Monthly Archives: February 2016

11 Things You Didn’t Think You Could Fit Into a Small Bedroom

“Most of us have at least one small bedroom that you feel can’t hold much more than a bed, side table and maybe a small chest of drawers.  So we end up scrimping on everything.  Here are some ideas on what ‘else’ you could consider putting in your small room, that aren’t expected.”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team
While it’s fun to look at photos of spacious bedrooms complete with sitting areas, fireplaces, large armoires and more, the reality is that most people sleep in much tighter spaces. Personally, I love a small, cozy bedroom — it adds to the snuggled-up feeling. But often we also want a piece of luxury to go with that practicality in our modestly sized bedrooms, even if there is barely room for a bed.
Shabby-chic Style Bedroom by Liquid Design & Architecture Inc.
Liquid Design & Architecture Inc.
1. A chandelier. So long as you meet code and place it so you won’t be bonking your head, an elegant light fixture can really make a small bedroom room feel special. Be sure to put it on a dimmer so that you can adjust the mood.
Contemporary Bedroom by i3 design group
i3 design group

2. Plants. By using a custom living wall system, these designers were able to bring in life on the headboard wall.

Plant mounts: custom, The Floral Fixx

Beach Style Bedroom by Cabbages & Roses Ltd
Cabbages & Roses Ltd
3. Twin beds. These beds are U.K. single beds, which are approximately 35 inches wide, as opposed to American twin beds, which are usually 39 inches wide. Those precious extra 8 inches leave a comfortable space between the two. Also worth noticing is the smart reading-light strategy — sconces mounted to the wall save space.
Transitional Bedroom by Hart Associates Architects, Inc.
Hart Associates Architects, Inc.
4. Room to stash plenty of bedside reading material. There is ample room for dozens of books and magazines in this narrow bedroom, thanks to clever built-ins tucked behind the headboard. Note the nightstand surfaces and cabinets built in as well.
Eclectic Bedroom by Right Meets Left Design LLC
Right Meets Left Design LLC
5. Privacy. Sometimes a bedroom is so shallow that a bed barely fits between the walls, and there is no clearance for a door to swing. A pocket door allows plenty of room to close the space off, even though the end of the bed is very close to the opening.
Rustic Bedroom by Jeffrey Dungan Architects
Jeffrey Dungan Architects
6. Yards and yards of textiles. The long drapes in this room add softness, pattern and color while providing privacy. They really make the room.
Shabby-chic Style Bedroom by Jen Chu Design
Jen Chu Design
7. A large statement piece of art. With the walls taken up by handy shelves, a window and an upholstered headboard, you would think there wouldn’t be room for a big piece of art. But designer Jen Chu cleverly adorned this vinyl roller shade with a message stuck on with cut contact paper letters. (By the way, this quote is from Apocalypse Now.)
Transitional Bedroom by Sarah Fortescue Designs
Sarah Fortescue Designs
8. An office. This bed flips up into the cabinet, leaving plenty of room to get work done at the desk during the day.
Contemporary Bedroom by Mark Jordan Architecture & Design
Mark Jordan Architecture & Design
9. A TV. If you love to catch up on your DVR right before bedtime, there are clever ways to tuck in a screen. This TV screen can be tucked right up into the ceiling when not in use.
Traditional Bedroom by ColeBuilt
ColeBuilt
10. Deep drawers. Precious drawers under these beds offer plenty of space for clothing, linens and other items.
Contemporary Bedroom by InDesign / Lori Ludwick
InDesign / Lori Ludwick
11. The Lincoln Memorial. OK, not literally the Lincoln Memorial; let’s make that “a mural.” You shouldn’t give up on a large design element just because a space is tight. In fact, a small room is one of the best places to make a big statement. The wallpaper behind this bed is an image of the large stately columns of the Lincoln Memorial.
Originally published on HOUZZ, by Becky Harris

8 Ways to Arrange Artwork

“Creating a wall of art, is an art in itself.  We’ve all seen it done well…and poorly.  Take a few tips from here and we’re sure your ‘Art Wall’ will look great!”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team
Can’t wait to display that collection of pictures or artwork but stuck on how to hang it? Don’t feel bad. There’s a lot to consider in terms of symmetry, picture size and frame style. To get started, take a look at these eight different approaches to displaying your art and photos.
Transitional Home Office by Kenneth Brown Design
Kenneth Brown Design
1. Linear

What it is: Pictures are hung in a line – either horizontally or vertically. This style emphasizes rhythm and balance.

