Furnishings
Furnishings, sometimes referred to as soft furnishings or upholstery, are components that incorporate soft material and help create a pleasant and comfortable environment, and complement the furniture and fittings inside buildings. Furnishings can be made of fabric, chenille, velvet, silk, fur, faux-fur, cloth, foam, rubber, and so on.
Common types of furnishings include:
- Curtains.
- Cushions.
- Bedding and mattresses.
- Wall hangings and tapestries.
- Rugs.
- Chair coverings.
- Sofas.
- Bean bags.
- Carpets.
- Doormats.
- Window Coverings.
Furnishings should be carefully selected and designed to enhance the quality of a room, often adding colour, texture and elegance to furniture. The soft material of some furnishings can also enhance the energy efficiency of a room by retaining heat and keeping it warm. They may also improve the sound insulation properties as soft materials absorb sound waves more effectively than hard surfaces which reflect sound back into the space and can result in echoes (or a longer reverberation time).
The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations define requirements for the fire resistance for domestic upholstered furniture, furnishings and other products containing upholstery. These Regulations are enforced by Trading Standards.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Automated blinds.
- Bay window.
- Bringing a breath of fresh air to the design of indoor environments.
- Construction staples.
- Decoration.
- Finishes.
- Fittings.
- Fixtures.
- Furniture.
- Furniture fixtures and equipment FF&E.
- Home improvement.
- How to fit carpet.
- Indoor environmental quality.
- Interior designer.
- Maintenance Repair Operations MRO.
- Stain.
- Tiles.
- Types of blinds.
- Types of carpet.
- Types of window.
Featured articles and news
The first line of defence against rain, wind and snow.
Building Safety recap January, 2026
What we missed at the end of last year, and at the start of this...
National Apprenticeship Week 2026, 9-15 Feb
Shining a light on the positive impacts for businesses, their apprentices and the wider economy alike.
Applications and benefits of acoustic flooring
From commercial to retail.
From solid to sprung and ribbed to raised.
Strengthening industry collaboration in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Institute of Construction and The Chartered Institute of Building sign Memorandum of Understanding.
A detailed description from the experts at Cornish Lime.
IHBC planning for growth with corporate plan development
Grow with the Institute by volunteering and CP25 consultation.
Connecting ambition and action for designers and specifiers.
Electrical skills gap deepens as apprenticeship starts fall despite surging demand says ECA.
Built environment bodies deepen joint action on EDI
B.E.Inclusive initiative agree next phase of joint equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) action plan.
Recognising culture as key to sustainable economic growth
Creative UK Provocation paper: Culture as Growth Infrastructure.
Futurebuild and UK Construction Week London Unite
Creating the UK’s Built Environment Super Event and over 25 other key partnerships.
Welsh and Scottish 2026 elections
Manifestos for the built environment for upcoming same May day elections.
Advancing BIM education with a competency framework
“We don’t need people who can just draw in 3D. We need people who can think in data.”