The “2-2-1” Rule Is the Perfect Formula for Styling Your Sofa (It’s a Game-Changer!)
Apartment Therapy’s January Cure is a free 20-day program that’ll help you refresh your home for the year ahead. Sign up here and get all assignments delivered to your inbox.
It’s day 19 of the January Cure, which means we’re officially a day away from completing the program! For the penultimate assignment, we’re moving from shelves to sofas for a quick style update. The most important part of your sofa (other than how comfy it is) are your sofa pillows, so let’s spruce things up.
Day 19: Style your sofa.
For today’s assignment, we’ll revisit designer Shea McGee’s ingenious 2-2-1 rule. Originally created for bed pillows, this can be just as easily applied to the sofa. The rule is simple: You start with two sleeping pillows and two shams for a base, then perhaps a lumbar for the one, or an assortment of throw pillows in odd numbers.
To use this rule for a sofa, you might start with two larger cushions on either side, add two smaller, complementary cushions, and then finish with a coordinating lumbar pillow in the center for additional support. If you’re considering a more maximalist look, you can skip the lumbar pillow for an odd numbered mixture of contrasting throw pillows.
Keep in mind that the configuration will depend on the size of your sofa. A larger couch will be able to accommodate more throw pillows or a lumbar, while a smaller one may only have enough space for two larger and two smaller cushions. For a love seat, you may want to reduce the number even further, to perhaps just two larger cushions and a smaller throw pillow.
PRO TIP: Don’t be afraid to mix textures and colors in an uneven manner. Match larger cushions and mix up the smaller ones, or simply have them all in different colors — some intentional mismatch can help your sofa pop.
Share how your spruce-up sofa looks in the community forum.
More ways to participate in the January Cure:
- Sign up for email updates.
- Visit the 2025 January Cure page and catch up on assignments.
- Download the January Cure calendar.
- Join the conversation by checking out the Cure board in our community forum.
- Check off that you’ve completed this task and track your overall January Cure progress here!
The Cure Program is a tradition here at Apartment Therapy — it happens every January, April, and September. Click here to learn more about the year-round program and when to sign up.