Cocooning in style: quilted upholstery for ultimate comfort

Imagine sinking into a luxurious sofa, enveloped in the plush, cloud-like embrace of quilted velvet. This alluring tactile experience speaks to a growing design trend that is capturing the attention of homeowners and design enthusiasts alike.

At the heart of this movement is the innate human desire to create warm, inviting, and deeply comforting living spaces – a concept known as "cocooning." Today we dip into ‘cocooning’, especially looking at the KNOW-STALGIA trend theme, and how our low maintenance upholstery fabrics tie into this.

Cocooning: creating our very own chillout zones

In 1981, trend forecaster Faith Popcorn coined the term "cocooning" to describe an intensifying home-focused behaviour, explaining it as the concept of building a "shell of safety" around ourselves.

It’s an idea that’s gaining more traction in recent years. In a world that can feel chaotic and uncertain, the psychological benefits of creating a safe, relaxing space within our homes cannot be overstated. The idea is that by surrounding ourselves with soft, inviting textures and serene silhouettes, we cultivate a sense of sanctuary – a place to unwind, recharge, and simply be.

Our quilted upholstery fabrics can play a key role in building a sheltering feel, surrounding people in a soothing embrace, even triggering a physiological response that signals to our bodies that it's time to rest and recharge.

Related read: Our quilted velvet upholstery shines in The Highway Hotel [CASE STUDY]

Quilted upholstery textures: beyond blankets

Quilted textures have long held a place in furniture design, with roots tracing back to traditional quilting techniques for blankets. But over time, these beloved patterns have evolved, transitioning from classic styles to interpretations that had little to do with keeping people warm and everything to do with creating a certain atmosphere in a space.

Nowadays, you'll find quilted upholstery gracing the surfaces of everything from plush lounge chairs to unusual coffee tables, thanks to their ability to add depth, visual interest, and a ‘safe haven’ feel to any space.

Related read: Soothing decorating ideas for a peaceful home

Perfect for quilted upholstery: soft 'bubbly' silhouettes in furniture design

As our desire for comfort and relaxation has grown, furniture design has responded in kind. Fluid, sculptural sofa designs featuring elegant curves have been popular sofa trends over the last few years, and are still proving popular in 2024.

We're loving the way that sofas with biophilic and biomorphic style curves are becoming more popular too. Mother Nature is the best designer of organic shapes, and designers have been following her lead since design began. Perfect for cocooning!

KNOW-STALGIA in a nutshell

Our quilted upholstery ranges are one way that we're expressing our joy in the trend towards comfortable, familiar shapes and bubbly textures. A quilted sofa lends a classic retro feel to any room—perfect for those who love vintage style. Perfect for our KNOW-STALGIA trends theme!

KNOW-STALGIA and quilted upholstery

KNOW-STALGIA is a playful exploration of nostalgia and self-awareness.

It’s a combination of the excitement of moving into the future mixed up with the familiar, nostalgic feeling conjured up by things like retro-style furniture or even just songs from childhood. KNOW-STALGIA's earthy, grounded colors give us a sense of comfort even in the midst of our fast-paced world.

FibreGuard quilted velvet upholstery

From their humble origins in traditional blanket-making to their current status as a versatile design element, quilted textures have proven their ability to transform spaces into havens of tranquillity. When combined with the soft, organic curves of modern furniture design, they create an environment that truly embraces us, both physically and emotionally.

As we continue to shape our living spaces, let's remember that true luxury lies not just in aesthetics, but in how our surroundings make us feel. By embracing quilted textures and the principles of cocooning, we're not just designing rooms – we're crafting experiences that nurture our well-being and provide a much-needed respite from the outside world.

As we move forward, let's continue to explore how design can not only please the eye but also soothe the soul, creating spaces that truly feel like coming home.

Contact us today: it’s time to put your feet up.