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The furniture trend of the season? Crisply outlined forms
Fashion has long embraced contrast piping, and now interiors are following suit. Here's how to bring the look home
Interiors are becoming increasingly detail-driven, with furniture, textiles and homeware embracing expressive finishing touches. Whether through tactile edges, bright trims or contrasting hues, a strong outline speaks to this shift. The neat border, often achieved using classic upholstery techniques, creates a smart, tailored look. It also offers an easy way to play with colour and texture, proving that the smallest decorative detail can have the greatest impact.
‘Ava Pyramid’ table lamp, Hay
Sometimes inspiration is found in the most trivial of places. This is true of Ana Kraš’s lighting collection for Hay, which takes notes from a spontaneous design she created from wire, paper, and textile tape after moving into a new apartment. Its simple, sketch-like aesthetic is part of its appeal. £199, hay.com
‘Lazy Bean’ chair, Nilufar Edition
Despite being one of the more subtle piped designs on this list, the ‘Lazy Bean’ is still one that will turn heads. It’s crafted from wood, with mahogany feet and is upholstered in a thick, luxurious fabric. From £9,750, nilufar.com
‘In Between’ mirror, Please Touch
A clear outline is created in this mirror thanks to the use of two contrasting materials: cool steel and delicate lace. Polish studio Please Touch wanted the object to champion the traditional craft of finishing cushions with rounded piping. £363, adorno.design
‘Crisp & Cool’ duvet set, Rise & Fall
British bedding brand Rise & Fall is not one to follow trends, instead preferring timeless collections that will last you more than 40 winks. However, its ‘Crisp & Cool’ duvet set in the new ‘Buttermilk Black Piping’ definitely exemplifies the outline effect, and is a neat way to introduce the look to your bedroom. £110, riseandfall.co
‘Formal Twin’ armchair, Sancal
If this chair looks familiar, it’s because designer Júlia Esqué took inspiration from traditional cinema seats for its form. Piping in unexpected neon orange further emphasises its iconic silhouette. £2,402, sancal.com
‘Carte Blanche’ tea set, Serax
Taking the outline to almost cartoonish levels is Annebet Philips, whose debut collection for Serax sees white porcelain framed by thin, hand-drawn lines. For each piece, Philips first cut the almost naive design out of cardboard before translating it to the final material. From approx £19 for a teacup, serax.com
‘Crease’ three-seat sofa, Meritalia
How would a sofa look if, instead of designing its frame first, you began with the upholstery? It might look something like ‘Crease’, British designer Faye Toogood’s creation for Meritalia. Turning the traditional sofa on its head (or rather, inside out), ‘Crease’ is available with two or three seats and purposefully imperfect fold lines. Here, Toogood’s fashion sensibility comes to the fore, with the crisp tailoring reminiscent of a freshly ironed shirt. From £8,375, meritalia.it
‘Square Parasol, 180 House’, Soho Home
This parasol’s gently scalloped edge is elevated by its contrast piping and will bring a hint of playfulness to your garden or poolside. Clever engineering and weather-resistant aluminium means it can withstand heatwaves as well as downpours. £5,995, sohohome.com
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