Ever looked at the cushions on your sofa and wondered who started this whole soft-furnishing situation? Probably not. But now you’re here, let’s dig into it — because it turns out cushions have a surprisingly long and slightly ridiculous history.
If your sofa’s looking a bit sad or your cushions feel like they came from a hotel lobby, our Cushion Covers Collection might just restore your faith in soft furnishings.
So, Who Invented Cushions?
No one really. Like most useful things, cushions weren’t exactly invented — they just sort of turned up. The earliest ones date back to Ancient Mesopotamia, about 7,000 years ago. They weren’t soft, mind you. More like decorative bricks for the very rich.
We’re talking wooden or stone blocks, often carved, sometimes painted. Comfy? Not especially. But if you had a few lying around, people knew you were doing alright.
Ancient Egypt and China followed suit. Elevated headrests, often beautifully made, but definitely not what you’d want for a Sunday afternoon nap.
For a glimpse into historical cushion design, explore this beautifully preserved 1601 British cushion cover featured by The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
When Were Cushions Invented as We Know Them Today?
Soft, padded cushions — the kind you throw on your sofa and forget about until someone spills tea on them — didn’t really appear until the Middle Ages in Europe.
They started as useful things for sitting, kneeling, or leaning (church floors weren’t exactly plush). They were stuffed with whatever was going — straw, feathers, wool — and gradually worked their way into posh interiors.
By the 17th and 18th centuries, cushions had gone decorative. Velvet, tassels, embroidery — the works. And from there, things got wildly out of hand.
Cushions Around the World
While European cushions were gradually softening up in the Middle Ages, other cultures were doing their own thing entirely.
In Japan, floor cushions known as zabuton are still used for sitting and meditating. In Morocco, low seating areas with embroidered leather pouffes have been part of the home for centuries. In Victorian England, people were busy turning cushions into works of needlepoint art — because nothing says 'status' like hours of stabbing something with thread.
Turns out, cushions are one of those rare things that crop up almost everywhere, just with their own local flair.
Cushions Today: From Status Symbol to Something the Dog Sits On
These days, cushions are everywhere. And while the wealthy no longer hoard them as a show of power, many of us still have a suspiciously large number.
Whether they’re for comfort, colour, or just to stop the sofa looking bare, they’ve stuck around. Which is impressive, really — not many accessories have a 7,000-year run.
And if you fancy owning a cushion that’s a bit less "everyone’s got this from the same place," head over to our Cushion Covers Collection. Handmade, one-of-a-kind, and refreshingly un-beige.
FAQs
Were cushions really made of stone?
Yes. Because nothing says luxury like resting your head on a carved rock. Ancient Mesopotamians used stone cushions to show status, not for snoozing.
When did cushions actually become soft?
Somewhere between the Dark Ages and the rise of embroidery. By the Middle Ages, people were stuffing fabric with whatever they could find — feathers, straw, or probably the odd sock.
Why do people have so many cushions?
Good question. Possibly to annoy their partners. Or maybe because nothing fills an awkward space on the sofa quite like a cushion no one’s allowed to lean on.
Can I just use a cushion as a pillow?
You can. But don’t expect your neck to thank you in the morning. Cushions are for flopping, styling, and decorating — not snoozing (unless the nap’s accidental).
