Join the Worshipful Company of Plumpers and learn the tiny ritual that keeps real comfort looking its best…
Yes, there’s a price to pay for having the comfiest material in the world inside your sofa cushions. But it’s the teeniest, tiniest price – and some might even say it’s a pleasure.
We’re talking about plumping.
At Schplendid we’re proud, fully paid-up members of the Worshipful Company of Plumpers. Are you? If not, here’s why we recommend you join...
Why plumping matters
Our cushions are filled with Italian goose down – the softest, lightest part of the feather.
Down is what makes a Schplendid sofa feel so extraordinarily cloud-like. It’s supple, breathable and gloriously squidgy. But being a living, natural material, it does occasionally need a little encouragement to spring back to its full fluffiness.
Foam, by contrast, never moves. That’s because it’s made of plastic (and feels like it).
So a quick plump every now and then is the modest price of true comfort. A small act of… dare we say, love?... for something that’s been made properly.
What’s actually happening when you plump
Cushions filled with down and feathers rely on tiny pockets of air to stay lofty and soft. When you sit down, the fill compresses and those air pockets vanish; the feathers clump together and slide to the sides. –
Plumping simply reintroduces air and redistributes the down, undoing the day’s compression.
It restores shape, prevents lumpy spots, and keeps the cushion structure healthy for years.
Now, our seat cushions tend to be a bit springier on their own, since they have a core (all natural of course: coconut husk and sometimes a bit of biofoam). But side and back cushion are just the feathery stuff, so they do depend on a good plump to regain their bounce.
How to plump (the Schplendid way)
Three simple steps for seasoned plumpers…
1) Grip by opposite corners or edges
Take the cushion in both hands.
2) Gently clap, pat, or compress
Give it a few firm but not furious claps to break up clumps and push air through the filling. Work across different areas – top, bottom, sides – to redistribute the down evenly.
Don’t overdo it now: overly vigorous pounding or karate-chops can stress the seams or push feathers through the fabric.
3) Smooth and admire
Replace the cushion, smooth the fabric, step back and appreciate your handiwork.
And every now and again..
Rotate or flip occasionally
Every few weeks, rotate or flip your cushions so they wear evenly and don’t settle more on one side than the other.
Optional: air and freshen
On a mild, dry day, take the cushions outside to air for a couple of hours. Fresh air helps the down recover its bounce. You probably want to avoid direct sunlight, which can fade linen or velvet.
When to plump
There’s no strict schedule – just a rhythm.
-
Everyday sofas: a quick pat when you get up is plenty.
-
Weekend loungers: a proper reshaping once a week keeps things beautifully even.
-
Seasonal rotation: swap cushions around every few months so they age gracefully, not unevenly.
The Schplendid philosophy
Really good, comfy down is not “zero-maintenance.” Very, very low maintenance, we’d say, but not zero.
Schplendid sofas are made from real stuff – down, beech, linen, coconut and wool – not petrochemical foam or plastic fibres. Real things age beautifully if you treat them kindly.
So yes, plumping is part of the deal. But we think it’s a pleasure, a bit of a sofa-lover’s ritual. So join us. Embrace the plump!
The Worshipful Company of Plumpers awaits your application….
Read more about Schplendid's absurdly lavish sofa ingredients here.
See also:
Why we use goose down in Schplendid sofa cushions
A Schplendid Guide to Down: its history, science, uses and delights
Solid beech hardwood and proper joinery: Why we build Schplendid sofa frames the old-fashioned way
Why we upholster our sofas with coconut and wool instead of foam
Why we only use pure Italian linen and velvet fabrics for Schplendid sofas
Why we only use Biofoam (and as little as possible) and never plastic foam in our sofas
How (and why) to plump your down sofa cushions – the Schplendid way
Join the Worshipful Company of Plumpers and learn the tiny ritual that keeps real comfort looking its best…
Yes, there’s a price to pay for having the comfiest material in the world inside your sofa cushions. But it’s the teeniest, tiniest price – and some might even say it’s a pleasure.
We’re talking about plumping.
At Schplendid we’re proud, fully paid-up members of the Worshipful Company of Plumpers. Are you? If not, here’s why we recommend you join...
Why plumping matters
Our cushions are filled with Italian goose down – the softest, lightest part of the feather.
Down is what makes a Schplendid sofa feel so extraordinarily cloud-like. It’s supple, breathable and gloriously squidgy. But being a living, natural material, it does occasionally need a little encouragement to spring back to its full fluffiness.
Foam, by contrast, never moves. That’s because it’s made of plastic (and feels like it).
So a quick plump every now and then is the modest price of true comfort. A small act of… dare we say, love?... for something that’s been made properly.
What’s actually happening when you plump
Cushions filled with down and feathers rely on tiny pockets of air to stay lofty and soft. When you sit down, the fill compresses and those air pockets vanish; the feathers clump together and slide to the sides. –
Plumping simply reintroduces air and redistributes the down, undoing the day’s compression.
It restores shape, prevents lumpy spots, and keeps the cushion structure healthy for years.
Now, our seat cushions tend to be a bit springier on their own, since they have a core (all natural of course: coconut husk and sometimes a bit of biofoam). But side and back cushion are just the feathery stuff, so they do depend on a good plump to regain their bounce.
How to plump (the Schplendid way)
Three simple steps for seasoned plumpers…
1) Grip by opposite corners or edges
Take the cushion in both hands.
2) Gently clap, pat, or compress
Give it a few firm but not furious claps to break up clumps and push air through the filling. Work across different areas – top, bottom, sides – to redistribute the down evenly.
Don’t overdo it now: overly vigorous pounding or karate-chops can stress the seams or push feathers through the fabric.
3) Smooth and admire
Replace the cushion, smooth the fabric, step back and appreciate your handiwork.
And every now and again..
Rotate or flip occasionally
Every few weeks, rotate or flip your cushions so they wear evenly and don’t settle more on one side than the other.
Optional: air and freshen
On a mild, dry day, take the cushions outside to air for a couple of hours. Fresh air helps the down recover its bounce. You probably want to avoid direct sunlight, which can fade linen or velvet.
When to plump
There’s no strict schedule – just a rhythm.
Everyday sofas: a quick pat when you get up is plenty.
Weekend loungers: a proper reshaping once a week keeps things beautifully even.
Seasonal rotation: swap cushions around every few months so they age gracefully, not unevenly.
The Schplendid philosophy
Really good, comfy down is not “zero-maintenance.” Very, very low maintenance, we’d say, but not zero.
Schplendid sofas are made from real stuff – down, beech, linen, coconut and wool – not petrochemical foam or plastic fibres. Real things age beautifully if you treat them kindly.
So yes, plumping is part of the deal. But we think it’s a pleasure, a bit of a sofa-lover’s ritual. So join us. Embrace the plump!
The Worshipful Company of Plumpers awaits your application….
Read more about Schplendid's absurdly lavish sofa ingredients here.
See also:
Why we use goose down in Schplendid sofa cushions
A Schplendid Guide to Down: its history, science, uses and delights
Solid beech hardwood and proper joinery: Why we build Schplendid sofa frames the old-fashioned way
Why we upholster our sofas with coconut and wool instead of foam
Why we only use pure Italian linen and velvet fabrics for Schplendid sofas
Why we only use Biofoam (and as little as possible) and never plastic foam in our sofas