Orange cushions have a special kind of magic: add a couple to a sofa, bed or reading chair and the whole room instantly feels warmer, brighter and more lived-in. Even one well-chosen orange cushion can lift a neutral scheme, while richer rust shades bring depth and that cosy, candlelit glow.
Already leaning into burnt orange home decor — rugs, lamps, art prints — and want it to feel more “pulled together”? A few burnt orange cushions are the easiest finishing touch. If you prefer to switch things up seasonally, orange cushion covers (and burnt orange cushion covers in particular) give you the look without committing long-term.
Need proof it works? Look at the image below: a soft white sofa becomes the focal point simply by layering orange sofa cushions in a mix of checks and stripes. Those orange patterned cushions add personality without changing a single piece of furniture — exactly why orange cushions UK shoppers love are such a smart style move.
1. Why orange cushions work so well in a room
Warmth is the big draw. Sitting between red and yellow, orange brings both cosiness and cheer — the kind of colour that makes a space feel welcoming rather than “done”. On a grey or taupe sofa, orange cushions stop everything reading a little flat; against cream or white upholstery (like the sofa in the image), they create a soft contrast that feels relaxed and modern.
The image below shows the effect: warm rust stripes layered with jute and a gentle tonal print, all grounded by natural textures.
Pattern makes the look feel intentional. Mixing an orange pattern cushion with orange patterned cushions in similar tones — checks, stripes, small geometrics — gives that collected, layered effect without needing lots of extra décor. For an even more tactile finish, orange velvet cushions add a subtle sheen that catches lamplight beautifully, especially in the evening.
Seasonal flexibility helps too. Come spring and summer, brighter tangerine tones and lighter orange cushion covers look fresh with pale wood and white walls; once autumn rolls in, burnt orange cushions (or a single burnt orange cushion paired with neutrals) echo the colours outdoors and feel naturally cosy with wool throws and softer lighting.
Tie it all together by repeating the tone elsewhere: a terracotta pot, a stack of books with warm spines, or artwork with amber notes. That’s when orange cushions feel curated — not random.
2. Choosing your shade: from soft terracotta to bold tangerine
Set the tone first, then shop. The moodboard above shows why light oak and terracotta feels so easy to live with: pale timber keeps everything airy, while warm clay tones bring that sun-baked, comforting glow. From here, choosing orange cushions becomes less about “orange” and more about where on the spectrum you want your room to sit — dusty and natural, rich and autumnal, or bright and playful.
Shop the Look: Light Oak & Terracotta
Two cushion styles to steal the look — plus the supporting pieces in light oak and warm charcoal.
Layla Terracotta Linen Cushion
Plain option
Shop this cushion
Terracotta Kilim Style Printed Cushion
Pattern option
Shop this cushionSupporting pieces (to recreate the moodboard)
- Ethnicraft 701 Modular Sofa (Beige) 4Living
- Ethnicraft Oak Boomerang Coffee Table 4Living
- Ethnicraft Oak Geometric Sofa Console 4Living
- Dusty Deco Frida Vase (Black) Holloways of Ludlow
Soft terracotta and rust orange cushions
Gentle terracotta and rust orange cushions suit calm, natural schemes — think oatmeal linen, jute rugs, creamy upholstery and pale oak furniture. Soft, clay-like tones also feel brilliant in smaller rooms because they add warmth without visually shouting.
Texture makes these shades sing. A tweedy weave, brushed cotton or washed linen orange cushion cover reads relaxed and tactile, while orange velvet cushions add a subtle glow that looks especially gorgeous in evening lamplight. Prefer flexibility? Choose orange cushion covers (or burnt orange cushion covers) and swap seasonally — light and breezy for spring/summer, deeper and more cocooning as autumn rolls in.
For a layered, designer look, mix one plain rust cushion with one small-scale weave and one orange patterned cushion in the same family of tones. That little hit of pattern stops the palette feeling flat.
Classic burnt orange cushions
Richer burnt orange cushions bring instant depth and sophistication, especially alongside charcoal, chocolate brown, warm greige and black accents. If you already have burnt orange home décor elsewhere — a lamp base, a vase, artwork — echoing that colour in your cushions makes the whole room feel “pulled together”.
On a sofa, keep it balanced by alternating plain and patterned. Pair one solid burnt orange cushion (wool, herringbone or velvet) with orange patterned cushions that include cream or tan, then add a quieter neutral cushion in between. That spacing is what makes orange sofa cushions feel curated rather than blocky.
