Looking for expert guidance to design your

Leave your information and we will call you to book your preferred consultation slot

Please enter your Full Name
Please enter your Mobile Number
Please enter your Pincode
Please enter your Email ID

A guide to tufted upholstery and how it can add drama to your interiors

  • Fabrics
Jul 06, 2021
Modern bedroom design with bed that has a tufted upholstery finish matching with bedroom décor - Beautiful Homes

You’ve probably seen tufted upholstery on sofas, chairs and headboards many times. You’ve also probably absent-mindedly played with the buttons or run your fingers along the stitching. Tufting adds layers of visual interest and tactility to furniture and home interior décor, but it also serves a more functional purpose. With this guide on tufted upholstery, we explore the benefits, uses and different techniques of tufting that you can choose from. Read on for interior décor ideas to enhance your plain, old upholstery.

What Is Tufting?
First, let’s start with what tufting actually is. Tufting originated in Victorian England around the 1800s. It was done to secure the furniture padding from shifting. Essentially, tufting is a kind of fabric treatment where the top upholstery and underlying layers of filling are tightly stitched using different techniques, resulting in a series of repeating geometric patterns. The stitches form indents or dimples that are evenly positioned and form a uniform pattern. This creates raised sections of fabric called tufts. Sometimes, these depressions are secured with a button, knot or ribbon, or even left bare.

Furniture that is tufted in geometrical pattern for modern living room décor - Beautiful Homes

Image courtesy, Studio Osmosis

Modern home interiors with furniture having tufted upholstery & chic interior decoration - Beautiful Homes

Image courtesy, Beyond Designs

Benefits Of Tufting
Tufting adds texture and dimension to furniture. It lends a plush, luxe look and feel to your home interior décor. Apart from aesthetics and appearance, tufting also has practical uses. For starters, the cushioned tufts make these pieces more comfortable to sit on or lay against. Additionally, each technique involves reinforcing the fabric every few inches—resulting in less sagging and increases longevity of the furniture.

Where Can You Use Tufting?
The most common furniture pieces for tufting are seating in the living and dining areas like sofas, armchairs and dining chairs. Tufting can be done on a variety of upholstery materials including cotton, polyester, velvet, linen, leatherette and pure leather. Tufting greatly increases the comfort level and durability of seating furniture. 

Modern bedroom design with bed that has a tufted upholstery finish matching with bedroom décor - Beautiful Homes

Image courtesy, 42MM

Use tufted headboards & pillows in the bedroom for the perfect modern bedroom décor - Beautiful Homes

Image courtesy, Azure Interiors

You can also tuft headboards, bed benches, poufs and ottomans to elevate your bedroom décor. You can experiment with different tufting patterns and techniques or even blend two to create unique designs in your bedroom. Additionally, adding a few tufted pillows or cushions to your rooms works wonders in enhancing that luxe appeal. Finally, you can get creative with tufted, upholstered wall panels for an accent wall or even wardrobe shutters.

Different Type Of Tufting
There are a few different techniques used to create an interesting tufted look, each resulting in different patterns or styles. Each technique lends itself well to different décor styles from a more vintage look to a clean, modern design. Here are the five most common techniques used in tufting.

From modern to contemporary tufting interior décor styles can be used for home decor - Beautiful Homes

Image courtesy, Cane Boutique

                                                                                           Tufting based on pattern:

Get a luxurious effect for your home interior décor with diamond tufting on furniture  - Beautiful Homes

Image courtesy, ADND

1.    Diamond Tufting
One of the oldest and most popular tufting techniques is the diamond tufting. As the name suggests, the resulting pattern is of repeating diamonds formed by pulling and securing the upholstery fabric. This technique also results in very comfortable furniture to sit on or lay against because of the extra cushioning in each diamond-shaped tuft. One can make it more formal by adding pleated folds or seamed panels that enhance the diamond pattern. With an elegant and timeless appeal, this technique is great for living and dining rooms or even soft, vintage-inspired home interior décor. For an extra luxurious effect, use a rich fabric like velvet or silk for the upholstery. 

2.    Biscuit Or Bun Tufting
Biscuit or bun tufting is a more recent technique; the stitching forms a uniform and repeating square or rectangular tufts of about eight to ten inches each. Depending on your tastes, the dimples can vary from deep to quite shallow. It lends a contemporary look to furniture and works very well with a mid-century aesthetic.

Modern bedroom seating with bun tufting & colour matching with interior decor - Beautiful Homes

Image courtesy, Beyond Designs

Photography by Prachi Damle, Styled by Nidhi Tiwari

3.    Channel Tufting
This technique features rows of lines or seams instead of indentations. The tufting pattern involves repeating stitched lines, either vertical or horizontal, where the padding fills a long channel between two lines of stitching. This style works perfectly for minimal and modern aesthetic but can also be used in art deco and mid-century home interior décor. When used on items like a high headboard, vertical channel tufting draws the eyes upward and gives the illusion of higher ceilings. 

 Tufting based on stitching technique:

1.    Blind Tufting
Blind tufting can result in any pattern; however, the technique describes the style of stitching where one cannot see what is holding the tufting in place. A small stitch is used to pull back the fabric which is then secured with a tiny knot. Different spacing, patterns and the number of tufts are used to create a variety of designs. The resulting look is clean and minimal luxe without any visible accents.

Blind tufting can be used on furniture design of your home interiors for a minimal look - Beautiful Homes

Image courtesy, Pramod Group

Regal look of furniture that has button tufted upholstery in the living room - Beautiful Homes

Image courtesy, Sanjyt Syngh

2.    Button Tufting
Finally, like blind tufting, button tufting isn’t about the resulting pattern, rather the stitching technique. It features a button in the pit of each dimple that anchors the stitch in place. There is no set button size and they are usually fabric covered buttons that match the upholstery fabric. However, contrasting colours and/or materials can be used to infuse visual interest and add layers of texture. It lends a regal and stately appeal, perfect of formal areas and traditional-inspired home interior décor.

Looking for expert guidance to design your

Leave your information and we will call you to book your preferred consultation slot

Please enter your Full Name
Please enter your Pincode
Please enter your Mobile Number
Please enter your Email ID

By proceeding, you are authorizing Asian Paints and its suggested contractors to get in touch with you through calls, sms, or e-mail.

tick

Thank You!

We value your interest in Asian Paints - Beautiful Homes. We will get in touch with you to customise your package.

Tell us more and you may qualify for a

special appointment!

Get a special appointment
1/ 4

What’s the status of your home possession?

2/ 4

What’s the condition of your home/space?

prev Previous Question

Will you be living in your space during the renovation ?

, Previous Question
3/ 4

Is your interior design budget over 4 lakhs?

prev Previous Question
, Previous Question
4/ 4

Book next available appointment slots with our experts!

prev Previous Question

DEC 2023

27 FRI
31 MON
1 TUE

JAN 2024

01 WED
02 THU
03 FRI
05 MON
06 TUE
07 WED
08 THU
arrow

Please Select Date and Day

Previous Question

Something went wrong!

We were unable to receive your details. Please try submitting them again.
To reschedule or cancel, call toll-free
Submit again

Appointment Scheduled!

Thank you for giving an opportunity to Asian Paints Beautiful Homes Service! Our Customer Experience Specialist will get in touch with you soon.

Appointment Date & time

17 Oct 23, 03.00PM - 04.00PM

To reschedule or cancel, call toll-free

Thank You!

Our team will contact you for further details.

Similar Articles