Contra Button (1000pcs)

Nylon Contra Buttons for Upholstery and Cushion Buttoning

These nylon upholstery contra buttons are made for use on the reverse side of cushions and upholstered furniture where a neat, practical anchor is required for buttoning.

Supplied in packs of 1,000 and available in black or white, contra buttons are widely used in professional upholstery, cushion manufacture and furniture production.

The button sits on the reverse of the upholstery and provides a secure point against which the front buttoning can be tensioned.

Product Specification

• Product type: Upholstery contra button
• Material: Nylon
• Pack quantity: 1,000
• Colours: Black or white
• Application: Reverse-side cushion and furniture buttoning
• Suitable for: Cushions, headboards, sofa backs, chair backs and upholstered panels
• Use with: Upholstery twine, buttoning needles and suitable front upholstery buttons

What Is a Contra Button?

A contra button is a small upholstery button used on the reverse side of a cushion or upholstered panel.

It acts as an anchor for the buttoning system, allowing tension from the visible front button to be secured on the back of the work.

Contra buttons are also commonly described as:

• Reverse cushion buttons
• Upholstery backing buttons
• Cushion backing buttons
• Reverse upholstery buttons
• Buttoning anchor buttons
• Cushion button anchors

They are particularly useful where the reverse of the upholstery is accessible and a strong, neat buttoning point is required.

What Are Contra Buttons Used For?

Contra buttons can be used in a variety of upholstery and furniture applications including:

• Sofa cushions
• Chair cushions
• Upholstered seat pads
• Deep-buttoned cushions
• Headboards
• Sofa backs
• Chair backs
• Ottomans
• Footstools
• Upholstered wall panels
• Furniture restoration
• Replacement buttoning

The exact buttoning method will depend on the construction of the cushion or furniture.

Contra Buttons on the Reverse of Cushions

Contra buttons are especially useful for cushion buttoning.

A button on the front of the cushion can be connected through the cushion interior using strong upholstery twine.

The contra button sits on the reverse and spreads the tension over a wider area than a simple knot alone.

This creates a clean rear fixing while allowing the front button to be pulled to the required depth.

Reverse Cushion Buttons for a Neater Finish

Using a contra button helps create a more controlled and professional buttoning arrangement.

Benefits include:

• Provides a clear rear anchor point
• Helps spread buttoning tension
• Creates a neater reverse-side finish
• Helps maintain consistent button depth
• Makes button replacement easier in suitable constructions
• Suitable for repeated workshop production

The black or white colour options allow the contra button to be selected according to the reverse fabric or furniture construction.

Black or White Contra Buttons?

Choose the colour that best suits the reverse of the finished upholstery.

Black Contra Buttons

Black contra buttons are useful with:

• Dark lining cloths
• Black base cloth
• Dark upholstery
• Furniture where the reverse fixing may occasionally be visible

White Contra Buttons

White contra buttons are useful with:

• Light linings
• Pale upholstery constructions
• Light-coloured backing fabrics
• Applications where a lighter rear fitting is preferred

The colour does not change the basic function of the contra button.

Contra Buttons with Upholstery Twine

Contra buttons are commonly used with strong Upholstery Twines.

The twine connects the visible upholstery button to the contra button on the reverse.

Correct twine tension is important because it determines:

• Button depth
• Cushion compression
• Pleat formation
• Finished button position
• Overall appearance of the upholstery

Do not overtighten the buttoning beyond what the cushion or furniture construction can support.

Contra Buttons with Buttoning Needles

Long Buttoning Needles are useful for passing twine through deep upholstery layers.

Buttoning needles are particularly useful where the twine needs to pass through:

• Foam cushions
• Fibre fillings
• Wadding
• Upholstery fabric
• Headboard padding
• Deep furniture backs

The correct needle length should be selected according to the total depth of the upholstery construction.

Contra Buttons for Sofa Cushions

Contra buttons can be used on suitable sofa cushions where a buttoned appearance is required on the face of the cushion.

