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Interior Design vocabulary · Furniture, Fixtures & Furnishings

Soft furnishings

Meaning in interior design, with examples

/ˌsɒft ˈfɜːnɪʃɪŋz/nounCore term

In interior design, soft furnishings means: The fabric items in a room, such as curtains, cushions, throws, rugs and bed linen, which add colour, comfort and texture.

In Turkish: ev tekstili, dekoratif tekstil

How it is used

A British term; in the US people often say soft goods or textiles. Soft furnishings are usually chosen near the end of a project and are an easy way to refresh a room or change it with the seasons.

Example sentences

  1. The furniture is quite plain, so the soft furnishings will bring in the colour.

  2. Soft furnishings help absorb sound in a room with hard floors.

Common collocations

  • choose soft furnishings
  • soft furnishings budget
  • layer soft furnishings
  • upholsteryThe padding, springs and fabric or leather covering on sofas, chairs and headboards; also the craft of making and covering such furniture.
  • window treatmentAnything used to dress or cover a window, such as curtains, blinds, shutters or sheers, for privacy, light control, insulation and decoration.
  • textureThe way a surface feels, or looks as if it would feel, such as rough, smooth, soft or grainy; in design it adds depth and interest to a room.
  • layeringCombining several levels of something, such as light sources, rugs, fabrics and textures, so that a room feels rich, deep and comfortable rather than flat.

More terms: Furniture, Fixtures & Furnishings

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