Your sofa is likely the biggest piece of furniture in your living room, which means it sets the tone for the entire space. 

If you’re like most of us, you can’t purchase a new sofa every year, much less every season. Changing pillows and throw blankets, on the other hand, is a budget-friendly update that can make a big impact. 

Ready to turn over a new pillow? Pull up a chair while Havenly’s design director, Shelby Girard, shares tips on how to style a sofa, including which colors and fabrics work best depending on the time of year.

Here’s Shelby’s three-step plan for styling a sofa in warmer months:

Gravitate toward lighter and brighter colors and fabrics. Coastal colors like greys, beiges and blues are always on-point and visually soothing in spring and summer.  

Place a lightweight throw blanket, also in a cool hue, within easy reach.  It’s a perfect piece to keep on hand for cool summer nights. 

Curate a mix of pillows. Choose complementary solids and patterns, and arrange from biggest to smallest with the largest pillows at the back of the sofa.

Style a sofa for cooler months by following this easy, three-step process from Shelby: 

Switch your light-colored pillows for darker ones. Consider black, navy or a gorgeous sage green.

Replace breezy fabrics. Swap in cozy, luxe options in velvet or chenille instead.

Reach for heavyweight throws. Swap your cotton blanket for a faux fur throw or chunky knit blanket.

No matter the season, get started on your design project today. Take Havenly’s style quiz, and we’ll connect you with an interior designer who speaks your style language.