The front button can be pulled against the contra button at the rear to create:

• A controlled depression
• A decorative button detail
• Improved filling control
• A symmetrical buttoned appearance

The cushion construction must be suitable for through-buttoning and the rear button must be positioned so it does not cause discomfort or interfere with the furniture.

Contra Buttons for Headboards

Contra buttons can also be used in suitable upholstered headboard constructions.

The front button is passed through the foam and upholstery layers and secured against the contra button at the rear.

This can be useful for:

• Deep-buttoned headboards
• Diamond buttoning
• Square button layouts
• Upholstered bed panels
• Decorative wall panels

The button spacing, foam depth and twine tension will all influence the final appearance.

Contra Buttons for Sofa and Chair Backs

Reverse buttoning can also be used on suitable sofa and chair backs.

Applications may include:

• Buttoned sofa backs
• Armchair backs
• Decorative furniture panels
• Restored traditional furniture
• Upholstered feature sections

Access to the reverse of the furniture is required in order to position and secure the contra button correctly.

Contra Buttons with Covered Upholstery Buttons

Contra buttons can be used opposite a fabric-covered button on the visible side of the upholstery.

For making covered front buttons, use matching Aluminium Button Shells with a suitable back.

Button Wire Backs are particularly useful where buttoning twine is being used because the wire loop provides a convenient attachment point.

A typical setup can be:

Fabric-covered front button wire back upholstery twine cushion or upholstery layers contra button

Contra Buttons or Prong Buttons?

Contra buttons and prong-backed buttons use different fixing methods.

Choose contra buttons when:

• Through-buttoning is required
• Upholstery twine is being used
• The reverse of the work is accessible
• A rear anchor button is preferred

Choose Button Prong Backs when:

• A direct mechanical fixing is required
• Long prongs can pass through the upholstery
• A prong washer can secure the fixing
• Twine is not the preferred attachment method

Contra Buttons or Wire Backs?

A wire back normally forms part of the visible covered button.

A contra button normally acts as the anchor on the reverse.

The two can therefore be used together in the same buttoning system.

Use a Button Wire Back on the visible covered button and the contra button on the reverse, connected with suitable upholstery twine.

Contra Buttons for Furniture Restoration

Contra buttons can be useful when reproducing or repairing existing buttoned upholstery.

Before replacing buttoning, check:

• Original button position
• Button spacing
• Cushion or furniture depth
• Original fixing method
• Twine condition
• Front button style
• Required pull depth

Where practical, matching the original fixing method helps maintain the appearance and construction of the furniture.

Nylon Contra Buttons for Trade Upholstery

Packs of 1,000 make these contra buttons particularly suitable for:

• Professional upholsterers
• Cushion manufacturers
• Sofa manufacturers
• Headboard manufacturers
• Furniture factories
• Furniture restoration workshops
• Contract upholstery businesses
• Soft furnishing workrooms

The choice of black or white allows workshops to select the colour that best suits the reverse side of the finished upholstery.

Browse Button Parts for shells, wire backs, prong backs, hook backs, tape backs and washers.

Browse Buttoning Parts & Equipment for the wider range of professional upholstery buttoning components and tools.

Browse Upholstery Twines and Buttoning Needles for through-buttoning and deep-buttoning work.

For help choosing the correct button, back, fixing method or buttoning tool, contact us.

Nylon upholstery contra buttons for securing buttoning neatly on the reverse of cushions and upholstered furniture.

• Pack of 1,000 contra buttons
• Durable nylon construction
• Available in black or white
• Commonly used on the reverse of cushions
• Provides a neat rear fixing point for upholstery buttoning
• Suitable for cushions, headboards, sofa backs and upholstered panels
• Use it for professional upholstery, furniture manufacture and repair work
• Suitable for use with buttoning twine and long buttoning needles

Use with suitable Upholstery Twines and Buttoning Needles when pulling and securing buttons through deeper cushion and upholstery constructions.

Browse Button Parts for covered button shells, wire backs, prong backs, hook backs and other upholstery button components.