Soft furnishings

A detailed presentation regarding soft furnishings in Interor. For any other details mail on [email protected]

1. Soft Furnishings Presentation By- ID. Shreeya Taware

2. Introduction Soft furnishings may be defined as those components of house that beautify the interiors and provide a pleasant atmosphere in the house. So anything that is made up of soft material could constitute the term soft furnishing, this may include mattresses, curtains, pillows, covers, sofas, bed sheets and much more. All these together create an ambience that makes the living more comfortable and easy. S oft furnishing is a fascinating topic which adds the texture, softness and finishing touches to the decoration of a room. Soft furnishings include curtains, loose covers, cushions, bedspreads ,etc. They have colour , pattern and texture. They give protection, warmth, and comfort.

3. Importance Of Soft Furnishings Character and charm: -Soft furnishings are a crucial aspect of interior design. -Cushions, rugs and curtains add characterful accents to a room, allowing homeowners to play with personal touches- whether that’s sparkly cushions on the sofa, a sheepskin rug on the floor or vibrant curtains hanging over the windows.  Textural contrast  : - Interior design is about texture and contrasting those textures in order to add depth and interest to a space. -If you have hard wooden floors, a set of delicate curtains will soften up the room perfectly. Comfort and warmth   -Soft furnishings don’t just offer aesthetic benefits to a home; they offer practical ones too. For example, rugs are soft underfoot, providing comfort and warmth to an otherwise cold and hard floor.   -Curtains are particularly instrumental in improving the comfort of a room; they insulate and block out light when necessary.  Acoustics -Another functional advantage of adding plenty of curtains, cushions, throws and rugs to your home is to regulate the acoustics. -All of these soft furnishing pieces will contribute to noise reduction and make the sound within the room less echoey . Privacy   -The final practical benefit of soft furnishings- curtains in particular- is the privacy that they offer. -In bedrooms and bathrooms, this is vital, and with modern house designs incorporating more glass and larger windows, curtains and blinds are proving to be an essential feature throughout the contemporary home. 

4. Types Of Soft Furnishings Carpets. Rugs. Cushion Cover. Slip Cover. Window Treatments. Carpet Rugs Cushion Cover Slip Cover Window Treatments

5. Carpets A carpet is a textile floor covering typically consisting of an upper layer of pile attached to a backing. The pile was traditionally made from wool, but since the 20 th century synthetic fibers as polypropylene, nylon or polyester are often used, as these fibers are less expensive than wool. Carpets are used for a variety of purposes, including insulating a person's feet from a cold tile or concrete floor, making a room more comfortable as a place to sit on the floor reducing sound from walking and adding decoration or color to a room. Carpets can be made in any color by using differently dyed fibers. Carpets can have many different types of patterns and motifs used to decorate the surface.   Primary backing  is manufactured mainly from synthetic  fabric .  Secondary backing  is made of both jute and woven polypropylene. 

6. Benefits Of Carpet Carpet improves the indoor climate as it retains airborne dust particles. The carpet traps the particles and keeps them trapped in the fibres until the next time of vacuum cleaning.  Carpet also offers good insulation, allowing energy savings of approximately 4-5% and up to 10% in cold winters. Carpet is the floor that absorbs sounds. On stairs, in the living room or in an office. A carpet doesn't reflect sounds, it absorbs them thus minimizing noise levels. Height and density of the carpet influence the effect of sound insulation. A carpet improves room acoustics.  Carpet is also non-slippery. The risk of slipping on a carpet is much lower than with smooth flooring. And if one should fall, the chances of injuries are smaller as carpet is soft and resilient. Carpet is the most versatile flooring; the possibilities are endless! Carpet is available in many different colours, structures and designs. 

7. Rugs Rugs are textile floor coverings that are used over another finished flooring surface. Rugs do not extend wall to wall, they are used to anchor furniture (sofas and tables should be placed either completely on the carpet or around it). Rugs unite the colours of the room together, add accent and texture, define a space, make a room more comfortable as a place to sit on the floor. They are a perfect companions for a hard-surface flooring. When placed on the wall can also be used for decorative purposes. 

