Cushion covers are the cheapest way to change how a room looks, which is why most homes have a drawer full of them. They are also the item people most often buy in the wrong size, and then wonder why the sofa looks tired despite new covers.
Two numbers fix almost everything: the cover size and the filling size. They are not supposed to match.
The standard sizes
| Size | Where it works |
|---|---|
| 16 × 16 in | Accent chairs, shallow sofas, children's rooms, small takht |
| 18 × 18 in | The safe default for most sofas and beds in Pakistan |
| 20 × 20 in | Deep sofas and large sectionals; anchors a corner |
| 12 × 20 in (lumbar) | Lower back support; breaks up a row of squares |
| Gol pillow / bolster | Takht and diwan ends, and bridal beds |
If you are unsure and buying one size for the house, 18 × 18 is the right guess. It suits a standard three-seater, works on a double or king bed, and is the size most Pakistani shops stock, so replacements are easy to find.
The one-inch rule
This is the thing nobody mentions in shops. The filling should be one to two inches bigger than the cover. An 18 × 18 cover wants a 19 × 19 or 20 × 20 insert.
A cushion stuffed with a matching-size filling looks half-empty at the corners within a week, because the filling settles. A slightly oversized insert fills the corners and keeps that plump shape that makes a sofa look cared for. It is a difference of a few hundred rupees and it is the single biggest reason some rooms look styled and others do not.
Also check whether you are buying a cover alone or a cover with filling — in Pakistan most decorative cushion listings are covers only, and finding that out at delivery is annoying.
How many cushions
- Two-seater sofa: 2 to 3.
- Three-seater sofa: 3 to 5.
- Takht or diwan: 3 to 5 along the back, plus a gol pillow at each end.
- Double or king bed: 2 to 3 in front of the sleeping pillows.
- Armchair: 1.
Odd numbers look deliberate; perfectly symmetrical pairs look like a furniture showroom. And there is a point where more cushions make a room look smaller and mean somebody has to move them all every night — our cushion styling guide and small bedroom guide both cover that.
Mixing them so it looks planned
- Vary the size, not just the colour. Two 20 × 20 at the outside, two 18 × 18 inside, one lumbar in the middle reads as designed.
- One pattern, one texture, one plain. Three patterns competing is what makes a sofa look busy.
- Pull one colour from the room — the curtains, a rug, or the bedsheet — rather than introducing a new one.
- Keep scale apart. A large print and a small print work together; two medium prints fight.
- Check it from the doorway, which is where people see the room from, not from sitting on the sofa.
Fabric and practicality
- Removable covers with a zip are worth insisting on. Cushions collect dust, and in smog season a cover that cannot be washed becomes a problem — see our smog season guide.
- Cotton and crystal cotton wash well and hold print; velvet looks rich in winter but shows every mark.
- Darker colours in a house with children, for obvious reasons.
- Check the zip quality before the fabric. A broken zip ends a cushion cover long before the fabric wears out.
The gol pillow question
Square cushions and gol pillows do different jobs. Squares fill a back; a gol takia finishes an end — a takht, a diwan, or the head of a formal bed. One pair of gol pillows does more for a baithak than four more square cushions would.
Our gol pillow covers are Rs 2,700 a pair in maroon, purple, green, navy and ivory, and the gol pillow guide covers sizes and how to style them. For a takht specifically, our diwan and takht guide covers the sheet underneath them.
Frequently asked questions
What size cushion cover should I buy for a sofa?
18 × 18 inches is the safe default for most sofas in Pakistan. Use 20 × 20 on a deep sofa and 16 × 16 on an accent chair or a shallow seat.
Should the cushion filling be the same size as the cover?
No. The filling should be one to two inches larger, so an 18 × 18 cover needs a 19 × 19 or 20 × 20 insert. A matching insert looks flat at the corners within days.
How many cushions should a sofa have?
Two to three on a two-seater and three to five on a three-seater. Odd numbers look more natural than perfectly matched pairs.
Do cushion covers come with filling?
Usually not in Pakistan — most decorative listings are covers only. Check before ordering, and buy the insert one size up.
What is a gol pillow?
A round bolster cushion, also called a gol takia, used at the ends of a takht, diwan or formal bed. It does a different job from a square cushion and is what makes traditional seating look finished.
