Wondering where to buy cushions in Singapore, or reupholstery fabric for your old furniture? Changing the soft furnishings in your home can transform the feel of the whole space without you having to go to the expense of shopping for new furniture or redecorating. We spoke to six soft furnishing and furniture experts about their stores, tips and trends to help you on your way.
WTP The Furniture Company – Naazli Somjee
What can our readers expect when they visit your store?
We’re a one-stop destination for design projects of any scale, from the contemporary to the classics. Our furniture is made by craftsmen who ensure the kind of attention to detail and quality materials that allow your desk, sofa, chair or cabinet to last for generations. We carry a huge range of upholstery fabric for beds, armchairs and sofas. For customers wondering where to buy cushions, curtains and wall panels, we have a variety of those too!
How can soft furnishings change a room?
Soft furnishings don’t just enhance the comfort of a room; they also personalise a space. This helps to give a room character and identity – lots of personality. A room can have a completely new look just by mixing and matching different soft furnishings.
What are your hot tips?
Don’t be afraid to match textures – if you’re scared of too much colour, then you can use the same colour tone but change up the upholstery fabric; so, pairing a linen sofa with velvet cushions and a velvet armchair. Blue as a colour is a great neutral. Believe it or not, it also gives you a splash of pizzazz without being too wild. So, if you have a boring or ‘blah’ space, add blue via your rug, curtain and cushions.
What are we likely to see as colour and texture trends for 2021?
Contrasting dark and light wood in homes, for one thing; you just have to keep in mind the continuity by matching the tones to the rest of your colour palette. People will also be taking a deeper dive into velvet upholstery, particularly for sofas and armchairs. Navy blues and teals will likely continue to trend into this year. Rattan is also making a comeback, so we have that to look forward to.
3 Kung Chong Road
6235 2760 | wtpstyle.com
Arete Culture – Caroline Chin-Geyler
What are your hot tips for using soft furnishings?
Soft furnishings have the ability to change the look of a room entirely! Choose your big, investment pieces like furniture in neutral tones or core anchor colours such as a deep grey or navy, depending on your colour palette. This gives you more flexibility to switch out smaller soft furnishings like throws or throw cushions in accent colours.
Don’t be afraid to play with patterns and scale; we love using rugs with larger abstract patterns to elegantly bring together different colours in the room, add texture, and create visual interest without overwhelming the room. You should also use patterns and different textures for smaller pieces like throw cushions to avoid the dreaded drab showroom effect.
What’s your top tip for those thinking of reupholstering a piece of furniture?
We love the opportunity to repurpose furniture where we can in our projects, so if you’re thinking of re-upholstery, go for it! Know that dark fabrics tend to age better as they hide stains and dirt more easily, while light-coloured fabric will require more frequent deep cleaning to maintain a stain-free visage.
What colour and textile trends can you see for 2021?
There has been a general trend towards upholstery fabrics, prints, or techniques that have an element of rich, handcrafted work, whether that’s through hand-beaded embellishment, hand-dyeing techniques (or similar effects done by digital printing), or hand-woven patterns. Classic colour palettes will continue to dominate — taupes, blues and greys — and natural materials such as cotton and linen will also continue to be in demand for their ease of use and durability.
#06-01 Tan Boon Liat Building, 315 Outram Road
9640 3829 | areteculture.com
Desace Studio – Kenneth Lim
What are your hot tips for using soft furnishings to change a room?
Rather than just thinking about where to buy cushions or fabric, always keep in mind how you use the room and its furniture – is it a space you come to sit and reflect, entertain, relax with family, study or work? Patterns and textures need to work with an environment, not against it. Choose calming hues, such as pastels and plain colours for a more meditative environment. Consider funky geometric patterns or bright block colours for a vibrant room for entertaining.
What’s your top tip for those thinking of reupholstering a piece of furniture?
When your furniture begins to look a little tired or dated, there are other options rather than buying a brand-new piece. Re-covering with fabric is a great way to keep your pre-loved piece alive – and it’s environmentally friendly too. There are so many things to consider, but one key tip is to consider whether the piece of furniture is to stand out in its own right, or meld into the aesthetic of the room, and choose an upholstery fabric accordingly.
What colour and fabric trends can you predict for 2021?
Contrasting block colours such as bright yellow and grey, or deep blue and orange, are growing in popularity this year. Tropical prints continue to trend as well, but there’s also a leaning towards earthy, rustic tones.