8. Types Of Rugs Shag: A super soft cut pile rug with very long threads. Good for low traffic areas, as accents under tables, or in front of the TV or fireplace (they are great for bare feet).

9. 2. Cut and Loop: This style incorporates both the high cut-pile and low loop-pile design. This style is usually made in two colour designs to hide soiling footprints.

10. 3. Flat Weave: - A flat weave rug is an easy way to update the floors in any room thanks to their thin profile and very low pile.  -Also known as Indian blankets, flat weave rugs boast a lightweight texture  at an affordable price. -They are a great option for high traffic areas like hallways, kitchens, or entryways, and offices with rolling chairs. -They have a variety of use depending on size, pattern and material. Are often made of cotton, wool, jute or silk.

11. 5. Cut Pile: - This is one of the most popular . -Cut pile carpets are extremely soft underfoot. They offer a luxurious feel and look that most other carpets can’t compete with. -The cut fibres are also easy to keep clean with a vacuum because dirt and dust can’t get caught in hidden areas. -Cut pile carpets might offer superior comfort, but the exposed fibres are much more prone to fraying and damage over time. -Depending on the pile height (how thick the carpet is) your cut pile carpet might also show footsteps and other impressions easily.

12. 6. Loop Pile: - Loop and cut pile carpets have varying benefits. People often choose loop carpets because of their durability. -Carpets with very tight loops are especially durable. -  Loop carpets also offer more traction than most other carpets, so people choose them for staircases and other areas where people might slip. -One of the main complaints about loop carpets is that they are not as soft as other carpet styles. - Tightly looped carpets can also be harder to clean thoroughly. It’s easier for dirt and dust to get caught inside the loops.

13. 7. Oriental Rug: - The common use of the name “Oriental rug” is used as a generic label for nearly any variety of patterned pile rug. -Genuine “Oriental rugs” come from Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, Tibet, Turkey, Balkan countries like Romania and Albania, and some North African countries like Morocco and Egypt. - They are the most versatile in terms of decorating because they blend extremely well with a variety of design styles, from traditional to modern.

14. 8. Kilim : - Kilim a re flat tapestry-woven carpets or rugs produced from the Balkans to Pakistan. - Kilims can be purely decorative or can function as prayer rugs. -Modern kilims are popular floor-coverings in Western households. - Kilims are produced by tightly interweaving the wrap and weft strands of the weave to produce a flat surface with no pile.

15. Cushion Cover A cushion is a soft bag of some ornamental material, stuffed with wool, hair, feathers, polyester staple fiber, non-woven material, or even paper torn into fragments. It may be used for sitting or kneeling upon, or to soften the hardness or angularity of a chair or couch. Decorative cushions often have a patterned cover material, and are used as decoration for furniture. Cushion covers are the materials that are used to cover the pillows, cushions to be used in interior design. Selection of cushion covers depends upon the theme that is going to be used, the colour scheme, the purpose for which they are going to be provided.

16. Textiles for cushion covers Cotton and linen  are widely used in cushion manufacture and both are hard wearing and washable. - They are also cool to the touch and therefore are a good choice for summer time use. - Linen can sometimes crease quite considerably, so perhaps might not be a good choice for a sofa or chair that gets a lot of use.  Canvas when looking at a good fabric to use on outdoor furniture the perfect choice is canvas, which is an extremely strong cotton fabric. - It is extremely hard wearing and resistant to the weather. - It can also be easily waterproofed and comes in a stunning array of colour ways. Cotton & linen Canvas

