I’ve found the 12 best minimalist throw pillows - make your home calm but comfortable

If you want to add dimension to your sofa or bed, here are the best muted throw pillows that won’t distract from a minimalist scheme

five pillows in various shapes patterns and colors
(Image credit: MATCHES, Lulu and Georgia)

We all love a good throw pillow. They never fail to make your bed or sofa setup feel more considered, and whether you’re a fan of subtle or more out-there designs, there’s an accent pillow out there for you. But this article focuses on the more muted styles – classic pieces in soft tones that won’t stand out in a minimalistic scheme, but can be layered up to achieve an undeniably elegant finish. 

If you’re not a fan of the bright colors and patterns that usually make accent pillows stand out, you can still bring dimension to these more muted pieces through contrasting textures, interesting shapes and subtle pops of color – because minimal doesn’t have to mean boring! The best home decor stores are absolutely full of beautiful accent pillows, so I’ve rounded up my top picks for you below. From velvet to boucle in material, and square to orb-like in shape, here are the best stackable pillows that you can shop right now. 

OUR TOP 9 MINIMALIST THROW PILLOWS

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BEST SQUARE PILLOWS

BEST RECTANGULAR PILLOWS

BEST BALL PILLOWS

WHICH THROW PILLOWS LAYER WELL TOGETHER?

We love a good throw pillow, here at Livingetc. Whether you’re shopping for subtle or statement styles, we’ve got your back – and there are a few simple rules to follow when it comes to styling them. If you’re sticking to a tonal or muted color scheme, you can still bring interest to the overall stacked look through the variety in texture, size and shape of the pillows used. Styling the round boucle pillow above together with a square linen option, for example, would round off your composition quite nicely. 

If stacking pillows of different colors, try to avoid too many patterns (a block color is best, as with the burnt orange linen pillow above), and stick to the same family of shades – e.g. earthy, neutral and beige tones or black, white and gray for a monochromatic look. This allows you to experiment with color while not distracting from a minimalist scheme. 

Of course, along with wall art, accent pillows are one of the areas where you’re able to experiment with more of a statement look! You can layer the pillows above to create a subtle-yet-stylish base then add a single pillow in a more eye-catching design to the center of your ensemble for an on-trend finish. 

Valeza Bakolli
Contributing Shopping Editor

Valeza Bakolli is an experienced shopping editor. She previously worked at BuzzFeed where she honed her skills in all things shopping - from gift guide curation to spotting top home trends. Finding the best bargains online is her happy place (you won’t believe how much she got her Nespresso machine for!) and when she’s not romanticizing her morning coffee routine, you’ll probably find her creating a tablescape for yet another alfresco dining event in her backyard.