Designing interior spaces consists of multifaceted characters. Be it carefully choosing the materials that symbolize the senses of an individual, or crafting a comfortable environment with the help of colours, the architecture of interior spaces encompasses everything. One aspect of home décor or curating any internal section is the furniture aesthetics and the use of soft furnishings. Soft Furnishings are the components of an area composed of soft substances or fabrics. Elements such as upholstery fabric, curtains, carpets, rugs, pillow-covers, sofas, bed sheets, etc., are counted amongst Soft Furnishings. They play a vital role in establishing an overall appeal of a habitat. 

The right combination and usage of soft furnishings along with other accessories of a space such as the colour of the walls, lighting of the area, and hard furniture pieces can create a pleasant and serene ambience. 

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Soft furnishings with an open living concept by visualizer Daniel Hassan ©homedesigning.com
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A cozy design of a living area wherein the off-white rug contrasts with the medium green wall, IKEA ©homedesigning.com

The question is, what can one do, or instead, how can one use Soft Furnishings to enrich the atmosphere and aesthetics of your house? To understand the same, here is a list of things that one can do to organize their soft furnishings better.

How to enrich the Upholstery Fabric? | Furniture Aesthetics

Upholstery is primarily all the fabrics, webbings, springs, and paddings that make a furniture piece like a sofa or an armchair. These are essentials when one talks about Soft Furnishings Aesthetics. Any article or furniture in a space acts like a sculpture. Individuals must concede that a piece of furniture with the wrong material or colour of upholstery can change the way your room appears. 

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Upholstery Fabric-Leather from Swedish Brand Hem ©architecturaldigest.com

Selecting the right colour or a pattern can become a considerably dominant challenge because there are distinct factors that one needs to analyze before choosing. The durability of the fabric, the user of the furniture, whether one wants a pet-friendly piece or not, the environmental deliberations during its making, etc., are some of the characteristics one should keep in mind. But what can be done to improve the furniture aesthetics of the room using an upholstery? 

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A Hamptons interior by Robert Stilin, upholstered in custom green wool boucle’s ©Stephen Kent Johnson
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Printed Upholstery ©Pinterest.com

Begin with synthesizing the colour and material of the upholstery along with its immediate surroundings. We must acknowledge the colour and material of the walls and the floors because it helps set a character and expression for the space in its entirety. 

One can either opt for a minimalistic approach with soft pastel tones or go for a pop of colour (depending upon the said determinants). Going for darker shades can be tricky, but with an assortment of the right patterns such as floral or woven, they can create sensational and compelling environments. 

Working with Carpets, Rugs, and Cushions – Are they Closet Weapons? | Furniture Aesthetics

Carpets and Rugs are singular pieces, specifically used to envelop a particular corner/space on the floor. These come in an array of designs, with altering trends. Rugs are available in plain colours with fringes all over them, a unique weave of thread with quaint compositions, in a combination of a variety of colours, etc. 

I would describe Rugs and Carpets as astounding elements; something that can blend with harmony in a space, or add a statement if needed. They function as visual connectors and pathways in transitional areas and also form and demonstrate a specific character. Rugs tend to add charisma and increase quality to the region, just like art. 

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Rugs from Colin Kings collection titled The Shape of Color ©Stephen Kent Johnson

Rugs and Carpets also tend to further mark boundaries because they can zone off spaces and anchor furniture in a room. The following becomes helpful when one needs to avoid negative looking or haywire perspectives of an open floor plan

Choosing a rug of the correct size is of utmost importance. It is not mandatory that the carpet only encloses the area beneath your coffee table; it can incorporate all the living room furniture. We can use it in the corridor spaces to create transitions or just spread it across at a corner in your room to brighten the space. 

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Two Separate round rugs and colourful throw pillows ©contermporaryrugs.eu

A simple way to embrace the power of rugs is through selecting a suitable pattern and colour unification. Again, the subsequent is determined with the overall aesthetics of the room. One can keep a boho, geometrically decorative, or just a plain coloured carpet in accordance with the furniture, upholstery, and the materials of walls and floor.

Cushions are god-send bundles of joy if kept accurately within a premise. They come in varieties of sizes, textures, patterns, and styles. A precedent from the latest trends is a Throw Pillow. Throw Pillows are smaller in size as compared to the typical cushions and function as decorative pieces. These are used on various types of furniture like a sofa, armchair, and a bed. 

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Rectangle Margaret marble pillow by Poodle and Blonde ©architecturaldigest.com

Keeping headrests of different dimensions can either make space look messier and cosy, or austere and elegant. To keep them in style, nowadays, cushions are layered with distinct patterns amidst other soft furnishings. The only thing to keep in mind is to avoid using a striking motif on every item of soft furnishing. If you do so, the room may look confined and smaller. Layering cushions, rugs, and upholstery with contrasting colours and designs like stripes or floral prints are amongst the new inclinations. 

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outdoor tuffed pillow ©architecturaldigest.com

Curtains and Draperies – The all-in-one textile

Draperies or curtains operate like the chameleons of textiles and soft furnishings. They come in numerous categories, materials, colours, and magnitudes, fulfilling the décor of any room. As the name suggests, draperies are pleated to provide a more formal look, whereas curtains are suspended from windows in a free-flowing manner. The application of a correct sized and coloured curtain can change the shape and appeal of a space. 

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Curtains as soft furnishings ©russellscurtains.co

The four major classifications are: 

  1. DrapesCan be heavy, opaque, and generally neatly gathered.  
  2. Draw Curtains – Can be transparent or opaque depending upon the material and colour one chooses. Mostly free-flowing and lightweight. 
  3. Glass CurtainsThin fabric or cloth that hangs beside the glass windows. 
  4. Non-Drawing Curtains – Are made of resilient textiles, like bamboo shades, wooden shutters, roller blinds, roman blinds, etc., that help gather diffused sunlight because of their design. 

Curtains postulate a soft-warm environment, simultaneously generating colour, pattern and texture, and window treatment concepts. 

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Curtains with lining ©russellscurtains.co

One way to always augment your room furniture aesthetics is to keep in mind the colour palette, and choose soft furnishings accordingly. The choice of textures, patterns, and colours when coordinated to match the palette forms an unlike, unique aura. Using soft furnishings appropriately is an integral part of interior designing and helps sensationally transform space.

Author

Ansha Kohli is whimsical andenigmatic when it comes to her life. Wanting to pursue a career in architecture journalism after completing her graduation, she is on the road to seek something new and exciting, and subsequently enthusiastic to share as well as understand different philosophies associated with art and architecture.