Bright tangerine and bold colour mixes
Fancy something more uplifting? Tangerine and punchier orange shades look fresh against white walls, pale wood and light fabrics — and they’re brilliant for adding energy to a neutral room without changing anything big. To stop bold orange tipping into “too much”, anchor it with one grounding shade (oatmeal, warm taupe, soft black or chocolate brown) and let the orange do the lifting.
For a modern mix, try orange with deep teal or denim blue; for something softer, pair it with blush, clay pink, or sage green. Even one vibrant orange cushion cover can change the mood of the whole room — especially when the rest of the palette stays calm.
3. Fabrics and textures: velvet, wool, linen and tweed
Texture matters just as much as colour.
Velvet for a luxe glow
Orange velvet cushions are brilliant for adding instant glamour. The pile catches the light so the colour glows, especially in the evening — perfect if you want your orange cushions to feel a little more elevated than linen.
A deep blue sofa is one of velvet’s best partners. In the image above, burnt orange velvet cushions bring warmth and contrast to the inky upholstery, while keeping the overall look sophisticated rather than shouty. It’s a simple trick that works in any sitting room: let the sofa stay moody and grounding, then use orange velvet as the warm “spark”.
Cushion pairing for a blue sofa
One luxe velvet, one patterned navy — a simple mix that makes orange feel richer against blue.
Two cushion ideas that suit this blue-and-burnt palette:
- Burnt orange velvet cushion with fringe trim – a tactile, statement finish that looks especially luxe against blue upholstery (choose a square size for that plump, tailored look).
- Navy patterned cushion with rust and cream details – ideal for tying the colours together, because it repeats both the blue base and the warmer orange notes in one piece.
Wool, tweed and tartan for cosiness
Wool and tweed bring instant cosiness — a Balmoral-style tartan in burnt orange and soft grey, plus tightly woven wool in a subtle parquet pattern. Together, they add texture and a hint of heritage charm.
They’re ideal if you want the comfort of orange scatter cushions in a cottage sitting room or on a window seat, without the glossiness of velvet.
When the evenings draw in, tweed is the one. It adds warmth you can almost feel — soft, substantial and quietly nostalgic. Here are three tweed cushion picks to bring burnt orange into a room in the most comforting way.
Tweed cushion picks
Heritage textures in burnt orange and tartan — cosy, tactile and perfect for a warm, layered look.
Linen and cotton for relaxed everyday style
For busy family rooms, linen and cotton are practical and relaxed. The retro abstract cushion with sweeping cream curves over a paprika-orange ground has a mid-century feel, and the slim rectangular cushion with zig-zag diamonds in orange, gold and white adds pattern without feeling fussy.
These fabrics are easy to mix with stripes and smaller geometrics, building up a rich collection of orange pattern cushions.
Olive and terracotta is that sweet spot between cosy and contemporary — like warm clay against fresh leaves. Keep the base relaxed (linen and cotton), then let one patterned cushion do the talking. This moodboard shows the mix in action.
Shop the look: Olive & Terracotta
A warm, earthy pairing that feels grounded and calm — olive linen to soften the room, terracotta pattern to bring that lifted, sun-baked energy.
Olive linen cushion cover
View cushion
Terracotta geometric cushion with olive trim
View cushionStyling note: Keep the sofa cushions mostly solid (olive + natural) and let the terracotta pattern do the talking — it’ll look intentional rather than busy.
- Sofa: &Tradition AV23 Inland 3-seater (Clay 0014) Source: Holloways of Ludlow • Polished aluminium legs keep it light
- Throw: Puglia linen & cotton blend blanket (Tuscan terracotta) Source: OttomanMaison (Etsy) • Adds that warm, woven layer
- Floor lamp: GUBI Multi-Lite (Chrome) Source: Holloways of Ludlow
- Vase: Kitty Ward ceramic jug/vase (Black on White) Source: Holloways of Ludlow • A crisp graphic accent to balance the softness
4. Orange cushions for sofas, beds and chairs
How many cushions does a sofa really need? It depends on the size, but a few guidelines help.
Orange cushions for sofa styling
For a standard three-seater, start with four orange cushions for sofa comfort – two at each end – and layer in different sizes. A pair of square burnt orange cushions behind, with smaller patterned ones in front, looks balanced and inviting.
