Decoration trick: Simply wrap up your ugliest piece of furniture

Pia Seidel

14/9/2026

Translation: machine translated

Pictures: Pia Seidel

I have a new obsession, brought back from Milan Design Week 2026: a pedestal completely wrapped in fabric. The trick works with anything you no longer want to see at home – from an inherited pouf to an Ikea Lack table. Even with a bookshelf. You just won't be able to reach your books afterwards.

At this year's Milan Design Week, the magazine Openhouse and the brand Mango Home presented the exhibition «Obsessions: A Self Portrait», curated by Pernille Vest. She explored exactly what the title promises: the fine line between passion and obsession. Ten curated scenes, countless design pieces, and plenty to discover.

I could write for hours about the ceramics, the sculptural seating, or the stone block tables. But my own little obsession that afternoon was two inconspicuous pedestals in the corner. Whether art or a charming excuse – I was instantly in love.

No expensive material, no elaborate processing. Just fabric, wrapped tightly around a pedestal and fixed with some twine.

The result: a pedestal that works entirely on its own. Yet underneath, there is probably just a piece of wood or an old stool.

The trick: Put it under the fabric

That is exactly what I took home with me: whenever you no longer like a piece of furniture, you don't have to throw it away immediately. Just wrap a cloth around it. This works best with pieces that are more decorative than for daily use, as the result isn't exactly practical for everyday life.

How to do it:

• Drape a linen or cotton cloth (an old bed sheet works just as well) generously over the piece of furniture. It becomes charming if you play with patterns or textures: checks, stripes, or coarse linen give the whole thing extra character.
• Pull it tight and secure it crosswise with twine, cord, or even parcel string. This provides both support and a graphic structure.
• Simply fold any excess fabric on the floor under the furniture.

When it is particularly worthwhile

A classic case: you inherited a pouf from your grandmother, it's sentimentally valuable, but the color has been stuck in the eighties. This is the perfect candidate for the fabric treatment: cord around it, and the new eye-catcher is ready without having to get rid of the good piece.

For the aforementioned Lack table, for example: instead of converting it into a mirror cube as seen on social media, a cloth and some string are enough to make the 20-franc table look like a unique piece. It works well as a side table for decorative objects, but not for your daily coffee.

And if you don't even like a picture on the wall anymore? That can be wrapped up too. You won't see the motif anymore, but you are guaranteed to have the most interesting wall in the house.

Care: Manageable

To ensure the joy lasts a long time, here are a few tips:

• Simply dust it off by hand. Washing is possible with most fabrics, but who really wants to do that?
• If the cord slips: tighten it, done.
• Want a color refresh? Just put a new cloth over it.

I don't take the trick quite as seriously as the big design stage presented it. Whether this is an interior trend or simply the most charming excuse in the world to save unloved furniture, I'll leave open. I would try it anyway – preferably with a boring piece like this one.

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vidaXL Corburin

18

Pia Seidel

Senior Editor

Pia.Seidel@digitecgalaxus.ch

Like a cheerleader, I celebrate good design and bring you closer to everything furniture- and interior design-related. I regularly curate simple yet sophisticated interior finds, track down trends and interview creative minds about their work.

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