such as a lumbar, and keep the large back pillows soft cotton velvet or chenille.

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What size throw pillows should you use?

Buying every pillow in the same 18-inch size looks flat. Use graduated sizes instead, largest at the back and smallest in front. On a standard sofa, that could be:

• Back: 22-24 inch squares in a solid, matte jewel tone.
• Middle: 20-inch squares with a pattern that includes your jewel tone.
• Front: a lumbar, around 12x20 or 14x24 inches, carrying the metallic.

For more on sizing, see what size throw pillows should be for a couch, and how many to put on it.

Does the insert matter?

Yes. A polyester-batting insert goes round and bouncy. A feather-down mix gives the soft V-shaped indent on top, often called the chop. If you have allergies, choose a good down-alternative. As a rule, buy an insert 1-2 inches larger than the cover, so a 20-inch cover gets a 22-inch insert and the corners fill out.

How to arrange throw pillows on a couch

For a symmetrical sofa, a common throw pillow rule is the 2-2-1 layout: two large pillows at each end and one lumbar in the middle. It looks tidy and takes no effort.

For a more relaxed look, go asymmetrical: three pillows on one side (24-inch, 20-inch, lumbar) and two on the other (22-inch and 20-inch). I like this for living rooms because it feels less staged. Mix glossy metallics with matte wool or velvet so the texture contrast does the work. A pairing like deep emerald and antique brass suits it well. Our guide to choosing throw pillows for your sofa goes further.

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How to arrange throw pillows on a bed

A bedroom should calm down, so go symmetrical and keep the shine soft. Strong metallics can catch streetlight or hallway light at night, so I recommend silk with a gentle shimmer over scratchy gold stitching.

1. Two large Euro shams (about 26 inches) against the headboard, in a solid jewel tone such as amethyst.
2. Two standard shams in front, with subtle metallic piping, in a champagne or silver tone.
3. One lumbar in the center.

You should be able to lean on the front pillows while reading, so skip anything rough. For palette ideas, see jewel tone bedroom inspiration.

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Which fabrics suit homes with dogs and cats?

You can have velvet with pets, you just need the right kind. Performance velvets are made to resist stains and liquid and wipe clean. The tight weave also has no loops for claws to catch, and fur tends to sit on top of the pile, so a lint roller removes it. Check each product's care tag and specs before buying.

Metallic is the weak spot, because metallic thread is delicate. If your dog digs at pillows before lying down, skip embroidered metallics. Choose a coated fabric where the sheen is a finish on sturdy canvas or linen, or a faux-leather accent that wipes clean. Avoid beaded trim and loose tassels, which turn into chew toys.

One more point about floors while you restyle: loose throw rugs are a different thing from throw pillows, but they are worth a look. An NIH-hosted review of rug and carpet falls notes that loose throw rugs and area carpets with curled edges or folds are among the extrinsic factors most often mentioned in the literature as unsafe and potentially increasing fall risk.

Checklist before you buy

• Hidden zippers. Exposed white plastic ones cheapen the look.
• Durability: for the main jewel-tone pillows, look for a fabric rated for heavy use, and check the double-rub count in the specs.
• Inserts 1-2 inches larger than the covers.
• At least three textures, such as smooth velvet, rough linen and a metallic.
• A metallic that matches other metals in the room, like lamp bases and frames.
• Back pillows no taller than the sofa back.

Start with the anchor jewel-tone pillows, live with them a few days, then add the metallic layer and see how it looks in morning and evening light. For more combinations, try velvet, pattern and a pop of shine or jewel tones with a warm gold glow.

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Frequently asked questions