On a deep modern sofa, add a long rectangular cushion in front to break up the sea of squares. If your upholstery is dark, choose brighter orange or patterned cushions so they don’t disappear.
Orange scatter cushions on occasional chairs
An occasional armchair or accent chair only needs one or two orange scatter cushions. A single luxury cushion can be all you need to anchor a chair in the room’s palette.
Don’t be afraid to mix shades across the room: a terracotta cushion on one chair and a brighter tangerine on the sofa still feel harmonious, as long as there are a few repeats of each colour.
Layering cushions in the bedroom
Orange works surprisingly well in bedrooms too. A trio of burnt orange cushions along the headboard adds warmth to crisp white bedding, especially when partnered with natural materials like rattan, seagrass and linen.
For a bolder look, combine a hot pink-and-orange floral cushion at the centre of the bed, flanked by plain rust cushions. The pattern draws the eye, while the plainer cushions keep things restful.
5. Patterns that make a statement
Neon Orange Flowers & Leaves Cushion
From: TheCoastalCushionCo (Etsy)
View cushion
Kew Gardens Botanical Cushion Cover
From: TheHomeZoneStudio (Etsy)
View cushion
Orange Botanical ‘Tree of Life’ Cushion Cover
From: TheHomeZoneStudio (Etsy)
View cushionBotanical and woodland motifs
Leafy line drawings, painterly florals and folk-style botanicals are an easy way to bring orange into a room without it feeling too loud. The neon orange cushion with its sketched leaves reads crisp and modern, while the Kew Gardens-inspired print adds depth with inky greens and warm ochre tones. The ‘Tree of Life’ design, in terracotta and black, has a slightly vintage feel — bold, but still beautifully grounded.
To keep the look cohesive, choose your plain cushions (and any throw) from colours already sitting inside the patterned cushion’s palette. Pick one supporting shade — deep green, charcoal or warm ochre — then soften it with a quiet neutral like linen, stone or chalky off-white. Repeat those tones across the sofa and everything instantly looks intentional, not over-styled.
Ikat and global influences
Choose your plain cushions (and any throw) by pulling colours straight from the ikat print itself. Pick one “supporting” shade — deep olive, warm ochre, soft terracotta, inky plum or charcoal — then balance it with a quiet neutral like linen, stone, cream or chalky off-white. Repeat those tones elsewhere in the room (a rug detail, a lampshade, a vase) and the whole scheme instantly feels intentional rather than over-styled.
Abstract and mid-century designs
Abstract cushions are brilliant when you want colour with a little edge — the kind of “designed” moment that makes a sofa feel curated, not cluttered. The trick is to let one cushion play the leading role, then bring in two supporting pieces that echo the palette and vary the texture, so everything feels intentional.
‘Kaoscope’ abstract print + teal stripe velour + cream boucle
For a more playful, gallery-wall vibe, the multicolour abstract cushion does all the heavy lifting — it’s got orange warmth, teal energy and softer blush notes woven in. Rather than adding another loud print, a teal stripe velour cushion picks up the cooler tones and adds a sleek shimmer, while cream boucle brings that cloud-like texture that lets the whole look breathe. The result feels modern and artistic, but still relaxed enough for everyday lounging.
Zig-zag abstract velvet + sheepskin + herringbone
Warm, retro zig-zags in velvet instantly nod to that 60s/70s graphic look — bold, but still cosy thanks to the plush finish. Pairing it with a burnt orange Mongolian sheepskin keeps the scheme feeling tactile and inviting (all that delicious fluff softens the sharp lines), while a neutral herringbone cushion adds a calm, tailored counterpoint. Together, it’s statement + softness + structure — a really easy formula for a living room that feels lively but grounded.
Checks, stripes and colour-blocking
Checks, stripes and colour-blocking are the easiest way to add energy without going full maximalist. They bring instant structure to a sofa or chair — a bit of rhythm, a bit of contrast — while still feeling timeless and “collected” rather than chaotic.
Checks (heritage texture)
That Angus Harris tweed cushion is all about cosy depth: the kind of pattern that makes a room feel warmer the second it lands on the seat. Lean into its rustic, lived-in vibe with tactile partners — leather, aged timber, woven baskets and a wool or jute rug — and let the tweed do the talking.