17. Silk or wool   for bedrooms or perhaps hallways where your cushions will probably be more decorative than functional, a fabric such as silk or wool is a good choice. Leathe r is often overlooked as a cushion cover fabric, but as it is extremely hard wearing it is often a good choice for areas that get a lot of wear.  Polyester and nylon  for general use around the home there are several types of synthetic materials. - Things like polyester and nylon are widely used in the manufacture of cushion covers. - Most synthetic materials are a combination of various fibres and can imitate anything from silk to wool. Silk & Wool Polyster Leather

18. Slipcovers A  slipcover  (also called  loose cover ) is a fitted protective cover that may be slipped off and on a piece of upholstered furniture. Slipcovers are usually made of cloth. Slipcovers slip on and off, they come fresh, and may be removed for seasonal change, cleaning, moving, or storage. Slipcovers are sometimes defined as "clothing for furniture." Indeed, they are tailored just as clothing is, and are fitted loosely or snugly to the taste of the owner or tailor. Some people order furniture upholstered in plain muslin with the intention of using slipcovers only.

19. Window Treatments A  window treatment  is a cover or modification of the window, often with the aim to enhance the aesthetics of the window and the room. Window treatments are divided in 2 categories: - Hard window treatments are made of hard materials like wood or vinyl. Such as: shades and blinds. - Soft window treatments: anything made of soft materials such as: sheers, curtains, swags, valances.

20. Hard Window Treatment Shades are a piece of fabric which rolls, stacks or folds, opening to a view only when the shade is rolled up.   Shades are drawn up and down by cords or rolled up with a spring device. Types of shades: - Woven Wood Shades. - Cellular Shades. 1. Shades

21. Woven Wooden Shades: Woven wood shades, often called bamboo shades or matchstick shades, offer an exotic, natural look and are a great way to add textured, casual good look to almost any decor. Woven wood shades offer complex textures, exotic reeds, grasses, woods, and sophisticated natural colours.

22. 2. Cellular Shades: Cellular shades feature a unique honeycomb design that maximizes energy efficiency and insulates home. These blinds are developed and manufactured with a unique honeycomb structure that traps air and insulates the room. This feature helps in controlling the temperature in your room.

23. 2. Blinds A type of window covering made of a series of evenly spaced slats that can be opened or closed by cords. They are much affordable than other coverings. Blinds come in several colours and range from less expensive plastic varieties to wood and other decorative styles. Blinds can also tilt from side to side, which allows you to control the amount of light entering the room. For most blinds, a cord located on one side of the blinds allow you to adjust the blinds up and down. A rod located on the other side of the blinds controls the tilt of the blinds, allowing you to open the slats, or close them.

24. Types Of Blinds Vertical Blinds: - Vertical blinds have individual slats that run along a track at the top of the blind. - Depending on the style, vertical blinds either open from side to side, or by parting in the middle.  - They are cost effective. - Unlike horizontal blinds, vertical blinds are less likely to collect dust because they stand vertically.  - Generally they require less muscle strength, and are faster to operate.  - Are an excellent solution for covering windows that are extremely wide and for patio doors as well.  - Vertical blinds are available in flat plastic (PVC), fabric, embossed PVC, faux wood materials, metal, wood and also S-curved slats.

25. Parts Of Vertical Blinds

26. Venetian Blinds: - Venetian blinds are the most popular style of blinds. They feature horizontal slats which attach with string or strips of cloth known as tapes. - As Venetian blinds are raised, the bottom slat is pressed into the slat above it. -Made of wood, metal or plastic. They are suspended by strips of cloth called tapes, or by cords, by which all slats in unison can be rotated through nearly 180 degrees. -The slats can be rotated such way that they overlap with one side facing inward and then in the opposite direction such way that they overlap with the other side facing inward.  

