Concept Sketches · 9 scenes
Sunroom cushions and three-season rooms: color that survives the light
Nine sunny seats from past orders, from a west-facing window to four white outdoor seats in full sun: what fades, what holds, and why one piece should live in your light first.
SaveThe quick answer
Sunroom cushions that sit in long, intense direct sun hold their color best in UV- and fade-resistant outdoor fabric. Indoor linen, velvet and soft fabrics have some UV resistance and are generally fine by a west-facing window, but very intense sun can fade them a little over time. Ask for samples, check them in the room's own light, and try one piece before ordering the set.
The kindest light in the house, and the hardest on color
The prettiest light in the house is also the hardest on color.
Sunroom cushions sit where the sun lands longest, so the questions come: will the sage go gray, will the ink navy drift toward washed denim? In the hero photograph, leaded panes print little diamonds of shadow across a sage bouclé seat. That is the light the cloth has to be chosen for.
The honest answer has held steady. The workshop's indoor linen, velvet and soft fabrics have some UV resistance, and a west-facing window is generally fine. Very intense, long-lasting direct sun can fade them a little over time; there, a UV- and fade-resistant outdoor fabric earns its place. The trade word is lightfastness.
Browse the sunroom cushions hub, the window seat cushions collection and the velvet swatches, and sketch matching throw pillows in the pillow cover studio. Which way does your glass face, my friends: early east or late-afternoon west?
Nine sunny seats, and what the light asked of each
01A past project
An ivory seat by a sunny window
A buyer in the US asked the question every bright room asks: will the color fade by a sunny window? The workshop said the fabric holds up in sunlight and cleans easily by gentle hand cleaning.
The takeaway: Still, test in your own window before trusting anyone's word, ours included.
02A past project
West glass is gentler than people fear
A buyer wrote in about a window seat facing west: were the indoor colors UV resistant? Honestly, they have some UV resistance but they are not outdoor fabrics, so very intense, long-lasting direct sun can fade them a little over time. A west-facing window, though, is generally fine.
The takeaway: Keep outdoor fabric for seats that sit in hard sun for hours; an ordinary west window can take indoor linen or velvet.
03A past project
A 160 in bay in sun-resistant black
A buyer in the US wanted a very large trapezoid bay cushion, about 160 x 24 in (406 x 61 cm), in a black, sun-resistant fabric, and not corduroy or velvet. Sun-resistant fabrics are in stock, and at that length the workshop suggested making it in two pieces.
The takeaway: A deep color in a wall of glass wants a sun-resistant cloth; a seat that long also wants two sections.
04A past project
Off-white, ivory, oatmeal: the outdoor palette
A buyer in the US asked whether the workshop uses Sunbrella or a solution-dyed acrylic. Neither: its outdoor fabrics are polyester with a water-repellent, UV-resistant finish, in shades such as off-white, ivory, oatmeal and a warm light gray. The UV rating and weight vary by fabric and are shared once you choose one.
The takeaway: Ask about a fabric's composition and finish, not only its brand name.
05A past project
Four white seats in full sun
A buyer in the US ordered white outdoor fabric for four seats about 41.2 x 38 x 5 in (105 x 97 x 13 cm) with non-slip bases and four backrests about 41.2 x 9 x 5 in (105 x 23 x 13 cm) without, all in foam. After re-measuring, the buyer sent one final table of every piece, and that table became the production reference.
The takeaway: List every piece once, in one table, and let that table be the reference.
06A past project
A velvet lounge along a long window wall
A returning buyer in the US grew a velvet floor-seating order into a pink velvet reading lounge with gray bolsters along a window wall: 3 seats, 7 backrests and 4 hand rests about 23.5 in (60 cm) long. The window-side backrests stayed 10 in (25 cm) high to clear the sill, and she sent tape-measure photos of the first cushion, 33 in (84 cm) with trim, so new pieces would match.
The takeaway: When a set grows, match the finished cushion you can measure, not the original spec.
07A past project
One trial bench before the whole room
Before ordering a room, a buyer in the US ordered one test set in pink velvet: a 60 x 32 in (152 x 81 cm) seat, a 22 x 32 in (56 x 81 cm) backrest and two 8 in (20 cm) bolsters, shortened to about 23.5 in (60 cm) for a backrest coming later. She asked for straight seams and photos before shipping.
The takeaway: Live with one piece in your own light before the rest of the room is cut.
08A past project
What the outdoor labels mean in a glass room
A buyer wrote in asking whether the outdoor fabrics are water-repellent and UV resistant. They are water-resistant, UV- and fade-resistant, and made to stay outside all summer, woven so they feel like real cloth rather than vinyl or a plastic finish. Close-up photos are available for any code.
The takeaway: Under glass, fade resistance matters more than rain resistance; ask for close-ups of the codes you like.
09A past project
Caterpillar yellow in a kids' window nook
A buyer in the US ordered two 27 x 46 x 4 in (69 x 117 x 10 cm) cushions in a caterpillar yellow soft fabric for a window nook in a kids' room. The workshop confirmed the fabric resists sun fading but is not waterproof, and agreed to send photos before shipping.
