Why do people karate chop their cushions?

A short and fun lil write-up for you today!

Have you ever wondered why designers karate chop their cushions?!

…Maybe they have anger issues… Maybe the cushion said something offensive… Maybe there is no real reason at all and they’re all just a bit loopy?!

While the above may certainly hold some merit at times(!), there is a definite real reason why we chop!… Well actually, three in fact!

Seriously… just humour me for a second.


  1. It gives the cushions some shape. Chopping the cushions into ‘V’s turns what would otherwise be a pretty flat, boxy surface (ie. a bed or a couch) into a mini mountain range with lots of varying heights and heaps of architectural interest!

  2. It adds texture and difference in colours through lighting. As light hits those lil peaks and valleys it creates shadows, which adds variation to the patterns and textures of the fabrics, making them SING.

  3. It gives the impression of luxury. Only feather & down cushions have the ability to be chopped and hold their pointy form. Feather inners are typically more expensive than their fibre-fill counterparts and are plump and voluminous by comparison. Sitting or lying down into feathers is like leaning into a cloud… luxury.

To cap it all off, honestly it’s just bloody good therapy and a whole lot of fun!

Remember: the key to any great design is variation in height / size, pattern, colour and texture… going all Jackie Chan on your styling adds all of the above…

Now you know we’re not all just a lil’ crazy, will you be giving it a go?

Nat Sabah