The pouf from Marie Antoinette to our
living rooms: it fits every personality

The first pouf in history dates back to the convivial salons of Marie Antoinette of France. It was 1774 and the hairdresser of the most eccentric royal of all time created for her a wig as tall as her head: a metal frame and padded cushions were covered with braided hair embellished with jewels, diamonds, flowers, fruit and feathers. They named it “pouf”, a word whose assonance recalled something funny and evoked a feeling of softness. Despite the trend of the bizarre hairstyles of the French queen ended with her beheading, the pouf remained in the houses of the French bourgeoisie for over a century, and today in the form of a chic piece of furniture with its own personality.

As it can be seen from the recent editions of the Salone del Mobile in Milan, the pouf has undoubtedly become a key element for the living area, but it’s not all. The pouf today is a sign of contemporaneity, style and design taste. There are different versions: soft poufs made with fabrics and precious goods, wool, velvet, cotton, leather and eco-leather; rigid poufs in wood and aluminium; and storage poufs that turn from a seat to a chest of treasures and everyday items. Every shape and material represent a style and a type of personality of the home’s owner. Here’s how to recognize your ideal pouf to furnish your home with your own vision – as Marie Antoinette used to do.

Eco-leather poufs

Those who may not look at the pouf as a comfortable piece of furniture, can definitely opt for Uchi or Badù, the square and cylindrical upholstered poufs by Bontempi Casa. They are suitable for a corner dedicated to relaxing as well as a bedroom.

Fabric poufs

Puffoso, one of the most successful novelties of Bontempi Casa, is a round-shaped soft pouf, stuffed and covered in different types of fabric: from the most classic velvet to virgin wool, and other fabrics produced by the brand, such as Mambo, Lulù, Waterproof Nabux – and the printed version – Déco, Kvadrat Coda and Premium Leather. This pouf is for romantic people, dreamers, joyful personalities – as much as Puffoso tints: yellow, sky blue, salmon.

Storage poufs

Multi-shaped and multi-function poufs: the most creative personalities need versatility from the furnishing accessories they choose for their home. In an artist’s house you cannot miss on a storage pouf, like Pattern by Bontempi Casa, made of lacquered metal and with a very attractive perforated design. It is available in different sizes, so it is suitable for any space of the house. Its geometric shape can hold books, magazines and coffee table books (link article coffee table) not only on top but also inside of it. This is an object to be displayed as a cool piece of furniture as much as one that turns into a stool to paint, write, read, and an original container for everything we want.

Poufs that match armchairs

And finally, why not to choose an en-pendant pouf with an armchair? The ideal furnishing solution for studios and offices, but also relaxing corners of the living room. Daya pouf and Daya armchair by Bontempi Casa have a minimal and essential design, they have a structure with a swivel base in chromed metal, a very soft and removable padded shell, and they are upholstered with ecological leather, premium leather, velvet, waterproof nabuk, Lulù, Mambo and Kvadrat fabrics. A wide range of options to satisfy all tastes.

The historical evolution of the pouf moved on from Marie Antoinette’s uncomfortable but breath-taking hairstyles.  What is left of that French allure, however, is the aristocratic and bizzare name. A pouf is all of these things, after all, it’s elegance, comfort, irony, personality. And having at least one of them in our home makes us feel a bit like kings and queens of France.