Upholstered furniture is a trend that is seeing resurgence in demand as far as homes are concerned. Not only are these easy to maintain, but they also blend well with creating a themed interior space at home.
For those who don’t know, upholstery is a highly specialised domain within interior designing, which involves completing various types of furniture, especially those required for sitting, with materials that may include padding, stuffing and covers.
Skilled form
Mehaa Seth Marwah, co-founder, Modspace.in, says, “It is a profession that demands superlative skills, which only few have mastered. Therefore, this practice is an art form that has the ability to alter and upgrade the look of your entire room as well as give your furniture a regal appearance. Because of this, we are witnessing a gradual shift towards demand for upholstered furniture among the masses.”
Reshma Kumar, interior designer and founder, HIIH (home decor products) believes that apart from making the space look cosier, upholstery allows for a more personalised space. “With a wide range of prints and colours at our disposal, it’s easier to work with individual tastes. Also, just changing the upholstery on a good solid base can completely alter the look. So, keeping up with trends gets easier on the pocket,” she says.
Upholstered furniture has always been in demand mainly due to its foam that provides the cushioning and protects the furniture to give the product longevity and durability, observes Namrata Seth, director, Sixinch India. “Over time, this industry has developed and today, there are countless options in the industry for different kinds of fabric for different uses,” she adds.
With people growing more conscious about their home decor, they are seeking more options in colours, patterns and materials. Says Yukta Mathur, editor, Housefull.com, “Upholstered furniture offers a great variety of all of these. Also, the options of mixing colours with textures increase with materials like leather, leatherette and so many fabrics available for upholstering the furniture.”
Upholstered furniture, if selected in the right size and colour, will brighten up any room, small or big. “The anatomy of home decor can be gauged with upholstered furniture, if properly spaced. You can arrange a few matching furniture in your living room, or put just one majestic piece in the corner of your bedroom or study, and it is sure to give a plush and classy feel,” says a spokesperson from Pepperfry.
The many advantages
India is one of the fastest growing markets for home furnishing products in Asia-
Pacific. The growing demand for home decor products and growing usage of home furnishing products in residential as well as non-residential sectors is driving the
market in India. Minnie Bhatt, interior designer, opines, “People are leaning
towards upholstered furniture as leather-finished seating is not conducive to Indian weather conditions. International brands retailing upholstered furniture have made a variety of options available.”
With time and lifestyle changes, reasons Thomas Johan, COO, Evok, HHRPL, the old way of furniture making, which was time consuming and laborious, has gradually shifted towards the organised branded furniture sector. “This change provides consumers with a hassle-free end-to-end solution of furniture making as per one’s choice and taste. It also guarantees quality and durability. All these reasons have added to the upsurge in demand for upholstered furniture,” he says.
Typically, genuine leather sofas are in vogue these days. “Today, with the growing market of imported products, and due to competition in the market, the prices are no longer that high. The difference in the cost of a leather sofa and a sofa made from fabric is not much, making it affordable for the common man too,” informs Sunil Kumar, managing director, Cherry Pick.
Demand for upholstered furniture is on the rise also due to aesthetics as well as function. “It sets the mood and theme of a room while providing lush comfort during usage. It is easy to remodel a space without changing the furniture. You can change the look and feel of a space with just changing the upholstery. Every couple of years, a house can get a completely new look,” says Shruti Choudhari, principal architect, Chrysalis Design Studio.
With consumers becoming more environmentally conscious, the upcycling trend will catch up. Some of the fabric manufacturers are ethically sourcing their products raw materials. “Always remember that you have to use a fabric that is thick and can be pulled hard. It doesn’t have to be upholstery fabric always. You can use a few items, especially those which have worked well. Thin cotton fabric always doesn’t work. They aren’t tough enough. Apart from that, keep in mind to buy extra fabric in case you need them,” says Sravani Padmanabhuni, digital media marketer, Bonito Designs.
The utility factor of upholstered furniture is also driving its demand. It can change the look of the house without having to splurge much on it. “By changing the sofa covers, the sofa gets a new look and there’s no need to replace the entire sofa at all. Similarly, this philosophy works for fabric beds, dining tables or coffee tables. Ergonomics is a new trend in furniture design these days. It is a concept related to keeping in mind the body structure of a person or other physical aspects. Upholstered furniture is soft filled and rightly takes the shape of the person using it,” says Hetal Shukla, artist and founder, Artlab.
Upholstered furniture has a timeless appeal and longevity besides blending in with other complementing furniture pieces easily. Current trends within the realm of upholstered furniture indicate the prevalence of bright colours and a comeback of the classic retro style furniture, which enhances the ambience of one’s abode.
Trend check
The current trends in this space are primarily focused on the designs. Suman
Kanodia, co-founder Scarlet Splendour, avers, “Currently, the most leading trend in upholstered furniture is that mid-century or retro furniture are making their way to our homes. Moreover, the sofas have become more cushioned for giving more comfort and keeping it safe for children.”
Plain and self-textured upholstered furniture are in demand, too. “Fabrics with natural fibres are the latest customer preference and upholstering headboards and bed frames continue to gain popularity along with coffee tables, console and end tables. Detailing in upholstery seems to be playing a very important role with some really interesting developments with regards to stitching, buttoning and contrast piping,” says Ina Arora, head, product development, D’Decor Exports.
Upholstery, as a style, is no longer restricted to its traditional use in sofas and dining chairs. It is moving beyond the typical usage of covering up the seating space and extending to other furniture. According to a spokesperson from Fabindia, “Sectionals and upholstered single seaters are high on trend. These are quite popular in the range of upholstered furniture. Not only are these quick picks but also make for great accent pieces. In terms of colour palette, while the natural earth tones continue to be perennial favourites, bright colours are big this season and are here to stay.”
Scandinavian design remains a strong influence for the furniture market worldwide, and brands are exploring ways to keep the style fresh. “Increasingly mobile lifestyles call for versatile furniture that can fill several purposes, and pieces that include extra storage while making interesting use of the space are important. So, we see many sofas with integrated bookshelves as a strong direction, meeting both practical needs and exacting visual demands,” says a spokesperson from BoConcept.
There is a shift in demand, agrees Arshia Ladak, head — marketing, residential, The Phoenix Mills Ltd. “People are open to using upholstery in innovative ways across all types of furniture. The recent trends indicate that upholsteries are even used in ceilings, against the bar counters and on tables with glass on top,” she elaborates.
So, are you ready for an upholstered home?