Concept Sketches · 8 scenes
Around the fire pit: cushions for curved and L-shaped patio benches
Fire pit benches curve, turn corners and sit on stone. Eight real patio projects, each with the drawing it needed and the weather it has to take.
SaveThe quick answer
Fire pit bench cushions should be plain foam cushions in water-repellent outdoor fabric, cut in segments you can carry. Measure a curved bench with a string along the outer and inner curves, plus the straight distance across each and the depth. Split an L-shaped bench into two seats at the corner. Skip tufting: every tuft lets rain into the foam.
Curves, L's and stone, out in the weather
Nobody builds a fire pit bench square. It curves around the flames, turns an L at the edge of the patio, or it's poured concrete with a drain cut through it. Fire pit bench cushions have to follow all of that, then come inside when the season ends.
Five rules came out of past patio projects:
- Measure a curve with a string. Both arcs, the straight distance across each, and the depth in more than one spot; the curved cushion Pattern has the math.
- Cut long runs into pieces you can carry. A 125 in (318 cm) bench went in two; a 245 in (622 cm) curve went in four.
- Leave tufting indoors. Rain doesn't negotiate, and every tuft is a way in for water.
- Seat an L as two cushions. They meet at the corner, and the covers come off easily.
- Tie down anything in the wind. Ties and hook-and-loop straps are added only when you ask.
One more, friend: give the fire its own room. Stack the cushions well back from sparks before a big blaze, and keep them off hot stone.
The outdoor cushions hub covers fabric and foam, and patio and porch cushions the rest of the backyard. Straight runs can be sized in the bench cushion builder. How long is the front edge of your bench?
Eight benches around the fire, each with its drawing
01A past project
A 245 in curve, measured with a string
A buyer in the US measured a curved stone bench around a fire pit with a piece of string. The workshop asked for the inner curve, the outer curve, the depth at several points and the straight distances end to end: 142 in (361 cm) at the back, 117 in (297 cm) at the front. The drawing came out at a 245 in (622 cm) outer curve, a 208 in (528 cm) inner curve, 12.75 in (32 cm) deep and 3 in (7.5 cm) thick, made as four symmetrical segments for handling and storage.
The takeaway: Give both arcs and both straight chords; together they let the maker rebuild the exact curve.
02A past project
A concrete L, seated in two pieces
A buyer in the US sent photos and a diagram of an L-shaped concrete fire pit bench with an 18 in (46 cm) deep seat, and picked a striped outdoor fabric. They ordered seats only, with the piping matched to the gray stripe. The workshop made two separate seat cushions instead of one L piece, so the covers come off easily and stay snug. The buyer called the result perfect.
The takeaway: An L-shaped bench takes two seats that meet at the corner; match the piping to one color in the stripe.
03A past project
Pool and fire pit benches, tufting turned down
A family in the US wanted tufted floor-style cushions for three benches by a pool and fire pit: one at 125 x 20.5 x 3 in (318 x 52 x 7.5 cm) and two at 86.75 x 20.5 x 3 in (220 x 52 x 7.5 cm). The workshop warned that tufting lets water in even with outdoor fabric, and suggested plain foam-filled cushions. The 125 in run was made in two pieces, each about 62.6 in (159 cm).
The takeaway: Outdoors, choose plain foam over tufts; a tuft is a stitched path straight into the foam.
04A past project
Stone seats around the fire, photos first
One buyer wrote in about stone seats set around a fire pit: six squares of 18 to 20 in (46 to 51 cm) and two wider seats of about 31.5 in (80 cm). Masonry is rarely even, so the workshop asked for photos before sizes. The colors settled on beige with olive or eucalyptus green.
The takeaway: Send a photo of every stone seat along with its numbers; the photo shows what the tape can't.
05A past project
A built-in bench with a drain cut through it
A buyer wrote to the workshop with a big built-in outdoor bench that had a drain cutout. The workshop read the drawing back as a numbered list of the figures still missing, and only then drew the cushions: 3 in (7.5 cm) seats, 8 in (20 cm) bolsters, and one 142 in (361 cm) bolster made in two pieces.
The takeaway: When the maker sends back a numbered list of missing figures, answer every number; a cutout can't be placed without them.
06A past project
A windy patio: wedge backs and straps
One buyer wrote in about a windy patio: two 33 x 30 x 4 in (84 x 76 x 10 cm) seats and two 32 x 13 in (81 x 33 cm) backs, thicker at the bottom like a wedge, held down with ties or hook-and-loop straps. They asked for Sunbrella by name. That isn't a fabric the workshop carries; its outdoor line is a UV-resistant, water-repellent polyester, and samples went out before the order.
The takeaway: In wind, put ties or straps on the order with their position and length; they are added only on request.
07A past project
A five-seat pool bench: one, two or five
A buyer got in touch about a five-seat pool bench about 118 x 19.7 in (300 x 50 cm), 5 in (13 cm) thick. There were three honest ways to cut it: one long piece that folds for storage, two pieces, or five, one for each seat.
