Add a Little Pizzazz to Pillows and Cushions

When integrating cushions and throw pillows into your home’s layout, even the smallest touches can make the difference between a run of the mill room and one that’s impressive and comfortable. These little touches are often the sort of things we don’t notice when they’re in place, but are glaringly obvious when missing. Minor additions like cord welting and buttoning can add class and personalization to throw pillows, or any other decorative furniture in the home.

Welting on cushions and pillows (also known as piping) is typically a thin banding of cotton wrapped in cushion fabric to either match or compliment a cushion’s cover, sewn onto the outer seam. This technique is often used as a way to mask seams around the cushions, and is an easy method for adding an extra touch of color or style. Welting is most often placed along the top and bottom seams of box cushions, or around the outer edge of pinched-seam cushions and pillows. Box cushion welting, frequently seen on outdoor patio cushions, reinforces the angular profile of thicker cushions.

While welting can create a crisp, clean look, buttoning creates a fluffy, tufted appearance that goes well with classically-styled furniture. Tufted buttoning is accomplished by running thread directly through the cushion and tying it off on both sides outside the cushion with a button. This creates a tension that results in a gentle bunching around the button, which gives the appearance of a fluffier cushion. Most tufted, button-style cushions feature either a single button in the center, four buttons near the corners of a cushion, or five buttons; one in each corner and the last in the center.

If you want to add a small touch that makes a big difference, cord welting and buttoning are just what your next cushion or pillow project needs.