The Cutting Table
The Cutting Table, page 8
Each answer starts from one question buyers ask again and again, then gives the short version, the workshop's reasoning, other ways the question is put and the follow-ups buyers ask next.
765 answers · 28 topics
Ties, straps & non-slip bases (continued) 22
Do custom cushions come with ties, or do I have to ask for them?
Custom cushions do not come with ties unless you request them when you order.
Can two cushions be tied together so they don't slide apart?
Yes, two cushions can be tied together with ties sewn on the corners or on the edges where they meet.
Where should the ties go on my bench cushion, and how many do I need?
Put four ties on a bench cushion, one at each corner, if you want to knot opposite ties together under the seat; put two on the back edge if you'll tie around a rail or spindles.
Will the floor sofa's metal bars scratch my hardwood floor?
Yes, bare metal bars can scratch hardwood, so put something between them and the floor: a rug, a small piece of fabric, or felt furniture feet.
My floor sofa slides on a smooth floor. How do I stop it?
To stop a floor sofa sliding on a smooth floor, put a rug, carpet, piece of fabric or anti-slip mat under it; that usually ends the movement.
What's the best way to stop a seat cushion sliding on a bench?
Stop a bench cushion from sliding with one of three fixes: ties sewn on the corners, an anti-slip fabric on the bottom of the cover, or a separate non-slip pad underneath.
Is there velcro under the floor sofa to stop the cushions sliding apart?
No, there is no velcro joining the floor sofa pieces, and none is needed.
Backrests & seat-and-back sets 32
Can the floor sofa backrests be made slimmer, smaller or taller?
Yes, floor sofa backrests can be made slimmer: L-shaped and straight backrests have been remade 7 in (18 cm) deep instead of 15 in (39 cm).
Can you make wedge-shaped back cushions?
Yes, wedge back cushions that are thicker at the bottom and thinner at the top are made to order often.
How do I measure backrest height: from the top of the seat cushion or from the bench?
Measure backrest height from the top of the seat cushion, so the backrest sits on the bottom cushion; the shop usually recommends this because it looks and fits better.
Should my back cushion be foam, or soft like a pillow?
A back cushion can be foam or pillow-style, and the choice comes down to shape versus softness.
Can I buy a single straight backrest pillow for my floor sofa, and what size is it?
Yes, the straight backrest for the floor sofa is sold on its own and measures 39 x 15 x 15 in (100 x 39 x 39 cm).
How tall should a back cushion be?
A standard back cushion is 16 in (40 cm) tall and about 4 in (10 cm) thick.
Is one long back cushion better than several shorter ones?
Several shorter back cushions usually beat one long one: two or three per wall sit better and stay in place.
Can you make a wall-mounted headboard cushion or backrest?
Usually not with a rigid board inside: standard backrests are soft, so they can't be screwed to a wall or hung on a French cleat.
What comes in the French-style tufted cushion set, and is the backrest included?
Yes, the backrest is included: the French-style tufted set is one seat cushion (floor or bench), one backrest cushion and two round armrest bolsters, the bolsters as a gift.
Does the back cushion stand up on its own, or does it need a wall?
A standard back cushion needs something solid behind it: it leans against a wall or the back of a cabinet, so it is sized to your wall or floor plan.
How do I size back pillows for an L-shaped or angled banquette?
To size L-shaped banquette back cushions, measure each wall's usable back line and split it into two or three pillows.
Does the cushion price include the back cushion, or just the seat?
No, the bench cushion price does not include the back cushion: standard bench and outdoor listings price one seat cushion only, and any back cushion shown in listing photos is extra.
Is the backrest the same length as the seat cushion?
Yes, a backrest cushion is made the same length as the seat cushion, so a 59 in (150 cm) seat comes with a 59 in back.
Can you make banquette seat and back cushions for a built-in breakfast nook?
Yes, banquette seat and back cushions for a breakfast nook are both made to measure: send the size of each seat run and each back section.
Cushions for a dining bench with a back: what goes on the seat, what on the back?
A dining bench with a back usually takes a 3 or 4 in (7.5 or 10 cm) seat pad and a thinner back pad, often 2 in (5 cm), about 16 in (40 cm) tall measured from the top of the seat cushion.
Can I add a backrest to the ottoman to make a chair or small sofa?
You can add a backrest to the modular floor sofa's ottoman and turn it into a lounge chair or a small L-shaped sectional.
Can I buy just the L-shaped corner backrests without the sofa?
Yes, L-shaped backrests are sold on their own: choose the L-shaped backrest option on the listing or ask for a custom link.
How can I attach a back cushion to the wall?
Attach a back cushion to the wall with hook-and-loop fastener: the workshop sews one side onto the back of the cushion, and you fix the matching strip to the wall with strong adhesive, or screws for…
Wedge, rectangular or curved: which back cushion supports a deep seat best?
A wedge back cushion supports a deep lounging seat best, because its wider base gives your back more support than a flat rectangle.
Do you make back cushions to match my bench cushion?
Yes, matching back cushions are made to any size in the same fabric as your bench cushion.
