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The Cutting Table · a common question

Will the silicone ball stuffing in a floor cushion flatten over time?

Also asked as:How well does the stuffing hold up?Will it compress over time?

Short version: the fill is overpacked on purpose. The longer version comes with a weight, a length and one thing that isn't a bead.

Answered by

The Pattern Engineer of Detroit ·

The quick answer

Silicone ball stuffing is packed too densely to flatten: the workshop puts about 18-22 lb (8-10 kg) of fill into a 60 in (152 cm) floor cushion, and calls collapse practically impossible. The fill is soft fiber clusters that feel like cotton, not hard bean-bag beads, and it's sturdy enough that buyers sleep on the linen floor mattresses.

Dusty pink corduroy corner floor cushion under a cream canopy with star, flower and cloud pillows, bunny, medallion rugSave
Tone-on-tone pink, from gusset to flower pillow to botanical prints, gives this corner a soft, finished look.

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Key facts

  • Floor cushions are overfilled on purpose so they don't collapse.
  • A 60 in (152 cm) cushion takes about 18-22 lb (8-10 kg) of filling.
  • Silicone balls are soft fiber clusters that feel like cotton, not beads.
  • Bean-bag bead filling is not offered.
  • The fill is sturdy rather than slippery.
  • Buyers use the linen floor mattresses as beds.
  • Cotton filling is available on request.
  • Tufted floor cushions packed with silicone ball fiber are normally 4 to 5 in (10 to 12 cm) thick.

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Fabric · Foam · Pipingwhat the workshop will confirm with you

Fabric
Buyers use the linen floor mattresses as beds.
Foam
The core: its density and thickness set the feel.
Piping
The corded seam edge: matching, contrast or none.
Only for this request: no marketing calls or texts. Outside the US, add the country code.
In inches: length × depth × thickness, plus any angles or cut corners.

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Why 18-22 lb of fill keeps a floor cushion from flattening

Flattening is a slack problem. A cushion sags when the fill inside has room to settle, so the workshop leaves it no room: about 18-22 lb (8-10 kg) of filling goes into a 60 in (152 cm) floor cushion. That is overfilling by design, partner, and it's why the shop calls a flat cushion practically impossible after years of use.

"Silicone ball" sounds like a bead. It isn't. It's a mass of small fiber clusters that feels like cotton when you squeeze a corner. How many hours a day will yours be sat on?

Silicone ball fill next to the other options

FillWhat it isOffered
Silicone ball fillSoft fiber clusters; sturdy, not slipperyStandard, about 18-22 lb (8-10 kg) per 60 in cushion
Cotton fillingNatural fiber alternativeOn request
Bean-bag beadsHard beadsNot offered

Sat on all day, slept on all night

The fill is described as sturdy rather than slippery, which matters when the cushion is a bed. Buyers use the linen floor mattresses for sleeping, and the same dense packing does both jobs. If you plan to sleep on yours, the floor sofa sleeping Pattern covers sizes and sheets, and the fill comparison Pattern sets fiber against foam.

Floor cushions are overfilled on purpose: about 18-22 lb of silicone fiber clusters go into a 60 in cushion so the stuffing doesn't collapse.

Nate
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Buyer questions

  1. A common question

    Will the stuffing go flat with everyday sitting?

    The workshop's answer

    The cushions are filled very densely so they can be used for many years without collapsing, and the filling is comfortable enough to sleep on.

  2. A common question

    Are silicone balls hard beads like a bean bag's, and will the cushion flatten?

    The workshop's answer

    No, they aren't beads. The filling is a mass of soft silicone fiber clusters that feels like cotton. About 18-22 lb (8-10 kg) goes into a 60 in cushion, and the shop says it's practically impossible for it to compress flat.

  3. A common question

    What are the linen floor mattresses filled with, and can we sleep on them?

    The workshop's answer

    Silicone balls, which is silicone fiber. The fill is sturdy rather than slippery, and buyers use the cushions as beds. Cotton filling is available on request.

  4. A common question

    Can I get a softer, plusher cushion instead of firm foam?

    The workshop's answer

    Yes. Ask for 28-density foam instead of the standard 32 for a plusher, slightly sink-in feel, or add a 3/4 in (2 cm) wadding layer. Feather-wrapped foam isn't offered.

Questions buyers ask next

How much filling is in a large floor cushion?

About 18-22 lb (8-10 kg) of silicone fiber clusters in a 60 in (152 cm) cushion. The workshop overfills on purpose, so that weight is part of what keeps the cushion from collapsing over the years.

Does silicone ball fill shift around inside the cover?

It's described as sturdy rather than slippery. The fiber clusters sit together as one dense mass, which is why the linen floor mattresses work as beds as well as seats.

Is there a natural alternative to silicone fiber fill?

Yes. Cotton filling is available on request for floor cushions. Silicone fiber clusters are the standard fill, so mention cotton in your order note before the cushion is made.