Decorating
This Classic Furniture Detail is Having a Moment
Traditionally seen in formal settings, this upholstery detail has now seeped into homes of all styles. Try these ideas
Once the decorative norm in gentlemen’s clubs, the buttoned detailing on a chesterfield sofa is now a familiar sight in British homes, but adding a flourish of buttons to everything else, from headboards to footstools, can take your rooms from ordinary to super-smart. Here’s where to use them.
Update tradition
You can’t beat the pleasing curves of a chesterfield sofa for bringing character into a living space. However, if you want a contemporary finish for your room rather than a period feel, swap a traditional leather or fussy floral upholstery fabric for a strokable one in a bold, zingy colour, and choose other seating in the room for its modernity.
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You can’t beat the pleasing curves of a chesterfield sofa for bringing character into a living space. However, if you want a contemporary finish for your room rather than a period feel, swap a traditional leather or fussy floral upholstery fabric for a strokable one in a bold, zingy colour, and choose other seating in the room for its modernity.
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Think big
If you’re choosing buttoned detailing for your bed, and you want to create a master suite-style impression, choose a double-height headboard that shows off the buttons – even from across the room – making the bed a real focal point. Picking a plain, light-coloured fabric? Have it spray-treated so its good looks are easy to maintain.
If you’re choosing buttoned detailing for your bed, and you want to create a master suite-style impression, choose a double-height headboard that shows off the buttons – even from across the room – making the bed a real focal point. Picking a plain, light-coloured fabric? Have it spray-treated so its good looks are easy to maintain.
Up the texture
In a neutrally decorated room – or one that’s all about understated, minimalist style – adding a piece of buttoned furniture will introduce subtle but much-needed texture, upping the room’s appeal. Picking a fabric with a visible weave – such as a slubby linen – will further enhance the effect.
In a neutrally decorated room – or one that’s all about understated, minimalist style – adding a piece of buttoned furniture will introduce subtle but much-needed texture, upping the room’s appeal. Picking a fabric with a visible weave – such as a slubby linen – will further enhance the effect.
Find rustic roots
If you’ve always thought buttoned detailing only works on formal tailoring in smart settings, check out this scheme. Using it on relaxed cushioning will give your laid-back, country-style room a look that’s packed with – that word again – texture. Like this effect but want a smarter finish? Choose a contrasting trim and matching buttons to give it that Savile Row style.
If you’ve always thought buttoned detailing only works on formal tailoring in smart settings, check out this scheme. Using it on relaxed cushioning will give your laid-back, country-style room a look that’s packed with – that word again – texture. Like this effect but want a smarter finish? Choose a contrasting trim and matching buttons to give it that Savile Row style.
Pick out plush fabrics
Buttoned panels on furniture – such as the exterior surfaces of the sofa just creeping into view in this living room – are a subtle way to show off your eye for the finer decorative details. So why not enhance the effect of the dips created by the buttons by choosing a fabric with a light-catching texture? Velvet – or velvet-effect – is a good choice.
Buttoned panels on furniture – such as the exterior surfaces of the sofa just creeping into view in this living room – are a subtle way to show off your eye for the finer decorative details. So why not enhance the effect of the dips created by the buttons by choosing a fabric with a light-catching texture? Velvet – or velvet-effect – is a good choice.
Make it a surprise
Buttoned detailing is perfect for giving an already smart dining room a really formal feel. Traditionally limited to the chair’s backrest, buttons on the reverse side instead will create a neat decorative twist – plus the detailing will be that much more visible when you walk into the room. Better still, the smooth seat and backrest will be easier to clean.
Buttoned detailing is perfect for giving an already smart dining room a really formal feel. Traditionally limited to the chair’s backrest, buttons on the reverse side instead will create a neat decorative twist – plus the detailing will be that much more visible when you walk into the room. Better still, the smooth seat and backrest will be easier to clean.
Choose cowboy chic
Want to put buttoned detailing on a headboard without it feeling too ‘country chic’? Then instead of choosing floral material, pick a leather-effect fabric to button. How to steer clear of a 1980s bachelor pad finish? Match the leather look with faux fur, smart wood panelling and natural fibres, like this hemp rug, for wild west cabin appeal.
Want to put buttoned detailing on a headboard without it feeling too ‘country chic’? Then instead of choosing floral material, pick a leather-effect fabric to button. How to steer clear of a 1980s bachelor pad finish? Match the leather look with faux fur, smart wood panelling and natural fibres, like this hemp rug, for wild west cabin appeal.
Put it somewhere unexpected
Why stick a standard bench in a hallway when you could put a buttoned pouffe or two there instead? Part places to perch, part sculptural objets, these drum footstools turn an otherwise plain space into a cute – and very contemporary – corner. Show off the detailing by going for a plain fabric rather than a patterned one.
Browse footstools and ottomans in the Houzz Shop
Why stick a standard bench in a hallway when you could put a buttoned pouffe or two there instead? Part places to perch, part sculptural objets, these drum footstools turn an otherwise plain space into a cute – and very contemporary – corner. Show off the detailing by going for a plain fabric rather than a patterned one.
Browse footstools and ottomans in the Houzz Shop
Button up the walls
Forming a super-sized headboard, this leather-look buttoned wall panel is designed for maximum impact. Here’s why it works: the entire colour scheme is neutral, so nothing shouts for attention; the panel is counter-balanced by the fabric-effect wallpaper, and the leather contrasts neatly with bedding that has a hint of a floral pattern.
Tell us…
How does buttoning feature in your home, and which of these rooms do you like best? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Forming a super-sized headboard, this leather-look buttoned wall panel is designed for maximum impact. Here’s why it works: the entire colour scheme is neutral, so nothing shouts for attention; the panel is counter-balanced by the fabric-effect wallpaper, and the leather contrasts neatly with bedding that has a hint of a floral pattern.
Tell us…
How does buttoning feature in your home, and which of these rooms do you like best? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Decorating a room successfully is all about layering – and you can apply that to buttoning, too. What probably won’t work is choosing three pieces of matching furniture, all buttoned in the same style. An easier look to work is going for pieces that complement each other, but don’t match – and each with buttoning in different scales, as seen here.
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