Joanna Gaines' Pillow Styling Tip Will Change The Way You Decorate Your Space

Throw pillows: you either love them, hate them, or just can't figure out how to style them. If you're in the third camp, you're probably wondering: "How many pillows is too many? Do I take the colorful route or play it safe with neutrals? What sizes do I pick? Where do I even begin?" The good news is, styling pillows (whether on your sofa, bed, chair, or bench) isn't hard at all — not when you follow Joanna Gaines' easy-peasy trick. Start with the base layer, followed by a textured neutral, and topped off with something bold.

Whether it's her stunning Magnolia Home Pillow Collection or the fact that she has completed countless home makeovers, the design guru is not one to shy away from these eye-candy accessories. Stylish cushions can transform your room into a cozy oasis, especially if they are selected thoughtfully and arranged strategically. Here's a quick breakdown of Gaines' pillow styling formula to avoid a chaotic arrangement.

Gaines always begins arranging throw pillow combinations with the largest one first. This could be the pillow you sleep on if you're dressing up your bed, a 24-inch or 20-inch throw pillow if you're working with a large sofa, or the standard 18 inches for regular-sized furniture. You don't want your foundation pillows to eat up your furniture, so choose a size accordingly. Then, layer on the smaller additions from there. Keep the sizes within 2 to 4 inches of each other to get that polished, designer look.

Quantity-wise, Gaines and her team prefer working with odd numbers (i.e. five or seven pillows) on the bed for extra visual appeal. You can also follow this rule when decorating a sofa. Alternatively, an accent chair would do best with just a pillow or two.

Another note on styling: varying the pillow shapes adds instant intrigue. Besides classic square pillows, Gaines often draws the eye with rectangular lumbar pillows and cylindrical bolsters. Or, why not opt for quirky shapes, like flowers, paws, hearts, stars, and seashells for a dose of fun? These striking pillows should obviously be stacked at the very front.

Once you've figured out the ideal sizes, shapes, and numbers of pillows for your space, the next step is playing with colors, textures, and patterns. As far as colors go, Gaines likes to keep her base pillows in neutral hues, though many agree you shouldn't style your living spaces with plain white pillows. The key? Add tactile depth through texture. Something like the $30 Threshold Textured Diamond Patterned Pillow at Target or the $28 Phantoscope Shaggy Decorative Pillow Set at Walmart could do the trick.

Finally, finish off the pillow lineup with pops of colors and patterns. True to her cozy signature aesthetic, Gaines often reaches for calming tones (such as muted blue, mustard yellow, and rust) as well as subtle motifs (think windowpane check and cross-stitch designs). That being said, feel free to sprinkle in bright accent colors if that's more up your alley. As Gaines told Livingetc, "It's more about what speaks to you...as long as there's a unifying color or texture style that pulls it all together."