Very little can cause disharmony in the home quite like the concept of cushions. How many are too many? According to some, all of them. And by ‘some’, we mean Mr MBA, aka Sophie’s husband.
It seems the ongoing saga that is cushions isn’t limited to Sophie’s family. The number of scatter cushions on the bed, sofa and generally in the house has been a topic and battle between of the wills for a long time now, so much so that we include it in our initial briefing with our clients. When is too much too much?
Before we discuss how many though, we are better off starting with the why. Why have scatter cushions at all? As designers and decorators, we see cushions as having a number of purposes, the first being they are a practical piece of furnishing to sit comfortably in a deep sofa (on any depth of sofa if you are petite). When your husband is 6ft 4 and you’re average height, you have different seated positions. We strongly believe the workhorse furniture of your living room should be, above everything else, a comfortable place to lounge. As well as being able to make the sofa a perfect fit for everyone, the cushions are the ideal way to tie decorative elements in the room. We love repeating colours, patterns and shapes in our interiors for well resolved interiors. Cushions are a big part of that puzzle.
But where do the cushions go when you aren’t using them? This is the most common argument against cushions on the bed. They’re arranged beautifully during the day, but where do they go at night while you’re occupying the same space? Easy, our favourite solution is a blanket box at the end of the bed, or if you don’t have the space, a basket to toss them in. No arguments required.
If you love cushions and as Sophie’s husband calls it, have a cushion breeding program, how do you store the cushions that you aren’t actively using? Our best tip is to be strategic when buying cushions and to buy cushions in the same sizes. When you switch out the cushions for laundering or changing your mood of the room or to suit the seasons, store empty cushion covers flat in the linen cupboard. While we’re talking about cushion inserts, let’s all agree that the flat pancake polyester insert is not the ideal choice. Spending a little more on feather inserts (or feather-like as there are great manmade products now) elevates the look of your room and feels better to sit with.
Practicality and aesthetics are not mutually exclusive. The only argument should be about who started any pillow fights, and (said in mum voice) stop it before someone gets hurt.
Is your partner for or against cushions? Have you too been accused of having a cushion breeding program?