Braids & borders
Flat decorative bands used along curtain leading edges, Roman blind borders, pelmets, cushion faces and upholstery. They range from simple woven tapes to embroidered, beaded and highly decorative designs.
Fabric Guides & Advice
Fabric Trimmings: Types & How to Use Them
Trimmings can turn a plain curtain, cushion or upholstered piece into something much more considered. This guide explains the main types of decorative trim and where each one tends to work best.
What Is Fabric Trimming?
Fabric trimmings are decorative or functional finishes applied to the edge, seam or surface of a textile furnishing. You may also hear the broader term passementerie, particularly for elaborate braids, fringes, tassels, cords and tiebacks.
Trim can be subtle — a narrow cord around a cushion — or become a strong design feature, such as a deep bullion fringe, embroidered border or statement tassel tieback.
Illustrative examples of common trim families.
The Main Types of Fabric Trimming
The terminology varies between manufacturers, but most interior trimmings fall into a handful of useful families.
Cord & piping
Cord can be decorative in its own right or used inside fabric to form piping. It is particularly useful for defining cushion seams, upholstery outlines and tailored edges.
Fringe
Fringe hangs from a decorative heading and can range from fine brush fringe to long bullion styles. It works well where movement and a softer decorative edge are wanted.
Tassels & tiebacks
Tassels may be individual decorative pieces, part of a fringe or incorporated into curtain tiebacks. Scale is important: a substantial tassel usually needs equally substantial fabric and proportions.
Gimp
A narrow woven decorative braid often used to conceal upholstery fixings or finish edges. Gimp is especially associated with traditional upholstery but contemporary versions can be very clean and graphic.
Lace & openwork trims
Fine openwork borders can add a delicate finish to cushions, light curtains and decorative textiles. Check care requirements and whether the trim is robust enough for the intended use.
Embroidered & appliqué borders
Decorative motifs can be stitched or applied onto a ground tape to create a strong patterned border. These work particularly well when you want the trim to become part of the room's colour story.
Pom-pom & playful trims
Pom-pom, bobble and novelty fringes add texture and informality to cushions, blinds and children's rooms. They are usually best used where they will not be exposed to heavy abrasion.
Where Can You Use Decorative Trimmings?
A good trim does more than decorate. It can frame a shape, introduce a contrasting colour, repeat a material from elsewhere in the room or give a made-to-measure treatment a more individual finish.
Curtains
Use braid along the leading edge, add fringe beneath a pelmet or complete a formal scheme with decorative tiebacks. The trim weight should suit the curtain fabric and heading.
Roman blinds
A flat braid or border can frame the sides or lower edge without adding too much bulk. Allow for the finished folds and make sure the trim does not interfere with operation.
Cushions
Contrast piping gives a tailored outline; braid can sit on the face or inset from the edge; fringe and pom-poms create a softer decorative finish.
Upholstery & headboards
Piping, gimp and braid can emphasise the silhouette of a chair or headboard. Choose a trim appropriate for the level of handling and abrasion it will receive.
Pelmets
Pelmets are ideal for statement borders, fringe and tassel details because the trim can remain clearly visible and is generally away from everyday handling.
Lampshades
Narrow braids, cords and fringes can transform a plain shade. Heat, construction and placement should be considered when adding any textile decoration to lighting.
Compare trim scale, colour and texture against the actual furnishing fabric before ordering.
How to Choose the Right Trim
Start with the fabric and finished object rather than choosing the trim in isolation. A large fringe that looks beautiful on a sample card can overwhelm a small Roman blind, while a very narrow braid may disappear on full-length curtains.
- Scale: compare the width and depth of the trim with the finished item.
- Colour: decide whether it should blend with the fabric or deliberately contrast.
- Texture: use trim to repeat velvet, linen, metallic or other materials in the room.
- Placement: leading edge, seam, border and lower edge each create a different effect.
- Durability: upholstery edges generally need more robust trims than decorative pelmets.
- Care: check whether fabric and trim have compatible cleaning instructions.
- Direction: patterned braids and fringes may have an obvious top, bottom or motif repeat.
- Quantity: allow for joins, pattern matching, corners, returns and a sensible making allowance.
Luxury Trimmings from Samuel & Sons and Houlès
For projects where the trimming is a significant part of the design, specialist passementerie houses offer far more choice than simple plain braid. TM Interiors carries collections from both Samuel & Sons and Houlès.
Samuel & Sons
Samuel & Sons produces a broad range of interior trimmings including borders and braids, fringes, tassels and cords, from understated essentials through to highly decorative passementerie.
Shop Samuel & Sons TrimmingsHoulès
Houlès offers extensive passementerie collections including braids, cords, piping, fringes, gimps and tiebacks, spanning restrained contemporary finishes and more traditional decorative styles.
Shop Houlès TrimmingsA Few Practical Details Before Ordering
A trim may be sold by the metre, as a fixed tieback, or in another unit, so check the individual product carefully. If it is being incorporated into made-to-measure curtains, blinds, cushions or upholstery, confirm the required quantity with the maker first.
For patterned braid or repeating decorative motifs, the maker may need additional material to position and match the design neatly. Corners, returns and joins can also increase the quantity required.
Planning a Made-to-Measure Project?
Trimmings can be incorporated into curtains, Roman blinds, cushions, headboards and other bespoke soft furnishings. If you have already chosen a fabric and trim, include both references when requesting a quote.