Colour-blocking (modern, graphic)
A burnt orange and taupe corduroy colour-block is the perfect bridge between earthy and bold. The clean split feels contemporary, while the cord texture keeps it inviting. To style it, pull one shade from the cushion (burnt orange or taupe) and repeat it elsewhere — a ceramic vase, a lampshade, a throw — so the look feels intentional, not “random cushion shuffle”.
Stripes (neutral + statement)
Stripes are brilliant for creating balance. The cream stripe cushion acts like a calm exhale — soft, light and quietly textured — especially good if your sofa already has a strong colour or shape. The orange striped cushion, on the other hand, brings the sunshine: warm, graphic, and just rustic enough to feel relaxed. Pair either with solids in oatmeal, stone, warm grey or tan, and keep the rest of the palette tight so the stripe reads crisp rather than busy.
One extra trick that always works: mix pattern scale on purpose. Let one design be the “feature” (a bold stripe, a strong check, a confident colour-block), then surround it with smaller-scale texture and simpler plains so everything has room to breathe.
6. What colour goes with orange cushions?
The question “what colour goes with orange cushions?” comes up a lot, and the answer is: more than you might think.
- Neutrals – White, stone, greige and soft grey are the easiest partners. They allow orange to shine without making the scheme feel busy.
- Blues – Navy and denim blue are classic partners for orange, thanks to their position opposite each other on the colour wheel. Your blue-and-orange botanical cushion is a perfect example.
This mix of orange, navy and grey cushions is a simple formula to copy if you are wondering what colour goes with orange cushions. Use one or two patterned burnt orange cushions as your starting point, then add a navy cushion for contrast and a grey sheepskin or tweed design to soften the overall look.
- Greens – Teal and forest green feel rich and sophisticated with burnt orange; the teal cushion with embroidered orange and white leaves shows how fresh this combination can be.
If you love green tones, try pairing burnt orange cushions with teal velvet and textured teal weaves. The mix feels rich and sophisticated, especially when one patterned cushion contains both the orange and the green to pull the whole scheme together.
- Pinks – Coral, blush and fuchsia create a joyful, almost tropical feel when combined with orange. The hot pink floral cushion against its caramel-orange background is a masterclass in this pairing.
To try this look at home, start with one bold pink-and-orange cushion as your focal point, then add a burnt orange tweed or wool design and a caramel sheepskin. The mix of colour and texture feels lively but still beautifully grounded.
Feeling confident? Let’s take a little walk on the wild side. Pink and orange can be gloriously bold when you lean into the energy — here’s a moodboard that shows how playful this pairing can look.
- Pink Lips Sofa Rockett St George
- HAY Slit Table (Black Lacquered Oak) Holloways of Ludlow
- GUBI Grasshoppa Floor Lamp (Black) Holloways of Ludlow
- Monochrome Beauties Art Print (Framed) Rockett St George
- Earth tones – Mushroom, walnut, chocolate and warm taupe ground brighter oranges and make them feel more grown-up.
If you’re nervous, start with just one or two orange cushions and pull their accent colours out elsewhere – a navy throw, a green vase, a pink candle. The echoes will make the scheme feel intentional.
7. Where to buy orange cushions in the UK
One of the joys of decorating with orange is the huge range available from independent makers. Every cushion shown here comes from small businesses creating orange cushions UK homes won’t see everywhere else.
You’ll find:
- Everyday options in cotton and linen that are ideal for busy family sitting rooms.
- Tweed, wool and tartan designs that bring warmth to cottage-style spaces.
- Luxury orange cushions in velvet, silk blends, designer prints and artisan embroideries for when you want a single showstopper on an armchair or bed.
- A wide mix of styles — from William Morris-inspired florals to retro geometrics — to suit almost any interior.
When you’re building a collection, think of cushions as part of your wider burnt orange home accessories story. A couple of patterned orange cushions, a coordinating throw and one or two orange living room accessories (a vase, a lamp, a candleholder or a piece of wall art) will transform a neutral room far more effectively than a single lonely cushion. Repeating the same tone in small touches around the space makes the whole scheme feel deliberate and beautifully pulled together.
Orange is a wonderfully optimistic colour. Whether you favour subtle terracotta or bold tangerine, a handful of well-chosen orange cushions — plus a few burnt orange home accessories dotted around the room — can make your home feel warmer, more welcoming and full of personality, all without picking up a paintbrush.