Benefit: A linear configuration works especially well with pieces that are the same size and are framed with the exact same frame.

Size of wall space: When the artworks are hung horizontally, this is a good choice for a larger wall or to emphasize another horizontal element in the room, such as a rectilinear dining table or seating group.

Limitations: You’re limited by the wall width or height and the quantity of pieces you want to hang. If you have five pieces you want to hang this way but room for only four, this approach won’t work.

This dining room features a gallery-style hanging system to maintain uniformity and add an industrial edge.

Traditional Basement by Bria Hammel Interiors
Bria Hammel Interiors
While a linear style works for identically sized frames, it’s not imperative that the frames be the same size. Here, designer Bria Hammel overlapped frames in two sizes.
Contemporary Dining Room by D'Cruz Design Group Sydney Interior Designers
D’Cruz Design Group Sydney Interior Designers
2. Grid

What it is: Pictures are hung in precise rows and columns that emphasize order and symmetry.

Benefit: Similar to the linear approach, the grid configuration also lends itself to artworks of the same size and with the same frame. The grid method works especially well for collections with numerous pieces. A grid installation is particularly striking.

Size of wall space: The grid system is more flexible, as it works well for walls with little or a lot of wall area. You can hang pieces as high, low and wide as desired. Pieces can be hung either close together, as in this design, or farther apart.

Limitations: Like the linear system, architectural dimensions are a limitation. Also, you need to have enough pieces to create full rows and columns — no stragglers!

A grid installation may be tricky to hang because all of the frames must align exactly vertically and horizontally. It’s unlikely the back hanging wires will be the exact same length, so you’ll have to measure each individually.

Traditional Kitchen by Sarah Greenman
Sarah Greenman
This grid installation is smaller and has more breathing room between each frame.
Transitional Hall Chelsea Park Gardens | London | SW3
3. Clustered

What it is: A clustered configuration is freer; artworks are arranged within a loosely defined, more organic space. Although asymmetrical, a clustered configuration is still balanced.

Benefit: A clustered approach is ideal for artworks of various sizes and with various frame finishes. It’s also possible to add additional pieces without dismantling and rehanging the entire installation.

Size of wall space: With the clustered approach, you have complete freedom to use up an entire wall or just a portion of it. It depends on whether you’re trying to maximize your installation size or draw attention to a furniture piece, like the credenza shown here.

Limitations: Besides architectural barriers and the wall size itself, this approach comes with perhaps the fewest limitations. However, you should try to maintain a fairly consistent distance between the frames. Otherwise it can look messy. Also try to strive for frames of similar thickness. A medley of thin frames mixed with one fat, curvaceous frame can be unsettling.

See more on creating a gallery wall

Traditional Family Room by Elizabeth Metcalfe Interiors & Design Inc.
Elizabeth Metcalfe Interiors & Design Inc.
Here’s a clustered wall-size installation of pieces all matted and framed in the same material.
Eclectic Dining Room by ILevel
ILevel
This installation brings together diverse artwork pieces finished in a variety of different frames. Despite being a visual melting pot, this scenario works because of the close proximity of the pieces to create a harmonious unit.
Transitional Family Room by Katie Rosenfeld Design
Katie Rosenfeld Design
4. Salon-Style

What it is: Salon style is truly old-school.Think of 18th-century Academic paintings on display at the Louvre. Salon style is characterized by a floor-to-ceiling wall-to-wall frenzy of artworks hung tightly together. The method has been gaining popularity lately.

