Don't underestimate the power of a few scatter cushions.
The decorative detail has the power to transform any blank space into a homely haven of cosy comfort.
Once employed as a social symbol reserved for the wealthy upper classes, cushions have become mass-produced homeware essentials for all to enjoy.
The lavish candy-pink Gucci cushions and romantic toile Dior offerings seem to get all the airtime, but they aren’t, dare we say, strictly necessary. If you have the means to deck out your home with luxury designs, then by all means do. But a simple interior facelift can be achieved with just a sprinkling of inexpensive pillows to inject your shared spaces with personality.
Cushions have the power to reflect your interior mood board while also accentuating it. Just look at how set designers incorporate cushions into film. Production designer Katie Byron mirrored the honeyed light of the desert setting in Don’t Worry Darling via her mustard-toned cushion choices. They provided a charming focal point while neatly slotting into the retro aesthetic of the scene.
K. K. Barrett followed suit when heading up the production design for Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette. Each room was embellished with pink or Tiffany blue cushions, all adorned with gold detailing to reflect the affluence of the French monarchy. Granted, it’s unlikely that Louis VXI would have shopped at H&M home. Yet it’s possible to achieve a luxurious look without breaking the bank.
It’s surprisingly easy to source elegant cushions for under £50 - when you know where to look. The notoriously expensive embellishment doesn’t have to cost an arm and leg, making decorating student rooms, city pads and communal spaces prone to mess a total breeze.
Urban Outfitters, Oliver Bonas and Zara Home are just a handful of household names that stock affordable options without sacrificing quality. Curate your dream den complete with mushroom-clad cushions, candy-striped bolsters or checkerboard prints with a quick nip into John Lewis. For a more mature finish, opt for botanical velvets, tropical designs and tassels courtesy of brands like high street hero M&S.
Colour your home with some playful, pocket-friendly cushions and bring your humble abode to life.
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H&M Velvet Cushion Cover
Add a light lift of colour to your shared spaces with this striped velvet cushion. H&M’s pistachio and cream design is contemporary yet subtle and comes in a range of eye-catching colourways.
Buy now £14.99, H&M
Urban Outfitters Mushroom Embroidered Cushion
Tap into the latest obsession with mushrooms. The fungi trope is yet to die down, and for good reason. Cute designs like Urban Outfitters’ embroidered offering are set to delight cottagecore lovers.
Buy now £42.00, Urban Outfitters
Urban Outfitters Pink Toile Ruffle Cushion
Take a leaf out of Marie Antionette’s style book and indulge in a whimsical French theme. These pink toile cushions add a feminine touch to any sofa, making them a perfect fit for girlish interiors.
Buy now £32.00, Urban Outfitters
John Lewis Checkerboard Cushion
Pick from orange, blue and mustard colour schemes with John Lewis’s funky checkerboard cushion collection. The affordable pieces will jazz up the most basic of rooms with their retro prints and vibrant palettes.
Buy now £25.00, John Lewis
La Redoute Velvet Piped Mushroom Cushion
A painterly take on the fungi fad, La Redoute’s piped velvet mushroom cushion is a highly romantic choice. Note the rich cobalt blue backdrop set against salmon pink, fern green and fuschia forest plants.
Buy now £18.00, La Redoute
Dunelm Pride and Joy Stripe Green Cushion
Many cushion designs are overwhelmingly girly, but not Dunelm’s. Neutral hues are executed via classic vertical stripes complete with smart piped edging.
Buy now £16.00, Dunelm
M&S Velvet Cheetah Embroidered Cushion
Escape into a mystical land thanks to M&S’ magical cushion collection. Teal velvet encircles leopards, butterflies and tigers, making these cushions exquisite statement pieces to adorn that empty armchair.
Buy now £29.50, M&S
Oliver Bonas Embroidered Border Pink Velvet Cushion Cover
The Oliver Bonas design team has mastered the art of preppy interiors. Block colours meet bold prints in the label's homeware range, with this scatter number being a prime example of that material marriage.
Buy now £22.50, Oliver Bonas
La Redoute Monkey Forest Blue Fringed Filled Cushion
Animate a tired space with a vibrant jungle scene. Monkeys swing between vines and skate along twisting branches in this fringed cushion, that comes complete with a zesty gold trim.
Buy now £19.00, La Redoute
Amara Ultra Diagonal Stripe Cushion Cover
Barbie-fy your new university room with an unmissable candy pink cushion to attract the eye. A smaller structure is easier to transport upon each and every move, hence why students are set to love the petite piece.
Buy now £4.00, Amara
Zara Home Embroidered Cushion Cover
Create an ethereal fairycore nest with a helping hand from Zara Home. The brand champions rustic styles like this embroidered cushion cover, which exudes bohemian charm.
Buy now £23.99, Zara Home