The takeaway: Ask two separate questions of a sunny-room fabric: does it resist fading, and is it waterproof?
Glass, sun and air: which cloth for which seat
Find your seat here before you fall for a swatch. Window seat fading goes deeper on sun, sunroom humidity covers damp glass rooms, and screened porch cushions picks up where the glass ends. Compare outdoor fabrics with linen and cotton-linen; a long window wall in the main room belongs with living room cushions.
| Where the seat sits | What reaches the cushion | What to choose |
|---|---|---|
| West-facing window seat indoors | Afternoon sun through glass | Indoor linen, velvet or soft fabric; some UV resistance, generally fine |
| Sunroom seat in intense, long-lasting direct sun | Enough sun to fade indoor color a little over time | Outdoor fabric: UV- and fade-resistant, water-repellent, woven |
| Screened porch or screened three-season room | Pollen, dust and humid air | Outdoor fabric, with samples first |
| Covered porch under a closed roof | No rain, no direct sun | Regular fabrics are fine, though none is waterproof |
| Sunny kids' nook or pet corner | Spills, paws and daily wear | Soft fabric or velvet, or a water-resistant wipe-clean chart; covers wash at 86°F (30°C) |
Before the whole sunroom is cut
- Ask for samples and look at them in the room at morning, noon and late afternoon. Daylight never lies; your screen sometimes does.
- Tell the maker indoor or outdoor first, so the color search starts in the right chart.
- Send a screenshot of any listing photo you love; the workshop names the fabric and piping codes from it.
- Flip and turn loose cushions now and then so both faces share the sun; skip the flip on pieces with a non-slip base.
Sunroom cushions in long, intense direct sun belong in UV- and fade-resistant outdoor fabric; indoor linen and velvet can fade a little over time.
Élodie
Sun and fabric questions
- A common question
Is regular indoor fabric okay on a covered porch or balcony?
The workshop's answerYes, under a closed roof where rain and direct sun don't reach, linen, velvet and the soft standard fabrics are fine, though none of them is waterproof; the workshop checks that the area really is covered first. A water-repellent outdoor fabric is available if you want one. For a screened porch with pollen, dust and humidity, or any open-air spot, outdoor fabric is the recommendation, and samples can go out first.
- A common question
How many outdoor fabrics are there, and why are there several charts?
The workshop's answerClose to 200, on 4 to 5 charts on the outdoor listing. All are water-resistant, UV- and fade-resistant, and made to stay outside all summer. They're soft woven fabrics, not vinyl, all at the same quality: the charts differ only in texture, color tone and pattern, and the HM range is the one the workshop recommends. Close-up photos are available for any code.
- A common question
I love one of your listing photos. How do I get the exact fabric and piping?
The workshop's answerSend a screenshot of that exact photo, since listings show several cushions, and the workshop names both codes; the mustard velvet, for instance, is P-60 with P-61 piping, and P-61 reads mustard, not orange. For older photos with renumbered codes, write 'same as the first picture.' Sunlight and camera angle can make a tone look slightly different, but it's the same fabric.
- A common question
Which fabric is easiest to keep clean with kids and a dog in the house?
The workshop's answerFirst, indoors or outdoors? Indoors, the soft fabric is the top easy-care pick: durable and smooth, it doesn't collect dust or lint and suits busy rooms. Velvet is also easy to clean and pet-friendly, and there are water-resistant wipe-clean charts. Outdoors, use the water-repellent range. Covers wash at 86°F (30°C).
Have it made
Have an idea like this made — ask Élodie’s workshop
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.
Questions buyers ask next
Can I get sunroom cushions in Sunbrella or solution-dyed acrylic?
No. The workshop doesn't stock Sunbrella, solution-dyed acrylic, quick-dry foam or mesh bottoms. Its outdoor fabric is polyester with a water-repellent, UV-resistant finish; the UV rating and weight vary by fabric and are shared once you pick one. Outdoor fabrics cost a little more than indoor ones.
Can I see a fabric in my own sunroom before ordering every cushion?
Yes. Samples can be sent before you order, and buyers have ordered one test piece first, such as a 60 x 32 in (152 x 81 cm) velvet window bench, before the rest of the room. Every order is photographed before shipping, and you can ask to see those photos.
Is outdoor fabric comfortable enough for an indoor sunroom seat?
It feels like real fabric, not plastic or a tarp, and buyers have consistently rated it comfortable. It is less soft than indoor upholstery, closer to a good sun-lounger cushion, and built above all for durability, which is worth knowing if the seat gets daily indoor use.
How thick should a sunroom window seat cushion be?
4 in (10 cm) is the standard for seat, bench and window-seat cushions, and most buyers keep it. For a neater, lower profile on a window seat, 3 in (7.5 cm) works. One buyer in the US chose 2 in (5 cm) because an air conditioning unit limited the height at one sill.
