Cushions

There are three main types of cushion interior – foam, feather or polyester fibre. Customarily, thin layers or sheets of foam are placed on the suspension system and covered by either the main decorative fabric or by a less expensive non-visible platform or lining cloth to reduce wear on reversible cushions. Thus a platform is formed for the seat, back and arm ‘sitting’ surfaces of the sofa, according to the design, onto which separate upholstered cushions are placed. These cushions may be fixed, loose or detachable via a series of zip fastenings.

Foam

Foam is a popular filling for upholstery. It is resilient, flexible, easy to manipulate, and can be moulded or shaped to meet the most complex upholstery styles and designs. Upholstery seat cushions are predominantly filled with foam. They will soften in the first few months until they find their natural balance and this is quite normal.

Foam seat cushions are often wrapped in polyester fibre wadding to give an even softer feel for initial comfort and to reduce wear.

Feather and fibre

Modern upholstered furniture predominantly contains feather or fibre filled back and/or seat cushions. Both are popular for comfort because you sit ‘in’ them rather than ‘on’ them. But they do require a lot of plumping-up to retain their shape, and some people are allergic to feathers or the dust they generate. Feather and/or fibre cushion infills are often produced in sections to reduce the likelihood of the filling moving around inside the cushion where downward movement could be a problem. They are liable to appear ‘untidy’ after use but the original look can usually be restored by smoothing out creases to avoid premature fabric wear and frequent plumping for shape retention.

There is no universal ‘standard’ for the plumping of seat and back cushions, and your retailer will be able to give you specific advice about care requirements. The Furniture Ombudsman recommends regular plumping.