Paradise Velvet Cotton Cushion - Mineral

The Paradise cushion is a 50 x 50cm square in pure cotton velvet, printed with a dense bird-and-flower scene on a soft green ground. The print is drawn in the chinoiserie style: perched birds in deep red, teal and coral sit among lilies, roses and trailing branches, with clusters of berries and small blossoms filling the spaces between. Because it is a cotton pile rather than a flat weave, the surface catches the light and lifts the colour, so the reds and pinks read brighter where the light falls and settle back into the green as you move around it.

This is a cushion for a room you want to feel full rather than pared back. It sits well on a sofa or an armchair where the pile can be seen close to, and it works just as happily propped against pillows on a bed. The green ground is busy but grounded, so it pairs with plain upholstery in a similar sage or with warm woods and darker frames without competing. One will read as a considered accent; a pair or a group builds the layered, collected look the print is asking for.

The cover is finished with a blanket-stitched trim around the edge and a knife edge rather than a piped seam, which keeps the outline clean and lets the print run right to the border. A hidden zip closure lets you take the cover off, and the design is reversible so both faces carry the print. Being cotton, it is machine washable at 30 degrees and can be laid flat to dry, which suits the velvet pile better than hanging. A cool iron is appropriate if it needs freshening. The Paradise print is offered in three colourways, so the Mineral green can be matched or mixed across a room.

Is this a real velvet or a printed effect?

It is a genuine cotton velvet with a raised pile, so the surface has the soft feel and gentle sheen you would expect, and the print sits on the pile itself.

Does the print appear on both sides?

Yes, the design is reversible, so both faces carry the same bird-and-flower print and you can turn the cushion over to even out wear.

How do I wash it without damaging the pile?

Machine wash at 30 degrees and lay it flat to dry rather than hanging, which helps the cotton velvet pile keep its shape and softness.

Can I iron it if it creases?

A cool iron is appropriate. Work gently and, where you can, press from the reverse to protect the raised pile on the printed face.

What size cushion pad should I use?

The cover measures 50 x 50cm, so a 50cm pad gives a plump, well-filled look. Choosing the same size or slightly larger keeps the corners full.

Will it suit a green sofa or does it need a plain background?

The soft green ground sits happily against sage or neutral upholstery and warm woods, and a pair or group builds the layered look the busy print suits.