How can I make a daybed look like a sofa with back cushions?
To make a daybed look like a sofa, order a fitted mattress cover with back cushions.
Are the seat, backrest and armrest cushions attached to each other?
No, the seat, backrest and armrest bolsters are separate pieces, not sewn or fixed together.
Can the back cushion be the same size as the seat cushion?
Yes, the back cushion can be made the same size as the seat, or square like it.
How many metal bars hold up the backrests on a floor sofa?
A standard modular floor sofa comes with 4 metal support bars: 2 for the sides and 2 along the back that hold the back cushions.
What size should the back pillows be for a 79 in (200 cm) daybed like the Hemnes?
A 79 in (200 cm) daybed takes two back pillows of about 39 x 16 in (100 x 40 cm) each.
Can I buy just the back cushion without the seat?
Yes, a back cushion can be ordered on its own, in any size and color, with no seat cushion attached.
How do I order back cushions to go with my bench cushion?
To order back cushions with a bench cushion, add each backrest to the cart as a separate item from the same listing as the seat, at its own size.
Should back cushions be the same thickness as the seat cushions?
Back cushions don't have to be as thick as the seat cushions.
Can you add back cushions to a corner floor cushion?
Yes, a corner floor cushion can get one or two matching back cushions in the same fabric and color.
Can I buy just the back pillows and bolsters for my daybed?
Yes, daybed back pillows and armrest bolsters can be bought on their own, without the mattress cover or seat cushion.
Can I buy a replacement or extra backrest for my modular floor sofa?
Yes: straight and L-shaped backrests for a modular floor sofa are sold one at a time, with filling, matched to your original color through a private purchase link.
How tall should a back cushion be on a bench under a window?
A back cushion on a bench under a window should stand taller than the window hardware and stay loose.
Outdoor & water-resistant 19
Do you carry name-brand outdoor fabric, or something similar?
No, the workshop doesn't carry the Sunbrella brand; outdoor cushions are made in its own outdoor performance fabric instead.
Are your outdoor cushions waterproof or just water-resistant?
Outdoor cushions are made from a dedicated water-repellent outdoor fabric that handles rain showers and spills well, but it is water-resistant rather than a sealed, coated material.
Will regular indoor cushions be OK on a covered porch or balcony?
Regular indoor fabrics such as linen, velvet and the soft fabric are fine on a covered porch or balcony if a closed roof keeps off rain and direct sun.
Why do outdoor cushions cost more than indoor cushions?
Outdoor cushions cost more because the outdoor fabric is premium: water-repellent and highly UV- and sun-resistant, so it can live outside.
Can I leave my outdoor cushions out in rain and snow all year?
Outdoor cushions can take sun and rain showers, but they aren't built to sit uncovered through rain and snow all year.
Can I get this cushion in outdoor fabric if the listing only shows indoor fabrics?
Yes, most cushions can be made in outdoor-rated, water-resistant fabric even when the listing shows only indoor fabrics.
Does the outdoor fabric feel plasticky, or soft like indoor fabric?
Outdoor cushion fabric here does not feel plastic: it is not the coated, waterproof-plastic kind, and it handles like proper fabric rather than a tarp.
Can you make marine-grade outdoor cushions with sealed seams and a mesh bottom?
Sealed seams and a mesh bottom are not part of standard outdoor cushion production.
How long do outdoor cushions last before they need replacing?
Outdoor cushions typically last about 2 to 5 years, by makers' published estimates.
What outdoor fabrics do you have, and how are the charts different?
The outdoor range has close to 200 fabrics on 4 to 5 charts, and every one is water-, UV- and fade-resistant woven cloth from the same factory at the same quality.
Can you make outdoor cushion covers to fit the inserts I already have?
Yes: zippered outdoor covers are made to fit your existing inserts from measurements and photos, and the old cushions never have to be sent.
Buyer questions
- A common question
Will my custom chair cushions have ties on them automatically?
The workshop's answerNo. Ties are added only when requested at the time of ordering. A buyer who assumed they were standard received chair cushions without them, and the workshop offered to pay half of a local tailor's cost to add them.
The full answer: Do custom cushions come with ties, or do I have to ask for them?
- A common question
Could you make the backrest pillows on my sofa slimmer?
The workshop's answerYes. Two L-shaped backrests (39 x 39 x 15 in / 100 x 100 x 39 cm) and one straight backrest (39 x 15 x 15 in / 100 x 39 x 39 cm) were remade 7 in (18 cm) deep instead of 15 in.
The full answer: Can the floor sofa backrests be made slimmer, smaller or taller?
- A common question
Could you build a headboard-style backrest that hangs on a French cleat?
The workshop's answerNo. The cushions have no rigid board inside, so they can't mount on a cleat. Ties can be sewn onto the top corners so the backrest hangs from hooks or a rail. It's made like the back pillows: a removable piped cover with shredded foam about 4 in (10 cm) thick, or a solid foam core wrapped in fiber for a firmer, flatter panel.
The full answer: Can you make a wall-mounted headboard cushion or backrest?