Concept Sketches · 9 scenes
Swing beds and daybed swings: the four-piece set
A swing bed is a mattress hung from a beam, and it lives in the weather. Nine past orders, and what each taught us about the set, the cloth and the off-season.
SaveThe quick answer
A swing bed cushion is usually a four-piece set: a mattress cut to the platform, a back cushion and two cylinder bolsters, ordered together so all four come from one fabric batch. The mattress is 4 in (10 cm) thick as standard, 6 or 8 in on request. Under open sky, use water-repellent outdoor fabric and bring the set indoors for the off-season.
A mattress on chains, out in the weather
A swing bed spends more nights outside than you do. Sideways rain under the porch roof. Noon sun on the front edge. Pollen, dogs, somebody's wet swimsuit.
So a swing bed cushion is really a set. A mattress cut to the platform. A back cushion. Two cylinder bolsters for the arms. Order all four together and they come off one fabric batch. Order one a season later and you're matching by eye.
The nine orders below are past projects, a few for buyers in the US. The sizes are theirs, exactly. One question before you read on, friend: is your swing bed under a roof or under open sky?
Nine swing beds, rain and all
01A past project
Back and bolsters off the same bolt
A buyer wrote in about an outdoor daybed swing that needed a back cushion and two matching cylinder armrests. They ordered all three at once, so every piece came from the same fabric batch.
The takeaway: Order mattress, back and both bolsters in one go, even if one piece could wait.
02A past project
Soft backs for an indoor hanging swing
A buyer messaged the workshop about an indoor hanging swing. They wanted the back support as one back pillow and two bolsters, soft-filled rather than firm foam. Out of the rain, softness is a choice you're free to make.
The takeaway: Under a roof, fiber-filled backs and bolsters give a swing the lounging feel.
03A past project
A 51 x 82 inch platform and the thickness question
A buyer got in touch with a wooden swing platform, 51 x 82 in (130 x 208 cm), with a backrest. The mattress is 4 in (10 cm) as standard, 6 or 8 in (15 or 20 cm) on request, and an oversized piece costs more at every step up.
The takeaway: Choose thickness by use: 4 in for sitting, more if the swing is where the afternoon nap happens.
04A past project
Mustard-gold under open sky
A buyer in the US wanted an outdoor patio daybed, 52 x 28 x 4 in (132 x 71 x 10 cm), with a back cushion and two cylinder side pillows in a mustard-gold like the listing photo. The water-repellent version cost slightly more, and the outdoor chart's colors differ from the indoor velvet, so the workshop suggested the nearest outdoor code.
The takeaway: Pick the color from the outdoor chart, not from an indoor photo.
05A past project
The roof question on a pallet daybed
A buyer messaged the workshop about a pallet daybed on a covered patio, 41 x 64 in (104 x 163 cm). Before offering an indoor tufted velvet, the workshop asked one thing: is it really under a roof? It was. The carry handle went on the 41 in (104 cm) side.
The takeaway: Confirm the roof before choosing indoor cloth, and name the side that gets the handle.
06A past project
An 88-inch seat and a back to match
One buyer wrote in with an outdoor daybed: a seat about 88.6 x 25.6 in (225 x 65 cm) and a back about 88.6 x 25.2 in (225 x 64 cm). A back that long usually sits better as two or three cushions, and one long backrest isn't cheaper than several.
The takeaway: Split a long back into equal pieces; they stay in place better.
07A past project
A concrete daybed in two halves
A buyer wrote to the workshop with a concrete outdoor daybed about 9.8 x 8.3 ft (3 x 2.5 m). The workshop made it as two cushions, each about 58.8 x 99.4 x 5.9 in (149 x 252 x 15 cm), in premium outdoor fabric. Two halves carry, ship and store. One slab that size does none of it well.
The takeaway: On a big platform, agree the split line before anything is cut.
08A past project
Folding a long cushion for winter
A buyer asked whether one long outdoor cushion could be folded for storage without creasing. Yes: the foam is flexible enough to fold or roll. Bring it in before the first frost and it'll forgive you everything.
The takeaway: Fold or roll the mattress and store it indoors for the off-season.
09A past project
A twin daybed that mostly gets sat on
A buyer in the US didn't want the full set. They needed a fitted cover for a 39 x 75 x 11.5 in (99 x 191 x 29 cm) twin mattress in green corduroy, one long back firm enough to sit upright against, and one armrest bolster. The workshop made the back and bolster foam-filled for structure and sent photos of its backrest models first.