The takeaway: Pick the split by where the cushions spend the winter. One long piece folds; two or five carry in one at a time.
08A past project
Storage lids, snowy winters and a plain answer
A buyer in the US, with hot summers and snowy winters, sent drawings of outdoor storage benches with lift-up lids and asked for the cushions split at the lid lines. One run was about 1.5 in (4 cm) off in depth, so the workshop asked for a full drawing of each piece. The workshop also told her plainly: no fast-drying mesh bottom, no quick-dry foam, and a fabric suited to a covered porch or indoor winter storage. The seats were 3 in (7.5 cm) thick.
The takeaway: Over lift-up lids, split the cushion at every lid line and draw each piece on its own.
What buyers ask for, and what the workshop makes instead
Honest answers save a season. Water-repellent fabrics in the Swatch Library explain the cloth, the outdoor fabric comparison sets acrylic, olefin and polyester side by side, and winter storage covers the off-season.
| Buyers ask for | What the workshop makes | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Sunbrella by name | The workshop's own UV-resistant, water-repellent polyester outdoor fabric, 100+ colors | The workshop doesn't stock the brand; samples can go out before you order |
| Quick-dry foam or a mesh bottom | Outdoor-suitable foam inserts in zippered covers | Neither is offered; the line suits covered spots and indoor winter storage |
| A tufted outdoor seat | Plain, non-tufted foam cushions | Tufts let water in, even through outdoor fabric |
| One L-shaped piece | Two seats meeting at the corner | Covers come off easily and stay snug |
| One cushion for a 125 in or 245 in run | Two to four segments | Handling and storage |
| Waterproof | Water-repellent fabric that sheds showers and spills | Not a sealed, coated cloth; store indoors off-season |
A curved fire pit bench cushion starts with a string: outer arc, inner arc and the straight chord across each, before any foam is cut.
Callum
Straight: weather, curves and fabric
- A common question
Will rain soak straight through the outdoor cushions on a fire pit bench?
The workshop's answerOutdoor cushions are made from a separate water-repellent fabric range with its own color chart, which the workshop sends on request. In practice the fabric is water-resistant rather than a sealed, coated material: it handles rain showers and spills well, and outdoor seats and backs get outdoor-suitable inserts. For a big patio you can order one cushion first to check the fit. Like any outdoor textile, store them indoors over the long off-season.
- A common question
Can I put velvet or linen cushions on a stone bench outside?
The workshop's answerNo. The indoor fabrics, including linen, velvet and chenille, aren't made for open-air use, and chenille in particular doesn't belong outside in humid weather. Outdoor-performance fabrics resist moisture, mildew and mold far better. Order through the outdoor range instead: 100+ outdoor-rated, UV-resistant colors, in any color and piping combination. When indoor cushions were ordered for outdoor use by mistake, the workshop cancelled and refunded so they could be reordered correctly.
- A common question
Can you make a cushion for a curved spot rather than a straight bench?
The workshop's answerYes. Send the shape and measurements before you order, with a sketch and a few photos of the space taken from a distance, so everything is agreed first. For a quarter-round or curved shape the workshop needs the two straight sides to calculate the curve. The workshop says up front whether a size-based customization fee applies; large custom shapes are priced for their size and cut rather than at standard-cushion prices.
- A common question
The chair pads I like only list indoor fabrics. Can they match my outdoor bench cushion?
The workshop's answerYes. Most cushions can be made in outdoor fabric. Pick a code from the outdoor color charts, which the workshop sends on request, then order the shape you want, whether chair pads, square cushions or even a star floor cushion, and write the outdoor code in the order note. Every piece is then made in the same outdoor fabric, so the chair pads and square cushions match the bench.
Have it made
Have an idea like this made — ask Callum’s workshop
Sun, rain, salt. Say which of them your cushion will meet, and the workshop will plan around it. — Callum
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.
Questions buyers ask next
Why shouldn't a fire pit bench cushion be tufted?
Tufting stitches right through the cushion, and those stitch points let water in even when the fabric is outdoor-grade. For three benches by a pool and fire pit, the workshop steered a family in the US from tufted floor-style cushions to plain foam-filled ones for exactly that reason.
How do you measure a round or curved fire pit bench?
Run a string along the outer curve and the inner curve, then measure the straight distance across each and the depth at several points. One curved stone bench came out at 245 in (622 cm) outside, 208 in (528 cm) inside and 12.75 in (32 cm) deep.
When does a long outdoor bench cushion get split into pieces?
When one piece becomes hard to handle and store. A 125 in (318 cm) bench cushion was made in two pieces of about 62.6 in (159 cm), a 142 in (361 cm) bolster in two, and a 245 in (622 cm) curve in four symmetrical segments.
What keeps fire pit cushions in place when the wind picks up?
Ties or hook-and-loop straps sewn into the seams, which are added only on request, so give their position and length in writing. A non-slip base helps on smooth surfaces. Every order is photographed before it ships; check that photo to confirm the extras are there.
