The Outdoor Pillow Trick I Use For My Brown Couches

I have all brown couches in my living room.

It was a compromise purchase years ago. A compromise between the comfort my husband wanted and the durable fabric I craved for a house full of dogs.

We still have the dogs, and we have added three toddler grandkids with another one on the way.  The durability of these sofas means we will keep them for a few more years.

To combat the sea of brown microfiber, I regularly switch out the pillows for different seasons.

But not just any pillows. Outdoor pillows and covers.

I also have a trick to share to reduce the cost of replacing the pillows so often.

This post contains affiliate links that support this blog at no additional cost to you. I hope you find something amazing for your home through these links.

 

I purposely removed most of the accessories in this room so you can get the full effect of the brown on brown on brown.  If you browse this blog, you will quickly realize that I have more colorful rooms than this one.

 

Honestly, some days I feel like the only things you see in our living room are the dark brown sofas and the dark brown leather chaise. Most of the other furnishings are even brown. It wasn’t planned this way, but somehow, over time, every piece of furniture we brought into the room in the last few years is brown-toned.

I have nothing against the color brown for furniture. I actually like brown in home decor.

This room, though, is drowning in it, and I refuse to splurge on new furniture while the grandkids are so little. The microfiber fabric has worn like armour, and even the cheesiest Cheetos fingers are no match.

To give my living room more personality and charm, I have found that switching out the pillows often is a great way to refresh the style.

My secret to continuously expressing my personal style in a room full of brown couches is outdoor throw pillows.

 

 

 

 

Outdoor fabrics and outdoor decor usually have vibrant colors.

The weather-resistant and waterproof fabric of outdoor pillows and pillow covers matches the durability of the microfiber fabric on the couches.

It is a win-win situation.

Purchasing outdoor decorative pillows and pillow covers made with vibrant colored fabrics allows the opportunity to create visual interest with a bright pop of color. I most often purchase blue pillows with geometric patterns for a modern look to match the accessories and window treatments. 

However, creating a unique throw pillow combination is also fun by displaying a mix of solid colors with pillows of different patterns.

 

 

 

 

When you have a house full of dogs and small kids, the best decor secret is to use an outdoor pillow or two for ease of care.

I rarely purchase white pillows because of the dogs, but if I do, I know they will be easy to clean.

Most days, I can find one dog snuggled up on a pile of pillows, while the next day, the pillows may be tossed to the floor. 

Cleaning up and removing dog fur is as easy as using a lint brush or tossing them into the washer.

And they are much less expensive than more decorative pillows.

 

 

 

Can’t beat the price!

For me, the biggest bonus for using outdoor pillows is the price.

Usually costing from $5 to $10 each, outdoor pillows are easy on the budget. They are a guilt-free way to frequently update the style in your living room on top of a dark brown couch for very little expense. 

 

 

 

My trick for lowering the cost of frequently purchasing outdoor pillows even more:

I seldom buy new pillow inserts.

Instead, I have been purchasing outdoor fabric pillow covers at a fraction of the cost on Amazon. 

It is so simple to pick a new pillow cover, stuff it with a previously used pillow, and add cotton batting as needed for extra fullness.

 

 

 

My color choice in pillow covers for the next few months is yellow and white.

 

 

 

Last year, I shared how I quickly updated two outdoor throw pillows with pom poms. 

 

 

 

 

 

Home decor shouldn’t cause you more stress.

Do I often see pretty pillows and other decorations that would be beautiful in my home?

Of course. I have a few of them tucked back in a storage closet because I tried them and got frustrated when I couldn’t get the dog fur and sticky fingerprints off them.  

I know it is a personal decision, but outdoor pillows and pillow covers are the right throw pillows for my living room. Using them is less stressful and less expensive.  

Even though I have worked in high-end Interior Design, I have always believed that your home shouldn’t cause you stress by trying to protect fragile items.

There will come a day when I can transition to less kid-friendly and dog-friendly fabrics, and these reclining sofas will be downstairs in the future media room.   

Maybe…

 

Hugs,

1 Corinthians 10:31 “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.”