The Cutting Table · compared on the table
How can I match a new cushion to pillows or furniture I already have?
Also asked as:Fabric samples to match the bins?A cushion on top of my Kallax bench?
Your storage bins already chose the palette. The cushion only has to agree with them, in your light, not on a screen.
SaveThe quick answer
Order physical samples of your shortlisted codes and hold them against your pillows, storage bins or paint at home, in your own light; that is the reliable way to match existing furniture. For a quicker first pass, ask for close-up photos in the chat or a photo of the nearest fabric to a Pantone reference. Screens can mislead.
Get a quote for a Kallax bench cushion
Five ways to check a match, side by side
| Method | What you see | How far to trust it | Use it for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical samples | Real fabric beside your bins, pillows or paint | The reliable test | The final decision |
| Close-up photos in chat | Detailed fabric shots, no waiting for samples to arrive | A good first pass | Trimming a long shortlist |
| Photo of the color chart | Every code side by side | Useful for direction | Finding the right family of tones |
| Pantone reference photo | The closest fabric, photographed | Close, not exact | When you already hold a Pantone code |
| Listing photos on a screen | Color as your screen renders it | The least | A first feel only |
Key facts
- Physical samples are the reliable way to match existing items.
- Close-up photos in the chat are a faster first check.
- The workshop can photograph its closest fabric to a Pantone reference.
- Kallax bench cushions are made to size.
- Screen colors can differ noticeably from the fabric in person.
- In one case, a second round of samples was sent free when the first did not match.
Have it made
Have Élodie’s workshop cut this for you
Color is easier to settle in a conversation than on a screen. Tell the workshop about the room and the light it gets, and the fabric choice follows. — Élodie
Leave your details and the workshop will call you to confirm measurements, fabric, foam and piping. No prices, dates or payment on this page: it is a request, not an order.
Holding a swatch to a Kallax bin
The Kallax is a fine test case, because its bins come in fixed colors that a cushion must live beside. The workshop makes Kallax bench cushions to size; the matching is your part. Order samples through the fabric-samples listing, write your shortlisted codes in the note, and hold each one against a bin in morning light and again at lamp time.
Daylight never lies; your screen sometimes does. The Kallax sizing Pattern covers the measurements, and the swatch Pattern covers the envelope. Which piece in your room is the one the cushion must agree with?
When the first round missed
A buyer got in touch trying to match cushions already in the room. Code 924 came out too light, and 927 was a different tone than it had looked online. The screen had flattered both.
The workshop sent a second round of samples free of charge that time, leaning warmer: browns and olive stripes, n33, n14, 914, 110 brown and COR-203. One of them matched. The lesson, my friends, is not to give up after one envelope, but to move warmer or cooler with purpose.
When the first swatches miss the pillows at home, move warmer or cooler on purpose: warmer browns and olive stripes found one buyer's match in round two.
Élodie
Buyer questions
- A common question
I want a Kallax bench cushion that matches my storage bins. How do I check colors?
The workshop's answerOrder physical samples through the fabric-samples listing with the codes in the note, or ask for close-up photos of those fabrics in the chat if you don't want to wait for samples to arrive.
- A common question
What if none of the samples match the cushions I already have?
The workshop's answerIn one case the shop sent a second round of samples free of charge. The buyer had found 924 too light and 927 a different tone than online, then tried warmer browns and olive stripes and found a match.
- A common question
How big are the swatches? Can I get a bigger piece?
The workshop's answerStandard swatches are small, about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 in (3-4 cm) square, enough to judge color and texture. Velvet can be sent as 4 in (10 cm) squares on request; otherwise ask for photos of finished cushions.
- A common question
Can I add swatches to my cushion order, or change the codes I picked?
The workshop's answerYes. Sample codes can be changed or added until the order ships, and a few swatches can travel free inside your cushion parcel if you send the codes before dispatch.
Questions buyers ask next
Can the workshop match a Pantone code?
It can send a photo of its closest fabric to your Pantone reference, which makes a useful first check. Treat it as close rather than exact, and confirm with a physical sample before ordering.
Why did a fabric look lighter at home than on my screen?
Screens render color their own way, and fabric shifts with the light in your room. One buyer found code 924 too light and 927 a different tone in person, which is why samples, not photos, settle a match.
Is a photo of the full color chart worth asking for?
Yes, as a quick first pass. The workshop can share a photo of its color chart or close-ups in the chat, which helps narrow a shortlist before you order physical samples of the few codes left.
