Lisa Harland

You Magazine, May 2008.

Green Scene by Sheherazade Goldsmith
Cushioned for comfort Relax and unwind

After six months of making big decisions and talking dimensions, paint and flooring, we are now safely installed in our wonderful house. There were a few teething problems, such as boiling water coming out of the filtered drinking-water tap and, worse still, the bidet! But now my focus can move on to the more whimsical, indulgent side of renovating: soft furnishings.

Whether you're a minimalist or a clutter-lover, it's the decorative touches - a lampshade made with a much-loved piece of vintage fabric, a worn-in rug, lots
of old one-eyed cuddly toys - which will instantly liven up the hotel-like blandness of a newly decorated house and turn it into a home. And the beauty is, it's almost impossible to make a mistake, as something that isn't quite perfect will often add charm. My house is full of these touches, in particular my cushions - a mish-mash of adored presents, memories, can't-live-without vintage fabrics and the odd hasty decision. Nothing quite works, and yet it all does - at least, I hope so!

The vintage cushions are my favourite - the vast majority of which have come from Cath Kidston - and they tick lots of eco boxes, too. Why buy new fabrics when you can reuse wonderful old ones? Cath Kidston does a variety of one-offs that include brightly coloured tickings, French florals and retro cartoon prints (tel: 0845 026 2440, cathkidston.co.uk).

You can also order customised versions. Tobias and the Angel in Barnes, Southwest London, is a great source of vintage fabrics, and will make cushions to any specification (tel: 020 8878 8902, tobiasandtheangel.com). And wherever you live, car-boot sales are rich hunting grounds. Be sure to pick a feather filling rather than a fibre one, though, as these are natural and will break down rapidly in a landfill site.

Other favourite cushions of mine include ones that commemorate special occasions, such as a wedding or a birthday. The Monogrammed Linen Shop in London offers an embroidery service that will replicate your child's drawing on a cotton cushion (tel: 020 7589 4033, monogrammedlinenshop.com).

To make something that is particularly personal, why not use a piece of old clothing? Pieces of You (tel: 020 8567 9692, piecesofyou.co.uk) makes cushions using cherished or worn clothes; you can either choose a design from their ready-made collection or commission something special.

If the chaos of random nostalgic cushions is not your style, then Harland's Organic Furnishings (tel: 07984 635726, organic-furnishings.co.uk) has a selection of beautiful cushions made using the finest organic textiles and handmade silk-screened, non-toxic prints, which will give a chic designer look to any space.

Me? I'm just glad to have my own sofa on which to relax again - and the occasional five minutes to rest my head on my much-loved cushion collection.