Benefit: Salon style is romantically dramatic. Like the clustered style, it’s a good way to showcase pieces of art of different sizes and with different frame materials, especially if you have a sizable quantity of pieces. The framing materials define the space with hard, reflective surfaces, so this tends to make a room feel more closed-in. This isn’t a bad thing — think intimate and cozy.

Size of wall space: You can pull this approach off in small or large rooms, but it’s best used in spaces with high ceilings.

Limitations: Confirm your furniture placement before starting to lay out your configuration. That way you can work around furniture pieces. You don’t want to hang the entire wall and then realize a dining room chair back hits a painting or the sofa back doesn’t clear the bottom of a frame.

Eclectic Living Room by Adrienne DeRosa
Adrienne DeRosa
This salon-style installation is joyously full of life.
Transitional Living Room by Turner Pocock
Turner Pocock
5. On Shelves

What it is: Pictures aren’t hung on the wall but leaned on an architectural feature, such as a shelf.

Benefit: If you like to change your artwork frequently, but aren’t handy with a hammer or have space constraints, this is a good choice. The shelf approach also offers an added opportunity to layer smaller frames in front of larger ones.

Size of wall space: Depending on whether you want a single shelf or multiple shelves stacked upon each other, you can pull this look off with a large or small wall.

Limitations: The size of your wall is a limitation in terms of the shelf size but, as mentioned above, this is a flexible approach allowing for moving and changing pieces. If you’re considering stacking shelves, you need to make sure the height of your largest picture on each shelf will fit.

Traditional by Sarah Greenman
Sarah Greenman
6. Leaning Against a Wall

What it is: Placing artwork on the floor and leaning it against the wall offers the same flexibility as the shelf approach. However, it does have a somewhat calculated sense of casualness.

Size of space: You need enough wall space and floor space clearance to accommodate the piece.

Benefit: No holes to drill or nails to hammer, and it’s a great option if you have a large piece of artwork and insufficient wall space to hang it. Leaning artwork is unusual and, like salon style, can be dramatic.

Limitations: If you’re clumsy or you have small children or pets, this is probably not the best route to choose. You need to be able to move the artwork to clean behind it. Leaning also tends to look strange with wall-to-wall carpet because it looks like you just moved in and are in limbo. Somehow, this scenario really looks good only with hardwood floors.

Eclectic by Janel Holiday Interior Design
Janel Holiday Interior Design
If you like the leaned look but aren’t sold on the floor idea, place the art on a piece of furniture against the wall. Just make sure it’s nothing you use frequently and are liable to bump, like a make-up vanity or bar cart.
Modern Living Room by Ehrlich Architects
Ehrlich Architects
7. Singles Only

What is it: Hanging up a single large artwork.

Benefits: A single artwork creates a strong focal point or zone in a room. It’s also easier to hang one piece than align several pieces, such as in a grid arrangement.

Size of wall space: For a large artwork, you’ll need ample wall space — enough for the piece and breathing room around the perimeter so it doesn’t look cramped.

Limitations: You’ll need to take into consideration the weight of the artwork and how to anchor it into your wall material in the desired location. Logistics are tricky too — is this something you want (or are able) to tackle on your home stepladder, or do you need professional help?

Most large single artworks are centered either on a wall, as shown here, or in relationship to another component, such as above a fireplace.

Contemporary Dining Room by Christopher Elliott Design
Christopher Elliott Design
Another option besides centering the artwork is aligning it with a seemingly unrelated architectural detail. In the example shown here, the top edge of the painting aligns with the corner of a perpendicular wall surface. If the painting were otherwise moved up or down, the relationship with the corner would look bothersome.
Eclectic Home Office by Turner Pocock
Turner Pocock
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8. Channel the Spirit of Your Artwork and Break All the Rules

You’ve gotta love this installation. Not only does it defy any attempt to be symmetrical, but it really pushes the envelope. Because of that, I find it delightful. The butterfly theme clearly helps this unconventional arrangement work, as if the butterflies are fluttering away before your eyes. However, without the right subject, this approach is hard to successfully achieve.

