COMFY CUSHIONS!

OFTEN living rooms become a dumping ground for stuff and the continuous wear and tear can make them look little frumpy and run down. To renovate your living room consider the idea of using a few cushions to spruce up your room. But it is important to choose the right floor cushion and cushion covers. It can pull all the elements together and bring back life to a once dull, mismatched room.

Remember having cushions that match your couch is a big no. Add some cushions that complement other colours in your room; this can be as effective as adding a work of art on your wall. The colours should exist in some other element in the room – it can be your curtains, painting of wall etc. Make sure they complement each other well. Don't choose loud colours. You can merge small prints with large prints. You can also opt for plain cushion covers on printed bed spreads or couches.

Selecting cushions is the best part. It will be easy if you have already kept the colour palette in mind. Most of the cushions will have one of the colours or designs that you want. Choosing the right size and shape of the cushion is as important as choosing the right colour. Opt for the standard size of 16x16, 18x18, 20x20 or you can also go for 36x36. But be careful, if all your cushions are of same size it will become boring. Mix up the size, colour and print of the cushions.

There are many stores in the capital who sell cushion and cushion covers like Aarong, Jatra, Kumudini, Aranya, Anjan's and New Market where you will find a huge variety at affordable prices. Aarong has a stock of colourful cushion covers. Aarong offers block design, applique work, hand and machine embroidery as well as screen printed work, cut work, lace work, silk covers, crochet work, sequence, mirror work, etc. They have different sizes starting from 14, 16, 18, 20 till 36. Blocked covers start from Tk. 173 and go up to Tk.1200+vat depending on work and size. Cushions sized from 14 to 36 will tax your wallet not more than Tk.150 Tk.600 +vat.

Kumudini is well known for its handicrafts and Nakshi Kantha stitched home accessories. Kumudini offers cushion covers in silk and cotton. They have covers using block prints, Tapi stitch (Nakshi Kantha), Rani stitch, vegetable dye, applique, etc. The covers start from Tk. 2000 sized 3 by 3 feet, 2 by 2 feet  costs Tk. 1525 and the 2 by 2 feet Nakshi stitch starts from Tk. 1150. Vegetable dye will cost you not more than Tk.200 to Tk.325. Floor cushions are available at Tk. 475.

Jatra started its business focusing on arts and culture. Along with clothing, they also sell house hold items like vase, dining tables and cushion covers. They are currently offering cushion covers of different prints and designs all on cotton. They have Katha stitch, Nakshi stitch, block, tie dye, batik etc. Every three months they change their design so there is no chance of repetition. The cushion covers are all available in different sizes. A size 16x16 inches will cost you around Tk.299 to Tk.999 +vat. A 20x20 inches costs Tk.399 to Tk.1299 +vat, and size 36x36 inches will tax you not more than Tk.599 +vat.

So choose the right cushion and decorate your house and bring back some life to your home. Keep it simple yet colourful.

Photo: LS Archive/Sazzad Ibne Sayed