Sectionals: Pillow Sizing & Arrangement Guide

Sectional sofas are often wider than traditional and oversized sofas and/or have seats that are deeper than 26 inches. Plus, they have that additional corner to work with which can be tricky.

Square Pillow Size Recommendations:

Note: 24x24 inch pillows are a good option if the seats are really deep, the sofa back is high, and/or the sectional is oversized.

Lumbar Pillow Size Recommendations:

Note: 18” high lumbar pillows are a good option if the seats are really deep and/or the sofa back is high. Use 18” high lumbar pillows with 24x24 inch pillows.  

Statement Long Lumbar Pillow Size Recommendations: 

The length of statement long lumbar pillows depends on how many square pillows are on the sectional and how wide the sectional is. For visual appeal and comfort, you might want to leave some sectional showing between the end pillows and the long lumbar.

Pillow Quantity and Arrangement

Sectionals can be particularly daunting when it comes to pillow sizing, quantity and arrangement. Some people feel that less is more and prefer to have one square pillow at each end of the sectional and in the corner of the sectional, however with the majority of sectionals and especially with oversized sectionals we recommend against this since it likely will look skimpy and be uncomfortable. This is good if you prefer a simple, uncluttered look and can possibly work if the sectional is on the small side and/or if the pillows are large enough and have high quality plump inserts. However, you might find this is not as comfortable as two or possibly even three square pillows at each end of the sectional as well as in the corner of the sectional. Two to three square pillows at each end of the sectional and in the corner of the sectional also helps to balance the scale of the sectional. Additional pillows provide comfort as well as the opportunity to bring in more colors, patterns, and textures.

The corner of the sectional requires enough pillows for comfort (typically two square pillows). You can have some fun in the corner by introducing a pop of color, varying the size of pillows and/or increasing the quantity of pillows. Our go-to sectional styling utilizes two to three square pillows along with one lumbar pillow in the corner and two square pillows at each end of the sectional.  While the pillows we select for the corner often repeat some of the fabrics of the end pillows, the fabrics are applied on pillows of a different size or shape. Also, with sectionals and especially the middle corner of sectionals, do not unnecessarily limit your options and/or be bound by symmetry.

The addition of lumbar pillows really depends on how the sectional is used and how comfortable the lumbar pillows are.

See our Pillow Insert and Cover Recommendations, Pillow Insert Sizing Guide and Pillow Insert Type Guide to ensure all of your pillows are stuffed properly to provide the look you want as well as the comfort you crave. 

For more arrangement tips and helpful diagrams look out for our blog post on Sectionals: Pillow Arrangement. It's coming soon. Subscribe to know when it's posted.

Tips for Sofas (and Sectionals) of All Sizes

Pillows provide comfort as well as the opportunity to bring more colors, patterns, and textures into your space. When mixing patterns, remember to vary the scale of the pattern. Textures are a great way to add interest without overwhelming your space with too many patterns.

When you layer pillows, the largest pillows need to be in the back. However, you can layer pillows of the same size; they do not have to be stair-stacked. For example, a 20x20 inch pillow could have either a 20x20 inch or a 22x22 inch pillow behind it. We recommend a two-inch difference in pillow size when layering differently sized pillows.

Regardless of the size of the sofa, pillows smaller than 20x20 inches tend to look skimpy. If you choose to go smaller, 18x18 inches is as small as you should go.

Lumbar pillows layer well with square pillows since they allow more of the pattern of square pillows to be seen. As with square pillows, you need to be careful on sizing lumber pillows. Lumbar pillows smaller than 12x20 inches tend to look insufficient and can be uncomfortable. 

Lumbar pillows are a cost-effective option when you want to use high-end designer fabrics because they typically require less yardage than square throw pillows. 

Now you're informed and ready to shop for your sectional sofa, enjoy our unique collection of custom, made-to-order designer decorative pillow covers.

Our goal is for you to be well-informed, so that you're confident and ready to shop for accent, statement, and throw pillows that will enhance the comfort and style of your chairs, sofas, couches, beds, and benches. 

Already have fabric you love? With Customer's Own Material (COM) Pillow Designs, we can create your ideal pillow covers using your own fabric. 

Need help?
Check out our blog for useful articles on decorative pillow arrangement/sizing and pillow insert selection or get in touch for assistance.