Originally published in HOUZZ, by  Karen Egly-Thompson

11 Ways to Create a Beautifully Styled Bookcase

“Books, Nick Nacks & Tchotchkes all need a way to be displayed.  Stylish and interesting bookcases can do that.”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team 
Bookworms, rejoice. The options for lining your walls with books are nearly limitless. Whether you are a stacker, sorter or color-coordinator, we’ve got you covered. Learn how to leave your mark and create your very best “shelfie.”
Home Office by Jamie Keskin Design
Jamie Keskin Design
1. Pair it with paint. Try painting the back of your bookcase to provide a hit of color. Add a letter for your initial, vases or your favorite knickknacks to give it a personal touch.
Victorian Dining Room by Vicki Simon Interior Design
Vicki Simon Interior Design
2. Maximize space. Fit a bookcase wherever you can. If the wall is slender, as pictured here, you’ll gain some shelf space without giving up too much square footage. This is one of the best ways to take advantage of overlooked or hard-to-decorate spaces.
Transitional Living Room by Chloe Warner
Chloe Warner
3. Go all the way up. If you want to add dramatic floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, make your dreams a reality. Add a library ladder to reach the highest levels while creating a classically cool look.
Contemporary Family Room by kim scodro interiors
kim scodro interiors
4. Mix your media. Built-in bookshelves are a great way to frame a flat-screen television. It says: “Sure, I watch TV, but I also like to read too.” They’re also a great way to add functionality to an often wasted space.
Transitional Home Office Transitional Home Office
5. Integrate a desk. A desk and your books in one place make for a great pairing. By leaving a flat surface in your built-in bookcase to set up a computer and space below to slide in a chair, you can deftly create a home office.
Transitional Living Room by Cory Connor Designs
Cory Connor Designs
6. Add a reading nook. A window seat between two bookcases makes for an easy reading setup. For extra storage, choose a window seat that can be opened as if it were a large trunk.
Traditional Living Room by Webb & Brown-Neaves
Webb & Brown-Neaves
7. Add a splash of color. If you prefer white walls and furniture, you can still add some color to your room by filling a bookshelf with colorful books. Switch out the books for more or less color depending on your mood.
Beach Style Hall by Whitten Architects
Whitten Architects
8. Highlight the hallway. If you have a wider hall, lining it with bookshelves frees up walls in other rooms. Try filling all the shelves with only books to reinforce your bookworm status.
Eclectic Living Room by Design Manifest
Design Manifest
9. Remember that sometimes smaller is better. If you don’t have the money or space for a large built-in bookcase, a small, low shelving unit can do the trick. Style it with your favorite vintage treasures. Stack books both vertically and horizontally for an effortless sense of style.
Contemporary Living Room by Lucy Call
Lucy Call
10. Be open to the possibilities. If you want a less traditional look for your bookshelves, consider a series of open shelves. They provide just as much space for storing books, but feel lighter and tend to work well in modern homes.
Transitional Living Room by Redo Home & Design
Redo Home & Design
11. Get the best of both worlds.Why choose between a bookshelf or art on a wall, when you can have both? Leave an opening on the wall and display art in it to add dimension and visual interest.
Originally posted on HOUZZ by Michelle Gage

