There’s a lot to be said for sleek, modern, Swedish-style design. Minimalist furniture takes up less space, is easy to keep clean and can help a room look uncluttered and airy, as it often stands on slim legs allowing light underneath. However, there’s also a lot to be said for traditional upholstery. We’re talking, big, squashy sofas and chairs that enfold you into a comforting embrace when you’ve had a bad day. That’s why we’re pleased that upholstery is back in style, and it’s not just confined to chairs. Upholstery is making a comeback on everything from headboards to fabric wall panels, and very welcome it is too.
Kensington upholstered wingback armchair, Maison Haven Furniture. This chair merges sleek modern lines with bold design, featuring a striking black fabric seat and front contrasted by vibrant green tropical-patterned upholstery on the sides and back. £849, available from Maison Haven Furniture.
Why do we love upholstery?
1. It helps create a cosy nest
In one word, ‘comfort’. That might be physical comfort, or the softness added by padded surfaces. Modern, industrial-style interiors can feel cold and soulless, and upholstery is the antithesis of that. Padded surfaces offer relaxation and create a welcoming atmosphere. Adding a padded top to a bench or ottoman makes it more inviting to use.
2. It adds interest and texture
Chloe two-seater Chesterfield, Furniture Outlet. Make a bold statement with the Chloe two-seater sofa, featuring tufted upholstery in ocean blue mottled velvet. Available in two or three seater options, prices start at £449 from Furniture Outlet.
‘Upholstery’ is a fairly broad term, and can cover a multitude of options. There are lots of different upholstery styles, including tufting. This was originally used to make sure the padding was evenly distributed and didn’t slip, so the piece of furniture was studded regularly with pins or buttons to create a diamond effect in the upholstery. You can also add skirts, piping, different seams and more. And that’s before you even get to the fabric choice – velvet, linen, cotton, brocade, boucle…there’s a whole material world just waiting to be discovered.
Oxford ottoman, Where Saints Go. Designed for placing in hallways, living spaces or the foot of the bed, this luxury bench is perfect wherever you need an extra seat. £299, available from Where Saints Go.
3. It’s an accessible trend
While it may be expensive to have pieces of furniture professionally re-upholstered, it can be relatively single and cheap to do a little DIY. To create a cushioned top for a bench seat or ottoman, you’ll only need basic DIY skills. Have a piece of upholstery foam cut to the right size (this can often be done at fabric warehouses, or you can find stockists online). Fasten your chosen fabric over it as tightly as you can using a staple gun, the just glue it into place.
If you’re feeling a little more confident, you could experiment with adding a trim or piping. Headboards can be made in a similar way, using a piece or hardboard or MDF as the main structure. Large DIY shops will often cut these to your specifications for you. Cover it with foam and fabric in a similar way, then screw it to the wall. Glue on some braid or button to hide the screw marks, and voila!
Where to use upholstery
1. Furniture
Upholstered furniture is still the key component of the trend. Big, squashy sofas make a good focal point, particularly in contrasting shades to the rest of the decor. If you have a smaller, less flamboyant sofa you can get the look easily by adding some big cushions.
Sugar Puff headboard, Loaf. Squishy, traditional French-style headboard (above and main image) available in a choice of 146 different fabrics. Prices start at £695, available from Loaf.
2. Panels
In addition to headboards, you can add upholstered panels to your walls. These can be made easily in the same way as a DIY headboard, and instantly add cosiness and intimacy to a room. They can also help to keep heat in, and add some measure of soundproofing. If you get tired of them, they’re easy to take down and recover with different fabric.
Main image shows the Sugar Puff headboard, (c) 2025 Loaf.
