CUSHIONSCAPING

All the tips & tricks you need to know for creating and styling great cushions! Cushions are the final touch in bringing together the style, palette and function of a room. They are an easy and inexpensive way to change the look of a room and give it a fresh new feel. There are a few easy to follow rules of thumb to help:

• Establish your colour palette from your favourite objects in the room, or from your curtains, paintings, floor coverings and wall colours. You can also decide whether or not the cushions will be used to compliment these, or to introduce a new colour, pattern or texture into your space.
• Identify the style and function of your room. Is your space formal, casual or eclectic?
• Use even numbers for formality and uneven numbers for a more relaxed, modern look. For example: If you have a three seater couch use four or five cushions For a two seater, use two or three cushions On a single chair, use one or two.

Formal or Traditional Styling

Image Source Use a solid colour and one pattern in even numbers and layered sizes. Monochrome colour schemes with different textures are simple and chic, and luxurious fabrics such as velvets, silks, metallics and ornate prints also give off a formal vibe to any room. Consider piping or fringing details to add extra layers of sophistication.

Modern Casual Styling

Image Source Using uneven numbers and a mix of different solid colours and prints. Consider having a variety of different shapes and sizes, and using plain fabrics on the back to create interest and reduce cost. Having a monochrome scheme, and using different textures is also perfect for this look.

Eclectic Modern Styling

Image Source This is where you can go crazy with sizes, shapes and quantities of solids, patterns and textures! Use round cushions and bolsters, trims and tassels. Most importantly have fun!

Cushion Making FAQ’s 

Wanting to make your own cushions but don’t quite know where to start? Here are our tips and tricks for doing it yourself:

Q. What size cushions should I use? A. This depends where you are using cushions. 50x50cm is our most popular and is considered the most ‘standard’ sizing for chairs, couches, and decorative cushions on beds. 40x40cm – 60x60cm sized cushions are the sizes most used on couches. 65x65cm is the large European cushion size for beds, and 30x50cm + 40x60cm lumbar cushions are great decorative sizes! You can view our full range of inners here to get a better idea!

Q. What fabric can I use for cushions? A. Almost all of our fabrics are suitable for cushions, depending on its purpose! If you are wanting them for heavy use, then considered any of our synthetic blend upholstery fabrics, velvets or our heavy duty linens. For more decorative purposes, any of our prints, velvets or light weight linens are perfect! We also have a great range of outdoor, water resistant fabrics for your outdoor cushions too.

Q. How much fabric do I need to buy? A. The two things you need to consider is what size cushions you are making and how wide is the fabric you are using. We recommend adding three – five centimetres into your measurements for the seams. So for example, if you are making a 50x50cm cushion, and your fabric is the standard 140cm wide you will need 55 centimetres per cushion, as you will be able to fit the front and back in the width. If you are using a patterned fabric, and are wanting to centralise a particular part of the pattern you may be required to buy more fabric. We will be happy to help work this out for you in store.

Check out our video below for a visual demonstration on how you can use a standard width fabric to make two 50x50cm cushions and one 30x50cm lumbar cushion: