Guide to upholstery and cushions
Handmade cushions are great for adding colours, patterns and textures - plus a splash of style and personality - to your home, office or garden.
At Emma Claire Interiors we create beautiful hand-sewn cushions and covers from any fabric of your choice. Our made-to-measure service includes both filled cushions and replacement covers, delivered direct to your door.
“Emma Claire Interiors offer a very professional service. We commissioned 12 made-to-measure cushions for various-sized seats in our conservatory. They look fantastic and fit perfectly!”
What different types of cushions do you provide?
Cushions come in a huge range of shapes, styles and sizes. We provide all of the following …
Scatter Cushions
Primarily decorative cushions used around the home on sofas, beds and chairs.
Suited to a wide variety of fillings- both natural and synthetic - they also provide extra support, luxury and comfort. We also make bolster cushions, that are long and cylindrical in shape, these cushions are usually used on beds, or at either end of the sofa for extra comfort.
Box (Seat) Cushions
These cushions have a flat top, flat bottom and distinct flat sides, often with right-angle corners.
Upholstered sofas, armchairs, window seats and garden furniture usually require box cushions, typically filled with a solid foam inner. They can be piped with a contrasting fabric. They’re typically square, rectangular or circular in shape, but can also be customised to fit very specific shapes and unusual spaces.
Upholstered dining chairs
Dining chairs sometimes have a foam seat and webbing, that is removable, we can re upholster these for you. There is a wide variety of upholstery fabrics to choose from, that are durable and can be wiped clean.
If your chairs are in need of a revamp, we can put new webbing and foam or traditional upholserty materials to give them a new lease of life. Please get in touch with your small items of furniture and we will chat to see if we can help.
Which fabrics are best for upholstery?
A wide array of fabrics - both natural and synthetic - can be used to create new a new look and great looking cushions.
The choice will depend on the type of furniture you have, how exactly the cushions will be used, and of course, your personal interior design tastes. If foam is the inner material of your cushions or chairs, a Fire Retardant fabric will need to be used to comply with safety regulations.
Cotton. Easily the most popular choice for cushion covers. It’s a durable and highly-washable fabric, which is perfect for any cushion in frequent, heavy use, like those on the family sofa. As a natural fibre, cotton is also very kind to sensitive skin and cool to the touch in hot summer months.
Linen. Another natural fibre, linen is a robust and hard-wearing fabric, but it does have tendency to crease and crumple very easily which may not suit the look you’re after.
Polyester & Nylon. These two common synthetic fibres are widely used for cushion covers. They’re extremely durable and hard-wearing, making them good choices for busy areas of the house in constant use like the living room or kitchen.
Wool. Best for cushions with a primarily decorative purpose, rather than functional everyday cushions. Spun from an animal, such as a sheep or goat, wool is soft and attractive, but not particularly easy to clean and can shrink in the wash.
Silk. One the most luxurious and decadent fabrics available, silk is also the most expensive. Like other finer fabrics, it can be used for cushions, but will not tolerate particularly heavy use or frequent cleaning.
Velvet. Durable and luxurious, velvet is a beautiful fabric for cushions that can give any room an opulent look. Velvets come in some most amazing colours these days so there is a huge range to choose from.
Faux Fur. For a cosy and touchy feely cushion, why not try faux fur, this can add a fun texture to your style.
Can I provide my own fabrics?
Yes. Our clients often provide their own fabrics to create hand-made cushions.
Leftover fabric from curtains or Roman blinds is perfect for creating matching cushions.
What cushion designs and patterns can I choose from?
If you don’t have spare material or intend to source fabrics yourself, please get in touch to discuss your requirements in more detail.
We are very happy to advise on the best design, patterns and fabrics to suit the look and feel you’re after.
What type of padding / inners / inserts / fillings are best for my furniture or chairs?
If you require filled cushions (rather than just replacement covers), there’s three types of filling available, each with it’s own unique qualities.
Synthetic. Hollow or ball fibres are man-made materials. They both offer a soft cushion filing and need plumping to retain their shape.
Foam. The density and firmness of foam fillings varies enormously, from extremely soft to super firm. Usually best for seat or box cushions.
Feathers. Many ‘grades’ of feather are used in cushion filings. “Down” for example are incredibly soft, baby feathers - often mixed with lower grades.
Is it easy to care for and clean cushion covers?
Yes, but it depends to some extent on your chosen materials and fabrics. Most cushion covers are easily removed and many fabrics - like cotton and linen - can be machine-washed on a cold, delicate cycle, with a mild detergent. Others like silks and wool need to be dry-cleaned.