The History of Cushions

Believe it or not, the history of cushions is quite an impressive one. Some would say it is a really noble history, since they were first seen within the inventories of the palaces and other royal buildings of the Middle Ages. The main fabric used as a cover for cushions was leather, and their dimensions were big compared to what we see nowadays. Cushions were placed above chairs and very often people stayed on them as if they were seats. Even after people became more civilized and they started to stay on wooden chairs, cushions kept their usual role and therefore they still served as chairs. This is just the beginning into the history of cushions.


What is important to remember about cushions is their noble role, as the only people who were allowed to sit on them were the feulal lords and people with high ranks within the royal court. As time went by, their use was directed towards softening the surface of chairs and benches. As the nobles sat on these cushions, they instantly felt comfortable and satisfied with their lifestyle. The most famous countries where cushions were regularly used at the courts were France and Spain, mainly during the 17th and the 18th century. They represented a sign of honour and if someone was asked to kneel on them in the church, behind the king, it was interpreted as a mark of subordination and reconnaissance of their inferior status.

Nowadays, handmade cushions are still used at the weddings taking place within the Royal family and representative events for the Royal courts, like coronations. Their role became double as time went by, because they are no longer used only for covering chairs and making people feel more comfortable, they are also used as decorative elements that fit perfectly with a traditional bedroom. However, there are cushions, which can cause people serious discomforts, due to their totally anaesthetic look or for not being soft enough. Depending on anyone’s interest, a cushion can be either funny, or classical and simple. There is a wide range of fabrics that are used now for cushions, from the most expensive ones to the cheapest. Among all these, crease-resisting and woven fabrics are the most appreciated by customers all over the world, mainly for their ease at washing.

What is essential to keep in mind when buying a cushion is its durability. As they are supposed to be used for decorative purposes and personal interests as well, the most recommended fabrics are the ones that can resist to handling and their quality is high enough. They can be found almost anywhere in different shapes and various dimensions, with fringes or braids and frills and if you look further to Italian and English models, you will have even more options to choose from. The is one true fact about cushions that has maintained its relevance throughout time: cushions are supposed to be an item of long-time use, so before investing big sums of money in these soft furnishings, make sure you have checked their fabrics and their level of resistance at handling.