The Case for Soft Furnishings: Curtains, Cushions and More
There's more to soft furnishings than being decorative. Here are their oft-unsung functions
Soft furnishings are classified as loose decor, says award-winning interior designer and The Apartment mentor-judge Cameron Woo. Homeowners have the option of including this or not in their design brief when they talk to a professional. Loose decor also includes furniture and accessories.
What are soft furnishings?
According to the International School of Colour and Design: “Soft furnishings relate to those things that finish off a room, such as curtains and other window coverings, cushions, rugs, throws, and bedding and much more.”
Soft furnishings aren’t simply the finishing flourish, however. They also:
1. Add texture
Soft furnishings “can change the look and feel of a space both dramatically and instantly, even without a major paint job or structural renovations,” says interior stylist Caroline Chin-Geyler of Arete Culture.
According to the International School of Colour and Design: “Soft furnishings relate to those things that finish off a room, such as curtains and other window coverings, cushions, rugs, throws, and bedding and much more.”
Soft furnishings aren’t simply the finishing flourish, however. They also:
1. Add texture
Soft furnishings “can change the look and feel of a space both dramatically and instantly, even without a major paint job or structural renovations,” says interior stylist Caroline Chin-Geyler of Arete Culture.
Mix up the types of fabrics and textiles: a woven rug to contrast with faux-fur cushions, or a plush rug to contrast with the tight-knit upholstery of your sofa. Include something silky or velvety for a decadent feel.
A Decorator’s Tips to Styling With Texture
A Decorator’s Tips to Styling With Texture
2. Provide cosiness
While we may live in the tropics, and not actually require warmth for our floors (unless you have raw cement or marble floors), it’s always so much nicer to put your feet on a rug, to have the option of snuggling against cushions, and to cover your blush-coloured sofa with a throw when you want to have a snack while lounging.
Read about this room: Open-Plan Living-Dining Goes Hollywood Glam
While we may live in the tropics, and not actually require warmth for our floors (unless you have raw cement or marble floors), it’s always so much nicer to put your feet on a rug, to have the option of snuggling against cushions, and to cover your blush-coloured sofa with a throw when you want to have a snack while lounging.
Read about this room: Open-Plan Living-Dining Goes Hollywood Glam
Tip: A rug also helps to anchor a space, especially when you have one that is open-plan or sprawling.
3. Help with indoor climate control
Blackout blinds or curtains don’t just block the sun shining through your windows if you prefer to sleep in. They also absorb some of the outside heat. Sheer blinds or curtains allow the sunlight in for warmth, but provide privacy when you want it.
Blackout blinds or curtains don’t just block the sun shining through your windows if you prefer to sleep in. They also absorb some of the outside heat. Sheer blinds or curtains allow the sunlight in for warmth, but provide privacy when you want it.
4. Balance the acoustics of a room
Blackout blinds or curtains also block out external noise (must-have if you live near MRT lines or major thoroughfares), while absorbing internal noise and preventing too much of it from travelling beyond your walls (so your neighbours won’t complain too much).
Blackout blinds or curtains also block out external noise (must-have if you live near MRT lines or major thoroughfares), while absorbing internal noise and preventing too much of it from travelling beyond your walls (so your neighbours won’t complain too much).
5. Make for quick, easy – and hopefully affordable – seasonal makeovers
“Switching up your soft furnishings – or textiles, as they are more easily known – is the fastest way to change the feel of a room. I think of textiles in a few ways: floor dressings (rugs), window dressings (curtains), table dressings (table runners), and other fabric decor (linens, cushions, and throws),” Chin-Geyler says.
“Switching up your soft furnishings – or textiles, as they are more easily known – is the fastest way to change the feel of a room. I think of textiles in a few ways: floor dressings (rugs), window dressings (curtains), table dressings (table runners), and other fabric decor (linens, cushions, and throws),” Chin-Geyler says.
Just don’t go overboard with the soft furnishings, and you’ll enjoy all the aesthetic and functional benefits they bring.
TELL US
Are you a fan of soft furnishings or not? Let us know how you use them in your space.
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TELL US
Are you a fan of soft furnishings or not? Let us know how you use them in your space.
MORE
8 Ways to Add Colour to Your Home Without Paint
Refresh Any Room With Nothing to Lose Using These Pro Tips
All that’s a pity, because soft furnishings can do so much.