Those Built-Ins Are Going to Look Smashing in Color

“Usually, built-ins are painted white or stained natural.  However, here are some really interesting uses of color to really bring attention to your built-in.”
Denise Buck & Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team
Adding color is one of the fastest and easiest ways to stamp our personality on a room. We usually do this through the choice of wall color, followed by color on furniture, drapes, rugs and finally accessories. Seen far less often is color on built-ins and cabinetry, a more daring surface for a hue besides white since these are among the more expensive elements to install in a home. As a result, we tend to play it safe here. But the following examples convincingly suggest that white isn’t the only option to consider.
Traditional Kitchen by Adrienne Chinn Design
Adrienne Chinn Design
The decision to add color, and in particular a bold shade, strikes fear in many. But the payoff can be a space brimming with personality that’s unique to you and your home. The key is to apply color selectively. Rather than painting everything in sight, strategically cover a contained area, such as this built-in hutch painted a brilliant blue. Most of the cabinetry remains white, allowing the hutch to become a balanced focal point. Adding accessories and art in a similar blue is a smart move that helps integrate the hutch into the design.
Transitional Living Room by Exquisite Kitchen Design
Exquisite Kitchen Design
But don’t worry, the color doesn’t have to be quite that bold to have a big impact, as illustrated by the muted blue-gray built-ins flanking the fireplace in this living room. An upholstered ottoman and accessories continuing the color theme complete the design.
Traditional Living Room by W Design Interiors,LLC
W Design Interiors,LLC
In a strikingly similar living room, nearly identical dusty-blue built-ins add significant character, with the blue tones repeated on the fireplace surround and pillows for an elegant look.
Traditional Dining Room by Carolina Kitchens of Charleston, Inc.
Carolina Kitchens of Charleston, Inc.
Painting built-ins with a distinct color seems somehow less daring when they’re surrounded by white millwork. And when the cabinetry to be painted comes as a pair, this classic symmetry gives license to introduce color without visually upsetting the cart.
Traditional Entry The Happy Home Project
In other instances, it pays to just go all out. The purple covering an entry built-in is happily vibrant mixed with green walls and white trim.
Eclectic Dining Room by Lucy Interior Design
Lucy Interior Design
Bright orange is taking bold color to the extreme, but it’s absolutely wonderful here. Lucy Penfield ofLucy Interior Design shares the specifics. “This was a fabulous old pine cupboard original to the house. We repurposed it with a splash of coral enamel and relocated it from the kitchen to the lower level to use as a bar.”
Traditional Kids by Jaffa Group Design Build
Jaffa Group Design Build
If bringing bold color into the living areas continues to put fear in your heart, how about trying it out on built-ins in a child’s bedroom or bonus room? The use of color is generally more expected in these spaces, which are also typically self-contained rooms not visible from the main areas of the home.
Transitional Family Room by Wick Design
Wick Design
Bookshelves are a wonderful item to consider painting since they provide the option to break up the expanse of color not only with books and decorative items on the shelves, but also with artwork. The gorgeous blue here is Pratt & Lambert’s New Moon in a satin finish.
Eclectic Dining Room by Caisson Studios
Caisson Studios
To ensure that built-ins boasting color visually make sense with the adjacent areas, one tactic is to extend the color from one space to another. In this example, the navy blue on a pair of corner hutches in a dining nook shows up on lower cabinets in the adjoining kitchen.
Eclectic Kitchen by Caisson Studios
Caisson Studios
While the lower cabinets are navy, the upper cabinets, walls and appliances remain white to keep things light and fresh.
Transitional Home Office by Christian Rice Architects, Inc.
Christian Rice Architects, Inc.
In another example of extending color from one room to another, the gray-blue on these built-ins repeats in the entry on the front door and sidelights.
Transitional Entry by Christian Rice Architects, Inc.
Christian Rice Architects, Inc.
The color looks a shade darker here, and it certainly could be, or it may simply be due to lighting differences. Carrying accents of color from one room to another is an effective way to bring visual harmony throughout a home.
Transitional Living Room by Laura U, Inc.
Laura U, Inc.
OK, so you love the idea of painting built-ins with a rich color but are thinking, “Why stop there?” Good for you! Yet another approach is to continue the color from the cabinetry on the surrounding walls.
by Laura U, Inc.
Laura U, Inc.
Here, a deep shade of eggplant covers the bookcases and walls — particularly effective since both the cabinetry and wall sheen are the same. The color’s volume is balanced by ample white trim, white window coverings and furniture, and the bright light filling the room.
Eclectic Living Room by LDa Architecture & Interiors
LDa Architecture & Interiors
And if one color is good, add a second complementary hue in an adjoining room. In this home, a light turquoise, Benjamin Moore’s Spectra Blue, covers the shelves and walls in the living room, while the library next door benefits from the same treatment in a different color.
Eclectic Living Room by LDa Architecture & Interiors
LDa Architecture & Interiors
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The beautiful pale yellow, Benjamin Moore’s Golden Tan, covers built-ins and walls for a cozy reading environment.
Eclectic Dining Room by Rikki Snyder
Rikki Snyder
Is all this color a bit too much, but you’re intrigued nevertheless? As an alternative, start with a small surface to cover. A good spot to test your color tolerance could be the back wall of open cabinetry, or perhaps the back of cabinetry and built-in hutches featuring glass doors where a peek of the color will show through. Just pick up a small can of your favorite paint color and give it a try.
Originally published by Janell Beals, HOUZZ

