Pillow Talk: Throw down a cluster of covetable cushions to change up your interiors

By Joseff Musa
May 21, 2024

Cushions are essential accessories that elevate décor, bestowing a room with a cosy, charming ambience as well as a touch of elegance. Providing tonal and textural contrast, they are surely the easiest, most affordable and arguably most fun way to add style and personality to your living space. Whether you are sprucing up your living room, den or bedroom, they can change the vibe of your entire interior experience. 


No matter the size of your home, there’s always room for a cushion or two to brighten the interiors. Choose vibrant patterns as cheerful accents to scatter onto sofas or bedspreads in solid colours or monotone throw cushions that instil calm in colourful furniture. With so many hues and style options available, you are bound to find ones that complement your unique home style.


Goods of Desire

Fondly called G.O.D., Goods of Desire is quintessentially Hong Kong. Founded in 1996 by local designer and artist Douglas Young, the heritage design and lifestyle brand has grown from a small boutique in Ap Lei Chau into an iconic, multifaceted international retailer. G.O.D. presents Hong Kong to international audiences by creating premium products with a distinct look and feel inspired by the city’s vibrant history and culture, where East meets West, and age-old traditions converge with cutting-edge technology.


Young’s designs embrace humour and creativity, turning everyday subjects into truly extraordinary objects – including an extensive array of cushion covers that infuse your living area or bedroom with Hong Kong whimsy and a burst of colour. The Sai Kung Series is one of its most iconic collections, featuring trails, nature and island scenery. Traditional handcrafts are celebrated in a range of satin-silk embroidery prints usually associated with Chinese jewellery pouches. These appear as a patchwork design on the front of the cushion with a solid silky colour at the back. god.com.hk


Staunton & Henry

Hong Kong-based homeware retailer Staunton & Henry prides itself on offering beautiful and eclectic decorative items that don’t cost the earth and cannot be found elsewhere. They have a showroom in Central, but their online store ships worldwide, delivering finesse from their collections and bespoke products for customers who want unique items. Notable among their various cool, modern home accessories is a wide range of cushions and throws.


Offering style and comfort, cushions are available in a myriad of themes from Scandinavian to bohemian and contemporary. The Herman Art Deco Throw Cushion lets you add visual interest and a pop of muted colour to your interiors. Realised in lush shades of taupe and cream, their angles, shapes and lines nod to Art Deco’s bold yet sleek geometric patterns, and add elegant depth to any seating arrangement. Handmade with an intricate woven pattern, the Nordic Chunky Weave Throw Cushion Cover imparts interest and texture. The soft and subtly fuzzy feel of the knit cotton can help make a room feel cosier. 


Staunton & Henry’s Teal Oriental collection is embellished with floral and fauna prints inspired by Chinese and Japanese bird paintings. Crafted in satin, these cushion covers have an elegant serenity and shine. Available in two sizes, the Amrin Stitched Blue Throw Cushion looks ultra-chic in its tone and depth, imbuing a sense of moody luxury wherever you place it. stauntonandhenry.com


F&P Interiors

Established more than 20 years ago under the name Fabrics and Papers, this UK specialist in designer wallpapers, curtains and upholstery is a great option for anyone looking for bespoke services. They can create personalised scatter cushions, bench cushions, outdoor cushions and floor cushions in any size and shape covered in your favourite fabrics. The F&P range leaves clients spoiled for choice; it spans all interior styles from contemporary to country cottage, and includes vintage linens, printed velvets, outdoor fabrics and embroideries. 


Made using traditional sewing techniques with careful attention to detail, each cushion can be individually customised by their expert team and is made to last. Designing a made-to-order piece becomes a simple and enjoyable process. From choosing the fabric to adding those unique finishing touches, items are handmade to your exact measurements and specific requirements with their talented team assisting at every step. 


F&P Interiors’ outdoor cushions are a particular treat. Styled to make your garden or balcony seating more comfortable and stylish, and to continue looking its best for longer, they are woven using threads designed to withstand the wear and tear of outside entertaining. fabricsandpapers.com


Khushi Kantha

If eco-friendly and sustainable living is important to you, then Khushi Kantha shares your values. It was founded by British mother Laura Rana, who moved to Bangladesh and revived a centuries-old upcycling tradition through collaboration with local women who knew the handicraft. From stitching patchwork cloth from rags to designing blankets, cushion covers and bags, the venture is based on a beautiful blend of cultures and styles. 


The word kantha refers to both the stitching and the final cloth, and it evolved from the thrift of rural women in the Bengali region of the Indian subcontinent. One of the oldest forms of embroidery originating from India, its origins can be traced back prior to 1500 BCE and it became a canvas for ordinary women to tell stories of their everyday life. Khushi, meanwhile, means happiness, an emotion that comes when you behold products made out of love and devotion. 


Their cushion covers feature bright colours, heritage patterns and scenes, and animals and birds like peacocks that celebrate nature, all brought to life through traditional stitching. They are handmade from 100% cotton handloom fabric, hand-dyed using Oeko-Tex Eco Passport-certified dyes, and lined with upcycled deadstock 100% cotton fabric. Presented in a reusable cotton drawstring bag, handcrafted from a vintage sari offcut, with a packaging insert explaining Khushi Kantha’s social-enterprise mission, they make great gifts. Bespoke services include embroidering names and personal details to make each cushion a unique and happy story. khushikantha.com