Anyone interested in interior design has probably noticed bright and original sofa pillows in model photos. They attract the eye and sometimes become the main decor, emphasizing the style and harmonizing the overall color scheme.
This is also a favorite item for needlewomen, because making a pillow with your own hands is not at all difficult, and there are hundreds of original ideas for reusing fabrics and threads when making pillows of various shapes and sizes.
At the same time, a pillow is the most “capricious” type of decor. If selected incorrectly and of poor quality, this product can create dissonance and become an unnecessary thing that you don’t want to throw away and don’t want to keep.
The first piece of advice is that if a pillow doesn’t suit your needs, it’s better to get rid of it right away; time is unlikely to correct the situation. And in order not to lead to this, you should tune in to a thoughtful and fastidious process of choosing a sofa cushion.
How to clean and care
At home, you can ventilate and treat with light from a quartz lamp. The use of bleaching agents to remove stains on the canvas is strictly prohibited. The powder will ruin the color. It is best to use washing gels.
When washing in a machine, turn out the diaper, select a temperature of no more than 30 C. Set the mode to gentle, with a delicate spin. It is advisable to wash by hand so that the “inside” does not get lost.
Velor and suede are cleaned exclusively with a microfiber brush, then aired.
Vinyl covers do not need to be washed; they just need to be cleaned with a wet sponge soaked in water with “detergent”. Carefully remove any remaining soap solution and dry in the open air.
When cleaning hair, you can use a regular vacuum cleaner by changing the attachment. You need to vacuum once a week.
It is strictly forbidden to wash the filling in a washing machine. You can clean the packing using a vacuum cleaner and ventilation.
It is advisable to dry it in the open air to prevent shrinkage and the appearance of an unpleasant odor.
Read the instructions on the manufacturer's labels.
If your style allows, you can buy different bedspreads for the sofa. Then the percentage of pollution will drop.
Wipe leather surfaces with a damp sponge (not wet). Apply special sprays once every two weeks.
To reduce the risk of damaging the furniture, and, consequently, the interior itself, it is best to dry clean them once every six months. Professionals work there, they definitely won’t spoil it. Even if they spoil it, they will compensate, but this is unlikely.
What materials can be used for manufacturing
Decorative and practical pillows are easy to make using various fabrics and even non-woven materials. The selected pattern of the original pillow is transferred to the base and the sewing process itself is carried out using a sewing machine or manually, for this you can use:
- upholstery fabrics for furniture of any type and structure;
- natural cotton, linen and burlap, denim and fleece;
- artificial or combined materials.
Particular attention should be paid to the internal filling of the pillow; different materials are used for this. In addition to traditional down and feathers, you can use hypoallergenic padding polyester or holofiber; for bolster pillows, modified foam rubber rolled into a tube is suitable.
Bad examples of rollers
- Too large in size, more than 70x70. Such cushions cannot be placed under the head or under the back. They cause discomfort, as a result of which you can get pain in the neck if you regularly adjust such a little thing under your head.
- Solid structure. The filling is too tightly packed or hard fillings have been used.
- The decor makes it difficult to use. For example, patterns are sewn with coarse threads, which, in contact with the body, cause unpleasant sensations and irritation on the skin.
- Dummies made from low-quality materials. For example, made of polyester fabric. While relaxing on such a roller, you will certainly sweat, even in the cold season.
Creating comfort in your home is a delicate matter and does not always require much effort. It is enough to learn the basics of design and color combinations in one room. Then your home will be filled with harmony and freshness. Especially if you sew some of its parts with your own hands.
Combining pillows
With the classic symmetrical arrangement of two pairs of decorative pillows on the sides of the sofa, also in the case when creative disorder is imitated, the same principle of contrast between dark and light is used: the first pillow is combined with the sofa, the second with the first.
That is, if the sofa is dark, there are light pillows in the background, dark ones in the front.
These rules are just a guide for combining different textures, shapes and sizes of decorative pillows.
Modern interior design concepts open up wide opportunities for realizing the creative potential of every person. And you can start this process with the help of the multi-style design and European quality of Ikea pillows.
Room style
The strict classic style goes perfectly with geometric elements - circles, rectangles, squares.
Modern. A variety of printed models made from linen or rigid burlap are suitable here.