27. Parts Of Venetian Blinds

28. Soft Window Treatment A curtain is a piece of cloth intended to block or obscure light. Curtains are a form of window treatment, and complete the overall appearance of the house. Curtains helps control the ambiance and flow of natural light into the room. They are used as room divider, or partition between rooms. The effect of drapery or curtains is best seen in daylight, and with proper indoor light positioning, can look attractive even at night. 1. Curtains

29. Panel Pair: -Panel pair curtains feature two separate curtain panels. -This type of curtain is popular in classic and contemporary styles. With a panel pair, you place a curtain on either side of the window. To close these curtains, you’d pull each panel together. -Panel pair curtains can be tied back to create a symmetrical look for your window treatment. Types Of Curtains

30. 2. Single Panel: - With a single panel curtain, one panel covers the entire window. - The panel can be pulled to either side to open, and it can be tied back to create a modern, asymmetrical look. - These types of curtains are popular in modern and casual styles.

31. Pleated Curtains: - If you’re going for a style that’s traditional or formal, pleated curtains are your best bet. These curtains are typically made with thicker and heavier fabrics. - Following are different types of pleats: a. Pinch Pleat (Tailored Pleat): - Pinch pleat curtains are the most popular kind of pleated curtains. -The pleats are stitched and pinched at the top, allowing the folds of the fabric to flow below and create an elegant, formal look. - Use these curtains in master bedrooms, sitting rooms or entertaining rooms.

32. b. Box Pleat: - Box pleat curtains are suitable for dining rooms, lounges or bedrooms. - The folds run deep and uninterrupted across the entire length of fabric, providing full coverage with a tailored appearance. Box Pleat c. Goblet Pleat: - Goblet pleat curtains are ideal for large, formal rooms with high ceilings. They get their name from the resemblance to goblet or a wine glass. - Due to the delicate structure of the pleats, this curtain style should remain stationary and can only be used to frame and decorate the window. -They’re not a good option for curtains that get a lot of use. Goblet Pleat

33. Pencil Pleat: - Pencil pleat curtains have thinner, single pleats that make it easier to work with various curtain hooks or rods. - Pencil pleat curtains are more casual than goblet or box pleat curtains. - They’re perfect for bedrooms or living rooms that don’t require as much formality. Pencil Pleat

34. 4. Eyelet (Grommet) Curtains: - Eyelet or grommet curtains are a contemporary, modern style. - Open rings (or grommets) are used to support the panels. - The rings allow you to open or close the curtains with ease, which is why these panels are an excellent choice for bedrooms. Eyelet (Grommet) Curtains 5. Tab-Top Curtains: - Like eyelet curtains and rod-pocket curtains, tab-top curtains are also easy to set up. -Tab-top curtains have prominent loops that hang from the top seam of the panels and are used to support the curtain rod. Tab-Top Curtains

35. Sheer curtains are a great way to make the most of the natural light and create a bright, soft, outdoorsy feeling, whilst maintain that much needed privacy and protecting against intrusive insects and dust. Sheer fabrics are thin and light. Most sheer curtains are made of polyester, which is a very friendly and cost effective fabric. Its synthetic makeup makes polyester curtains very easy to clean. Regular dust can simply be shaken out of them and most stains can be washed out with just water and a mild detergent. This ease of cleaning makes them great for windows facing the outdoors. 2. Sheers

36. Swags are pieces of fabric loosely slung and draped over a decorative rod or wound over a tieback at each corner of a window frame to add a little style and romance to your room. There are many different ways to hang swags, but one of the most common is a simple swag. Swags are great for a glamorous cottage or country-style bedroom because of the sheer, romantic softness of the window treatment. A swag by itself cannot provide much privacy, so it needs to be combined with other window treatments—such as curtains, blinds, shutters, or shades. Swags are also a wonderful alternative to drapes for a canopy bed. Just wind the fabric over the bed’s posts, and let it drape gracefully around the corners of the canopy frame. 3. Swags

37. A valance is a piece of fabric that hangs across the top of a window to hide other window treatment’s hardware and add softness, color, and pattern. A simple valance is the most basic and casual treatment; it’s normally just a slip of fabric attached to the rod with clip rings or a rod pocket. Valances are a popular decorative choice in concealing drapery hardware.  Window valances were popular in Victorian interior design. 4. Valances

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