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When selecting cushions, it's important to balance comfort with style. In living rooms, comfort and support are especially important - sofas are often quite deep, and cushions help adjust the seat depth while also providing essential lumbar support. That said, cushions also play a major decorative role. They can bring a room's colour scheme together, unifying patterns, and adding texture. As Fiona McKenzie noted in Homes & Gardens magazine, cushions can even be seen as "padded works of art." In bedrooms, consider opting for a single long lumbar cushion on the bed. It offers a sleek, impactful look if you’re not a fan of removing multiple cushions every night.

If you're looking to refresh the look of a room without a full makeover, swapping smaller decorative items like cushions is one of the easiest and most effective ways to do it. Simply changing up colours, patterns, and textures in cushions, throws, or lampshades can dramatically transform the atmosphere of your living room or bedroom, giving it a fresh and updated feel with minimal effort. And if you spot a cushion that truly speaks to you, don’t hesitate - it will bring you joy!

This is a common concern, but it’s easier than it seems with a few simple guidelines. Start by choosing a cohesive colour palette to ground your scheme. From there, mix in your patterns - like florals or geometrics - while varying their scale, and balance them out with textured plain cushions. Combining large, bold prints with smaller, more subtle ones helps create balance and visual interest without overwhelming the space. At Clothsmith, we love a relaxed, informal style that adds personality through colour, pattern, and texture - always steering clear of anything too perfectly matched.

Combining different sizes, for example a 50x50cm with a 45x45cm and a smaller 45x30cm cushion, adds visual interest and helps avoid a flat or uniform look.

With years of experience in interior design, we’ve learnt that getting the right cushion inner size is key to both comfort and appearance. While an overstuffed cushion might look appealing, it’s often not comfortable to lean against - just as a cushion that isn’t quite full enough can look flat and feel unsupportive. That’s why we recommend using inners that are slightly larger than the cover. At Clothsmith, our cushion inners are typically 2 to 5cm bigger than the cover, depending on the overall size, to strike the perfect balance of shape and comfort.

Finding the right balance is key - too few cushions can feel sparse, while too many may look cluttered. The ideal number depends on the size of your furniture and the overall style you're aiming for. Odd numbers tend to create a more relaxed, casual look, while even numbers offer a sense of symmetry and formality. Aim for a mix that feels intentional yet inviting.

People often want a guide for placement. A popular arrangement for a sofa is two larger cushions at each end, layered with smaller or lumbar cushions in front. On a bed, start with larger pillows at the back and layer down to smaller decorative cushions in front. Or opt for a single lumbar cushion for a simple yet elegant look.

Cushion inners and pads are simply two names for the same thing - the filling inside a cushion cover. They can be made with either synthetic materials or natural fillings like duck or goose feathers. At Clothsmith, we use duck feather inners because they’re natural, long-lasting, and incredibly comfortable.

In the US, the term pillows is often used for what we in the UK call cushions, which can be a bit confusing! At Clothsmith, we use the term cushions - but rest assured, they’re the same decorative items Americans typically refer to as pillows.What should I consider when choosing cushions for different rooms?

We recommend spot cleaning your cushions to keep them looking their best. Avoid tumble drying to preserve their quality. Regular fluffing helps maintain shape, especially as our cushions are feather-filled.