The Cutting Table · a common question
Can a floor cushion be filled with cotton instead of polyester?
Also asked as:Can you fill it with cotton?Stuffed with organic cotton instead?
Short version: yes, and the outside won't tell anyone. The long version is a handful of numbers worth knowing before you swap the fill.
The quick answer
Yes, floor cushions, backrests and pillows can be filled with cotton or organic cotton instead of the standard silicone fiber. It's done through a custom order and costs a little more; the quote shows the difference. The cushion looks identical from the outside. Flax or linen-fiber stuffing isn't offered, and very large cotton-filled pieces can seal poorly when vacuum-packed.
SaveKey facts
- Seat cushions, backrests and pillows can be filled with cotton or organic cotton.
- Standard listings use silicone fiber fill; cotton is ordered through a custom order link.
- Cotton filling costs a little more; the quote shows the difference.
- On one custom linen floor sofa, cotton filling came in at about 10% extra.
- A cotton-filled cushion looks the same from the outside.
- The cover can be 100% cotton linen; flax or linen-fiber stuffing is not offered.
- Very large cotton-filled pieces, such as king size, can seal poorly when vacuum-packed.
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Every edge and both diagonals, to the nearest 1/4 in. If the numbers do not close, the workshop will say so on the call. — Nate
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Cotton filling: where it goes, what it costs, and the one no
Where cotton goes: seat cushions, backrests and pillows. Standard listings are filled with silicone fiber, and floor sofa bases use HR cold foam, so cotton is ordered through a custom order link rather than a dropdown.
What it costs: a little more than silicone fiber; the quote shows the difference. The cover can be 100% cotton linen if you want natural fiber on both sides of the zipper; the linen and cotton-linen charts have the cloth.
What you'll see: nothing different. A cotton-filled floor cushion looks the same from the outside as a fiber-filled one.
The no: flax or linen-fiber stuffing isn't offered.
One honest tolerance note, partner: very large cotton-filled pieces, king size and up, can seal poorly when they're vacuum-packed for shipping. If natural fiber is the goal, the natural-fiber Pattern is worth a read first. What size are you filling?
Silicone fiber, cold foam or cotton: the fills side by side
| Fill | Where it's used | How you order it | Price effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silicone fiber | Standard in the regular cushion and pillow listings | Regular listing | Base price |
| HR cold foam, about ILD 42 | Floor sofa base mattresses | Regular listing | Base price |
| Cotton or organic cotton | Seat cushions, backrests and pillows on request | Custom order link | A little extra, shown in the quote |
| Flax or linen fiber | Not offered | Not available | Not available |
A linen floor sofa, two pieces, cotton inside
A buyer wrote in about a linen floor sofa: two custom pieces, 63 x 28 3/8 x 7 in (160 x 72 x 18 cm) and 55 x 28 3/8 x 7 in (140 x 72 x 18 cm), each with a 4 3/4 in (12 cm) backrest. They wanted cotton or silicone balls instead of foam, and linen on the outside.
Both were possible. Cotton filling came in at 10% extra, the fabric could be 100% cotton linen, and the two pieces went out as one custom quote. Another buyer chasing all-natural materials ran the same numbers and decided cotton would be too heavy and too expensive for their piece. Both answers are correct; the math just came out differently.
Cotton-filled floor cushions look identical to fiber-filled ones from the outside; the difference is a small surcharge and what sits inside the zipper.
Nate
Buyer questions
- A common question
Do you make cushions without polyester filling?
The workshop's answerYes. Seat cushions, backrests and pillows can all be filled with cotton through a custom order link; the standard listings use silicone fiber. A cotton-filled cushion looks the same from the outside.
- A common question
Could the cushion be stuffed with organic cotton or another natural fiber?
The workshop's answerOrganic cotton, yes, at a little extra cost that the quote shows. Flax or linen stuffing isn't offered, and cotton fill in a very large piece such as a king size may seal poorly because cushions ship vacuum-packed.
- A common question
Can I pay more for a natural, non-synthetic fill?
The workshop's answerYes, the workshop has filled cushions with cotton instead of synthetic fiber on request. One buyer who wanted all-natural materials weighed it up and decided cotton would be too heavy and too expensive for their piece.
- A common question
Does the cushion come with the insert, or only the cover?
The workshop's answerThe filling is included. Standard custom cushions ship complete with a high-density foam insert in a zippered, washable cover. Cover-only is a separate, cheaper option with no filling.
Questions buyers ask next
Is the cotton filling available as organic cotton?
Yes. Both regular cotton and organic cotton filling have been offered for seat cushions, backrests and pillows. Ask for organic by name in your custom order request, since the standard listings are filled with silicone fiber.
What foam is in a floor sofa if I keep the standard fill?
HR cold foam at roughly ILD 42, which also counts as high-density foam. Each block has its own inner cover under the removable outer cover, so the foam never sits loose inside the fabric.
Why are sofa backrests filled with foam pieces instead of one block?
By design. Backrests and armrests use shredded or layered foam pieces so they stay soft and flexible rather than rigid. Lumps usually mean the filling has shifted, and it can be reshaped by hand. Cotton is the alternative fill on a custom order.