10 Creative Ways to Work With a Sloped Lot

“Many of us have had to deal with less than level yards.  Here are some very interesting ideas on how to deal with a yard that is presenting some challenges.”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team
Steep or hilly yards can pose some of the biggest landscaping challenges, but also some of the most beautiful solutions. Make the most of your sloped lot with artful stone, terraces, built-ins or even a slide — these 10 creative outdoor spaces tackle the problem with style.
Contemporary Landscape by Mariposa Gardening & Design
Mariposa Gardening & Design
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1. Artful stonework. Go beyond the average retaining wall and opt for something extraordinary instead. These walls were created using dry stacked Arizona sandstone, slate and bluestone.
Contemporary Kids by Eldridge London
Eldridge London
2. Hillside slide. Why stick with stairs when a slide is so much more fun? In this kid-friendly yard, a stainless steel slide is set into the terraced landscape, ending next to a sandbox with a removable cover.
Traditional Landscape by Roger Washburn Landscape Architecture
Roger Washburn Landscape Architecture
3. Stone ramp. If the terrain in your yard isn’t too steep, a ramp lined in stone makes a lovely alternative to stairs. Interspersed with mossy ground cover, the “steps” develop a weathered look over time.
Transitional Landscape by Cary Bernstein Architect
Cary Bernstein Architect
4. Built-in bench. Create a retaining wall and seating area in one with a built-in bench that swoops upward. As part of a larger patio, the built-in seating provides a quiet space to read or relax next to the outdoor dining area.
Landscape by Thuilot Associates
Thuilot Associates
5. Steel-lined steps. Corten is a steel that develops a patina over time, without causing corrosion to the metal. Here, it was used to form a retaining wall along a stepped path, leading from one zone to another on a hillside lot. Lush ornamental grasses soften the lines of the steel wall and concrete steps.
Contemporary Landscape by Groundswell Design Group, LLC
Groundswell Design Group, LLC
6. Sunken patio. Create a lush, private outdoor space with steps leading down to a patio ringed in terraced planting beds. The multiple levels of greenery make even a small patio feel more spacious.
Southwestern Landscape by D-CRAIN Design and Construction
D-CRAIN Design and Construction
7. Desert garden. Get a similar terraced garden look in an arid climate by incorporating xeriscape plantings. The color and shapes of these corten steel planters enhance the architecture and landscape.
Contemporary Patio by Envision Landscape Studio
Envision Landscape Studio
8. Hillside hearth. Snuggled into a hillside, this outdoor fireplace looks extra cozy, and the hill provides a natural windbreak. A splash of bright red and yellow in the seating area echoes the hue of the plantings, drawing the eye into the garden.
Contemporary Deck by Universal Developing
Universal Developing
9. Treehouse perch. On a very steep lot, a deck extending from the house can provide a lovely spot from which to view the rest of your property. Here, curving decks wrap around the home, even incorporating a mature tree with built-in bench seating.
Traditional Landscape by a Blade of Grass
a Blade of Grass
10. Terraced gardens. Fieldstone terraces beautifully divide the space in this expansive, gently sloped lot. The upper terraces lead to a picket-fenced vegetable garden, while a path of stepping stones leads down to a bluestone patio with stone fireplace.
Originally published on HOUZZ, by Laura Gaskill

