Soft props
Accent any room with cushions!
Cushions are the exclamation marks of home décor, adding instant pizazz. They make a big statement but can also be updated easily, and are a great way to add colour, personality and warmth to a space.
“They also make your furniture more comfortable and inviting,” says Geneva Vanderzeil of Collective Gen. “Textiles are the easiest little tweak in the book. They give a space so much personality, without having to make drastic changes.”
Paula Wallace of Wallace Cotton uses her home as a testing ground for her ethical homewares brand, which produces beautiful cushions from organic cotton and pure linen.
“I tend to freshen up the space each season with favourites, so there are always cushions and throws moving around the house from room to room, which has been known to confuse the other occupants,” says Wallace.
Colour can instantly create a change of mood in a room, explains Wallace, so deep, warm tones will make your bedroom feel cosier and comforting through winter. Easy additions and updates include adding colourful throws, cushions, beautiful printed bed linen or thick comforting textures.
“I think it’s important to create a space that feels comfortable and cosy and warm, somewhere you can feel safe to relax, unwind and recharge,” she says.
If you fancy a simple cushion project, Vanderzeil has a few ‘how tos’ in her new book Home is Where You Make It for throw cushions and floor cushions.
Floor cushions offer a flexible solution for seating and are great for small spaces as they can be moved around.
If you want to reuse and recycle, Vanderzeil suggests looking in your local op shop for fabric to make cushions. “If you’ve ever bought throw cushions, you’ll know that they are often pricey, but given that they’re relatively straightforward to make, you’d be crazy not to have a go,” she says. “I honestly think throw cushions have a superpower when it comes to transforming a space, and communicating the style or feel that you are going for – whether that be classic, boho, Hamptons or anything else.”