For high-tech, decorating with metal threads is suitable. Sewing is best done from silk, leather and linen. The model should be chosen with strict shapes.
Pop art allows the use of various figures and materials. These are hearts, animals, letters, etc.
The rustic country style will not tolerate strict products. Knitted and embroidered items are ideal here. Also coloring in checkered patterns or nature patterns.
In safari style, animal prints with fur decorative elements will look harmonious.
Retro – goes well with prints on products, especially vintage photographs and paintings.
Decor of chair products
Often the chair is opposite the sofa or to the side, but this does not mean that it should be identical to the sofa. On the contrary, even a chair can be decorated with an original model with patterns, for example an owl or a family photo print.
If you need to sew it yourself, then follow the following algorithm of actions.
- Prepare - fabric, lace or embroidered ribbons, zipper or buttons.
- Draw a sketch, cut it out.
- Secure the sides with pins so that they do not move.
- Sew three sides.
- Sew a zipper or buttonholes into the last side. It is better to use a zipper, so the filler will be closed more securely.
- Pack the interior space tightly with filler. Close the zipper, now you're done.
- Decorate with decor.
Contrast is the basis of selection
There are two types of contrast: by color saturation and by the conventional color circle, which consists of colors visible to the human eye located along the light spectrum.
In the first case, the color ratio of the upholstery of upholstered furniture and pillows is selected according to the light-dark principle. The range of tones should be large enough so that the pillow stands out clearly against the background.
Second option: choosing colors located on opposite arcs of the color wheel. Examples of contrasting pairs: orange and blue, red and green, purple and khaki, purple and yellow.
It is logical to assume that when there is a pattern on a pillow or upholstery, the main color is usually taken as the basis for the contrast.
But you can also create a contrast with only one, not necessarily the dominant, color, while respecting the principle of light and dark. This mechanism, which is difficult to explain, is quite simple in the case of visualization.
So, for example, on a white sofa, black and white pillows with a geometric pattern look good, if black predominates. Pillows with red embroidery on a light background will suit dark green upholstery.
Those who like a restrained and monochrome color scheme should combine colors in halftones, but at the same time, decorative pillows will need to be highlighted due to the difference in textures. Silk, velvet, fur-like fabrics that differ from the sofa upholstery will help to emphasize the decor.
What do they have inside?
Decorative sofa pillows (photo below) are filled with synthetic or natural, more expensive, material.
Read about: massage pillow for neck, shoulders: description of massager models, how to choose with prices
The basis of any synthetic filler is 100% polyester. The soft, silky material does not cause allergies, and down mites do not live in it. Many products are made from it, among which the most popular are:
- Holofiber. It consists of siliconized fibers that perfectly retain the shape of the product. This is a non-flammable material that does not absorb moisture and unpleasant odors.
- Fiberlon. Made in layers. This is a “breathable” material that can quickly regain its shape.
- Comforel consists of numerous elastic balls. Products with filler easily take the shape of the body. They are convenient and easy to care for.
- Hollophane is intertwined hollow fibers that provide strong springiness to the structure. Looks like natural down, but is washable.
- Sintepon is the most inexpensive, but also short-lived material.
- Luxury sofas are sometimes equipped with pillows filled with duck or goose down.
- Small products consist of a filler and a cover. Large models are usually multi-layered. They have a core made of latex or foam, wrapped in a layer of comfort filling and covered with a cover.
How to decorate chair pads
Original do-it-yourself cushion-cover for a chair - step-by-step instructions
In order to make the interior more expensive, you can create quilted products with your own hands.
Step-by-step instruction
- Prepare padding polyester, fabric, sewing material, threads, pins, paper and scissors.
- Measure the dimensions of the seat and make a calculation on paper.
- Cut out blanks - one from padding polyester, two from material.
- On the wrong side of the front part, draw a stitch marking.
- Fold it so that you get a fabric-sintepon-fabric combination.
- Secure firmly with pins. Sew along the perimeter of the marked stitch.
- Sew ribbon ties along the edges. Finish the edges with bias tape.
Third stage
DIY ready-made pillowcases for sofa cushions
When everything is ready, turn out the pillowcase and start decoding. Please note that the parameters of the pillowcase should be a couple of centimeters larger than the base. This makes it easier to remove when cleaning.
Photos of our sofa cushions in the interior