Furniture Clinic: End the Curse of Slouchy Couch Cushions

“More than once we’ve seen this happen and it’s actually an easy fix.  The tufting is just an added touch”
DC Metro Realty Team – Denise Buck & Ed Johnson
With cold weather and holiday entertaining just around the corner, our attention often turns to our home interiors. Take a good look at your furniture from the perspective of a guest: How do things really look? A few easy updates can make a big difference in how people see your home.

My big problem piece is a sofa from the mid-1970s that I haven’t had time to repair or reupholster. To get one more year out of it, I updated the loose back cushions with symmetrical tufting. This is a quick, easy trick that I tried out on a love seat last year with amazing results. You just need a tufting needle, tufting twine and basic sewing skills.

Before Photo
by Upholstery Club's Shelly Leer
Upholstery Club’s Shelly Leer
The tufting serves two purposes. First, it visually updates the loose, boxed and corded cushions that were standard in the late ’70s and early ’80s. Second, it solves the saggy back-cushion problem.

Boxed-back cushions tend to get saggy because the cushion inserts are usually sewn with a baffle straight across the center. The baffle acts as a shelf and keeps the fiberfill from sinking down to the bottom of the cushion. When the filling is new, fresh and unmatted, it looks and feels great. But over time, the filling in the top channel sinks to the bottom of that channel, and the filling in the lower channel sinks to the bottom of that channel.

That’s what had happened to this sofa. No matter how many times I fluffed the cushions, they always ended up slouched down.

Contemporary by Upholstery Club's Shelly Leer
Upholstery Club’s Shelly Leer
AFTER: Tufting keeps the filling evenly distributed and give those plain back cushions a fresh, modern update. With this simple trick, even an old, tired sofa can last a little longer.
by Upholstery Club's Shelly Leer
Upholstery Club’s Shelly Leer
How to Add Tufting to a Cushion

Determine the number and spacing of your tufts — I did four, evenly spaced, in the center of the cushion. Then measure and cut a template on a piece of white paper, so each cushion will be exactly the same.

by Upholstery Club's Shelly Leer
Upholstery Club’s Shelly Leer
Place the cushion on a flat surface and even out all the inside stuffing. Mark the vertical and horizontal centers of your template on the cushion.
by Upholstery Club's Shelly Leer
Upholstery Club’s Shelly Leer
Push in pins where the tufts will be to see if you like the placement.
by Upholstery Club's Shelly Leer
Upholstery Club’s Shelly Leer
Thread two long tufting needles with tufting twine, or any twine that will slide through your cushion fabric.
by Upholstery Club's Shelly Leer
Upholstery Club’s Shelly Leer
Place needles ½ inch apart at the tufting spots and push both needles through to the back of the cushion.
by Upholstery Club's Shelly Leer
Upholstery Club’s Shelly Leer
Create a slipknot to hold the tuft in place.
by Upholstery Club's Shelly Leer
Upholstery Club’s Shelly Leer
As you push the cushion down to tighten up on the knot, hold the short end in your right hand and pull the left end snug to tighten the knot. When all the tufts are uniform, tie a standard knot to secure the tufts. Either cut the twine ends near the knot or thread a needle and push it through the cushion, so it comes out on the other side. Pull the ends snugly while putting pressure on the cushion and snip the ends. They’ll be hidden inside the cushion.
by Upholstery Club's Shelly Leer
Upholstery Club’s Shelly Leer
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This kind of tufting takes only an hour or so, but it’s a practical and affordable solution that will prolong the life of your old sofa for a good while