The Cutting Table · a common question
Can you notch a cushion to fit around a window casing?
Also asked as:Cushion notched around the window casing?The casing stops the cushion touching the wall.
A 3/4 in lip of trim can hold a whole cushion off the wall. The fix is a notch, drawn to the quarter inch.
The quick answer
Yes, a window seat cushion can be notched to clear a window casing so it sits fully against the wall. On a 109.25 x 25 in (277.5 x 63.5 cm) seat with a casing 0.75 in (1.9 cm) deep, the notch ran 0.75 in deep and 96.25 in (244.5 cm) wide along the back edge. Send a sketch and photo, then approve a diagram before the quote.
SaveKey facts
- A notched back edge lets a cushion sit against the wall while clearing a casing.
- Example: a 109.25 x 25 in (277.5 x 63.5 cm) seat with a notch 0.75 in (1.9 cm) deep and 96.25 in (244.5 cm) wide.
- Full 25 in (63.5 cm) depth was kept for 6 in (15 cm) on the left and 7 in (18 cm) on the right.
- Indentations on existing cushions should be measured exactly.
- The backrest size must be confirmed for every piece.
- The workshop sends a diagram of the notched shape for approval before quoting.
Have it made
Have Nate’s workshop cut this for you
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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Why a 3/4 in lip of trim matters
A window casing that projects even 0.75 in (1.9 cm) from the wall catches the back edge of a seat cushion and holds the whole thing off the wall. You get a gap behind and a cushion hanging proud of the front edge.
The fix is a notch: a shallow rectangle taken out of the back edge, exactly as deep as the casing projects and exactly as wide as the casing runs. Where nothing is in the way, the cushion keeps its full depth. Measure twice; the fabric remembers.
The general method is in the notch and cut-out Pattern, and measuring a window seat covers the rest of the numbers. More shapes live under window seat cushions, and the glossary defines a window casing.
The 109.25 in seat, segment by segment
| Segment | Width | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| Left end, clear of the casing | 6 in (15 cm) | 25 in (63.5 cm), full |
| Notched middle, under the casing | 96.25 in (244.5 cm) | 24.25 in (61.6 cm) |
| Right end, clear of the casing | 7 in (18 cm) | 25 in (63.5 cm), full |
| Whole cushion | 109.25 in (277.5 cm) | Notch depth 0.75 in (1.9 cm) |
Measuring a notch the way the workshop reads it
Measure the full seat
Front length, and depth from wall to front edge where nothing is in the way.
Measure the casing's projection
How far the trim stands off the wall. That is the notch depth.
Measure the casing's width
Outside edge to outside edge of the trim. That is the notch width.
Locate the notch
Measure from each end of the seat to the casing.
Check the sum, then send
Left end plus notch plus right end must equal the full length. Sketch the top view with every number, add a photo, and approve the diagram.
Three pieces of furniture, three sets of indentations
One buyer wrote in about cushions for three pieces of wooden furniture. The old cushions weren't plain rectangles; each had indentations shaped to fit around the frame. The advice was to measure those indentations exactly, not roughly, and to confirm the backrest size for every piece too. How many edges does your old cushion have, partner? Count them before you pick up the tape.
A window casing only 0.75 in deep can keep a seat cushion off the wall; a notched back edge lets the cushion sit flush.
Nate
Buyer questions
- A common question
My window casing overhangs the seat, so the cushion can't reach the wall. Can you notch it?
The workshop's answerYes. A notched back edge lets it sit flush while clearing the casing. On a 109.25 x 25 in seat, the notch was 0.75 in deep and 96.25 in wide. Send a sketch and photo, and approve the diagram before the quote.
- A common question
My old cushions are cut out to fit around the furniture frame. Do I measure the cut-outs?
The workshop's answerYes. Take exact measurements including every indentation, and confirm the backrest size for each piece as well.
- A common question
How do I measure a built-in window seat for a cushion?
The workshop's answerUse a rigid tape on the seat top: front edge wall to wall, back edge, depth on the left and right, and any angled sides. Inside a frame, measure wood to wood, and send a top-view sketch with a photo.
Questions buyers ask next
What if the casing covers only part of the seat's back edge?
That is the usual case. The notch runs only as wide as the casing, and the cushion keeps its full depth wherever nothing is in the way, like the 6 in and 7 in full-depth ends on a 109.25 in seat.
Is a list of numbers enough, or do I need a drawing for a notch?
Send both if you can: a top-view sketch with each notch's depth, width and position, plus a photo. The workshop turns that into a diagram of the notched shape and sends it for your approval before quoting.
Does cushion thickness change how high the window seat sits?
Yes. Seat height is the bench height plus the cushion thickness, so a 15 in (38 cm) bench with a 3 in (7.6 cm) cushion puts you at 18 in (46 cm). Say whether any height you give is measured from the floor.