#04-202, 9006 Tampines Street 93 (factory)
#01-02, 1011 Upper Serangoon Road #01-02 (showroom)
9191 8555 | www.desace.com
Altfield Interiors – Victoria Cheung
What are your hot tips for using soft furnishings to change a room?
Soft furnishings are great for bringing some fun and interest to a room. Once you’ve worked out where to buy cushions, don’t forget to experiment with colours, patterns and textures by simply switching them up. Moreover, don’t forget those trimmings on your cushions or curtains; they are the final touch to any interior scheme – and a little goes a long way. Think of trimmings as the icing on the cake!
What’s your top tip for those thinking of upholstering a piece of furniture?
Always start by considering your lifestyle. Do you have young children and pets? Do you enjoy entertaining? Based on your needs, you can then select suitable fabrics for reupholstery. For high traffic spaces for example, we recommend high-performance fabrics for their durability and easy-to-clean properties.
What colour and textile trends can you forecast for 2021?
For colours, we expect vibrant hues to continue being in demand. These include jewel tones, earthy shades, and saturated colours. People are yearning for more colour and joy in their living environments, and this has been translated to interior textiles. In terms of textile trends, nature-inspired fabrics continue to take centre stage. Think of flora and fauna patterns, as well as motifs inspired by organic forms. Nature is a timeless theme in interior decoration and offers a sense of enduring calm and comfort during these times.
#07-10 Central Mall Office Tower, 1 Magazine Road
6909 2768 | altfield.com.hk
House of AnLi – Panagiotis Lynas
What can customers expect when they visit your store?
Our distinctive, luxe homeware can be found in two stores in Tanglin Mall, one of which, The Loft, has just been launched and gives visitors a unique space to experience House of AnLi’s furniture in a real time setting. Many of these pieces can be custom made and upholstered with our 100 percent Belgian linen from Libeco.
Also, don’t forget we have our two eateries – our Bistro on the third floor, and Pano Kato Grill restaurant on the second floor. Both are perfect for weary, hungry shoppers!
How can soft furnishings change a room?
Using soft furnishings can be a simple but effective way to heighten or change up a room’s look. Classic key furniture pieces in a home, such as a sofa or bed, can be immediately lifted by beautiful upholstery, or striking cushions. For unique key furniture pieces, simple but beautiful linen upholstery can create a luxe look without distracting from the beauty of the piece.
What are your hot tips for anyone considering using soft furnishings?
Upholstering a headboard is such a great and creative way to create a focal point in a bedroom and doesn’t have to break the bank. Also, don’t always assume that larger pieces such a sofa armchair have to have everything else fit around them style-wise. By custom-making a piece, including choosing your bespoke upholstery, you can work these larger pieces into an already styled room, no problem.
What colour or texture trends are you seeing for 2021?
Rustic, natural tones continue to be popular with our customers keen to create a calm, comfy and chilled out space for people to relax in at home. Warmer earthy tones are also favoured, with natural fibres continuing to be a key choice.
#02-21/22 Tanglin Mall, 163 Tanglin Road
6235 5056 | houseofanli.com
Gaya Alegria – Caroline Schiffelers
What can our readers expect when they visit your store?
We specialise in cushion covers and carry a huge range, from affordable to exclusive, cotton to velvet, plain to geometric design, small to extra-large, square to rectangle. Customers can create their own interior and express their personal style with our wide variety of cushion covers, matching any interior or any kind of home décor.
How can soft furnishings change a room?
Experimenting with cushion covers is one of the most easy and budget-friendly ways to restyle and revamp your home. They can be the perfect addition to any space without having to completely refurbish. Cushion covers are not just for your comfort, they can be so much more! A sofa, a bed or a chair will look cosy, stylish and elegant with a fashionable cushion arrangement.
What are your hot tips for using soft furnishings in a home?
To get the most out of your cushion arrangement, keep in mind your interior style, and use it as your guide. Look for colours, fabrics, patterns and sizes that suit your needs; also, choose the right fabric – so consider factors such as durability.
Look for contrast, mix and mingle colours, play with different fabrics and consider combining plain with patterns. Different shapes and sizes can add interest to a room. Then, don’t forget to add other soft furnishing items like throws or floor cushions.
Are you seeing any colour or textile trends this year?
Natural and warm colours, cotton and velvet fabrics are proving popular. Our tip is to combine these and look for contrast in 2021!
#07-06 Tan Boon Liat Building, 315 Outram Road
8113 8030 | Gaya Alegria
Read more in our Homes section or have a look at popular expat neighbourhoods in Singapore.
