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A Guide to Different Types of Tufting
Explore different types of tufting designs and patterns to liven up your decor
Rashmi Haralalka
4 October 2019
Houzz India Contributor. I am a blogger who's passionate about not just home decor but little things around that to the aesthetic appeal. It could be your own kitchen garden or even just sprucing up the lights in the doorway. And it's amazing how these minuscule items add up to the bigger picture. Writing and sharing these is my idea of rejuvenation therapy!
Houzz India Contributor. I am a blogger who's passionate about not just home decor... More
Tufting is a kind of fabric treatment where layers of fabric and underlying filling are tightly stitched into a pattern to form evenly positioned indents or depressions. The raised sections are called tufts. It brings subtle elegance to any room and the style of tufting also enhances comfort and cushioning. Tufting originated in Victorian England around the 1800s to secure the fillings in furniture padding from shifting. Traditionally used in sofas and chairs, tufting is also used in headboards, poufs, ottomans and so on. There are five commonly used tufting patterns, now used mostly for the added style and professional finish they give to furniture. Let’s learn more about them.
1. Diamond tufting
This is one of the oldest and most popular types of tufting techniques used in sofas, chaises, and similar pieces of furniture. Indicative of the name, the fabric is pulled and secured in a way to create diamond patterns. The technique features extra cushioning in each tuft, resulting in a cosier and more comfortable seating experience.
Sofa Guide: 9 Timeless Sofa Styles
This is one of the oldest and most popular types of tufting techniques used in sofas, chaises, and similar pieces of furniture. Indicative of the name, the fabric is pulled and secured in a way to create diamond patterns. The technique features extra cushioning in each tuft, resulting in a cosier and more comfortable seating experience.
Sofa Guide: 9 Timeless Sofa Styles
Pleated folds or seamed panels can be used to add depth to the design and accentuate the look.
Find an interior designer to help choose that perfect tufted sofa
Find an interior designer to help choose that perfect tufted sofa
2. Biscuit tufting
Commonly referred to as the bun technique, in biscuit tufting the fabric is stitched in a way to create uniform squares or rectangles of about 8–10 inches.
Commonly referred to as the bun technique, in biscuit tufting the fabric is stitched in a way to create uniform squares or rectangles of about 8–10 inches.
Biscuit tufting can be either flat and clean-lined or cavernous (as shown here) for added comfort.
Take a look at more living room images
Take a look at more living room images
3. Button tufting
As the name suggests, buttons are used in the center of each indentation to secure the tuft. Button tufting can be easily integrated into biscuit and diamond tufting types.
As the name suggests, buttons are used in the center of each indentation to secure the tuft. Button tufting can be easily integrated into biscuit and diamond tufting types.
Though the buttons usually match the fabric colour, one can always use another material or colour to draw visual interest, as in this image.
Which Sofa Upholstery Is Better: Fabric or Leather?
Which Sofa Upholstery Is Better: Fabric or Leather?
4. Blind tufting
Blind tufting is basically tufting that can be in any pattern but does not show anything holding the indentation in place. it is achieved by pulling back the fabric with a small stitch on the surface, and securing it with a knot. Doing so gives a minimalistic look with no visible accents such as buttons or ribbons.
Look for tufted living room furniture in Houzz products
Blind tufting is basically tufting that can be in any pattern but does not show anything holding the indentation in place. it is achieved by pulling back the fabric with a small stitch on the surface, and securing it with a knot. Doing so gives a minimalistic look with no visible accents such as buttons or ribbons.
Look for tufted living room furniture in Houzz products
5. Channel tufting
This tufting style features horizontal or vertical stitched lines where the padding fills a long channel between two lines of stitching, for a more modern look.
This tufting style features horizontal or vertical stitched lines where the padding fills a long channel between two lines of stitching, for a more modern look.
This tufting style is popularly used in headboards as it gives a sense of height. Also, the even finish makes it more comfortable to rest the head on the headboard.
Shop for beds with tufted headboards
Shop for beds with tufted headboards
Sometimes, two tufting styles can be paired together, too. See how the biscuit tufting is combined with the channel linear patterns to create a one-of-a-kind look.
Read more:
Sofa Secrets: Before You Buy or Reupholster
12 Sofa Colour Combinations You Can Blindly Trust
Tell us:
Which of these tufting styles would you like to use in your home? Tell us in Comments below.
Read more:
Sofa Secrets: Before You Buy or Reupholster
12 Sofa Colour Combinations You Can Blindly Trust
Tell us:
Which of these tufting styles would you like to use in your home? Tell us in Comments below.
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