3 Reasons to Opt for Feather Down for Your Cushions

3 Reasons to Opt for Feather Down for Your Cushions

Like toast (golden to charcoal), the temperature of the bath (tepid to steaming), and tea (100% pure to 99% cream and sugar), most of us have some rather firm preferences for our cushions and pillows, and any other soft furnishings around the house. We know what we like – what gets us to sink into a moment of relaxation – and what tends to leave us feeling decidedly un-relaxed.

But, whether you swing to one end of the spectrum or the other, we’re confident that feather down represents the ideal choice for your cushions. Comfortable, breathable, and lightweight, there are many reasons why we choose to use it so many of our cushions.

First, what is feather down?

Feather down is taken from the ‘under plumage’ of the bird, which is a secondary layer of feathers that are softer and ‘wispier’, since they are not exposed to the elements in the same way as the upper layer.

This upper layer of feathers is simply referred to has feather filling, and tends to be a slightly tougher, harder choice for soft furnishings. These feathers need to be more robust, with denser quills and more ‘compacted’ feathers. Down is naturally fluffier and lighter, since it needs to provide effective insulation but not necessarily water resistance.

Feather down is breathable

We often talk about the breathability of certain fabrics, like cotton and linen. Essentially, this means that air is able to pass between the fibres, which makes these natural textiles far more comfortable for you to wear against the skin. They are ideal for clothing, but also bedding and upholstery, since they don’t create the same stifling, unbreathable environment that we associate with synthetic fabrics.

The same thing goes for feather down. A natural product with a unique shape and composition, air is able to travel through feather pillows and cushions much more easily than it is able to ‘breathe’ in synthetic fibres.

This is incredibly beneficial if you find that the warmer months tend to make something as simple as sitting on the sofa or lying on the bed an uncomfortable, hot, sweaty experience. While feather down doesn’t possess any cooling properties, it isn’t a stuffing choice that will prove uncomfortable, even in the warmer months.

But the breathability of feather down also means that it’s a great choice for winter, too, helping to keep the head or body warm without feeling as though it is overheating.

It offers the perfect amount of support

People tend to think of pillows and cushions in terms of the ‘hard or soft’ debate, but feather down strikes a very comfortable middle ground between both ends of the spectrum.

Light and airy down is perfect for creating a plump, plush-looking cushion – but not one that will yield only half a centimetre under your weight when you sit down. When in use, these cushions will cradle the body but, unlike a fine, artificial stuffing, they won’t feel lightweight and flimsy. Feather down is not as crisp as feather, which offers a little extra comfort too – plus, you don’t need to deal with sharp quills poking through the fibres of your cushion covers.

This, combined with the breathability that feather down naturally provides to its users, makes it a superior choice for the soft furnishings around your home. It’s easier to style cushions that can hold their shape and stay looking plump and airy for longer.

Feather down lasts a long time

Synthetic stuffing has plenty of downsides, but one of the most significant is its relatively short lifespan. In general, these cushions infills tend to last only a few years before they can no longer hold their shape or ‘flesh out’ the cushion cover in the way they did before.

Feather down is a lot more durable and, while it is the more expensive option, lasts considerably longer than down alternatives like polyfill. It is also biodegradable, unlike plastic-based alternatives which tend to end up going to landfill at the ends of their lifespans.

It is all too easy for an otherwise well-dressed sofa to be let down tremendously by a saggy, unhappy collection of cushions that have been loved just a little too much, and this fact alone is enough to convince plenty of interior designers and home decorators to embrace feather down from the off instead.

For us, feather down is the obvious choice for cushions, and for pillows that need to offer a soft and accommodating texture, without going too far in the right direction and offering no real support. Breathable and long lasting, they’re an excellent investment for the living and bedrooms.