The takeaway: If people mostly sit, ask for foam-filled backs instead of loose fiber.
Under a roof or under the sky: how the set changes
Draft the platform in the bench cushion builder, then settle the mattress feel with the foam firmness finder.
| Where it hangs | Fabric | Back and bolsters | from past orders |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open sky, rain on it | Water-repellent outdoor fabric from its own color chart | Foam back and cylinder bolsters in the same cloth | 52 x 28 x 4 in (132 x 71 x 10 cm) patio daybed |
| Covered patio or porch | Indoor fabric once the roof is confirmed; outdoor if rain blows in | Tufted or plain | 41 x 64 in (104 x 163 cm) pallet daybed |
| Indoors, hung from a beam | Any indoor chart: linen-look, velvet, soft fabric | Soft-filled back pillow and two bolsters | Indoor hanging swing |
| Used mostly as a sofa | A hard-wearing indoor cloth such as corduroy | Foam-filled back and armrest for structure | 39 x 75 x 11.5 in (99 x 191 x 29 cm) twin |
What buyers ask for, and what the outdoor line is
Buyers write in asking for marine-grade: sealed seams, mesh bottoms, quick-dry foam. Honest answer first. The workshop's outdoor line is a UV-resistant, water-repellent polyester fabric with its own color chart. Covers have standard stitching and full zippers so they come off to wash. No quick-dry foam. No mesh bottoms as standard.
Water-repellent is a promise; waterproof is a contract. The outdoor cloth sheds showers and spills well, but it isn't sealed. The water-repellent fabric notes and the waterproof versus water-repellent Pattern go deeper.
On size: a US crib mattress is 52 3/8 x 28 in (133 x 71 cm), a twin about 38 x 75 in (97 x 191 cm). Some platforms are built around one. Use those numbers as a check against your tape, never instead of it. The same rule holds for daybed cushions.
A swing moves, and a cushion on a smooth wooden top will creep. Ask for a non-slip base or ties when you order.
A swing bed set is four pieces cut from one fabric batch: the mattress, the back and two cylinder bolsters, ordered together.
Callum
Swing bed questions
- A common question
Will an outdoor swing bed cushion actually keep the rain out, or just shed a little?
The workshop's answerOutdoor cushions are made from a separate water-repellent outdoor fabric range with its own color chart, sent on request. It handles rain showers and spills well, and outdoor seats and backs get outdoor-suitable inserts, but it's water-resistant rather than a sealed, coated material. For a bigger project you can order one cushion first to check the fit. Store the set indoors during long off-season stretches.
- A common question
I already have a mattress. Can I order only the back pillows and bolsters?
The workshop's answerYes. Backrests and armrest bolsters are sold without the mattress cover; the separate options came off the listing because most buyers take the full set, but they're still quoted on request with your measurements. Two 18 x 36 in (46 x 91 cm) backrests plus two armrests will turn a twin bed into a daybed; for reference, a twin XL is 38 x 80 in (97 x 203 cm).
- A common question
Should the back of my swing be one long cushion or a few shorter ones?
The workshop's answerUsually a few. Two or three back cushions per wall sit better and stay in place, and one long backrest isn't cheaper: four cushions 17.9 in (45.5 cm) wide and 21.7 in (55 cm) tall for a 71.7 in (182 cm) swing cost the same as one full-length back. A 78.7 in (2 m) round-roll back was split into two 39.4 in (100 cm) pieces.
- A common question
Do you make marine-grade cushions with sealed seams, a mesh bottom and quick-dry foam?
The workshop's answerNot as standard. Outdoor covers use normal stitching and full zippers so they come off for washing; sealed seams, mesh breather strips and quick-dry foam aren't part of regular production. The protection comes from the water-repellent fabric chart, whose neutrals include cream, beige, taupe and oatmeal. On large outdoor projects, a production drawing is sent for approval before cutting.
Have it made
Have an idea like this made — ask Callum’s workshop
Short list: size, sun hours, how fast it has to dry. The workshop goes through it with you. — 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
What size mattress fits a swing bed?
Whatever your platform measures. Swing beds aren't built to one standard, so measure the platform inside any rails. A US crib mattress is 52 3/8 x 28 in (133 x 71 cm) and a twin about 38 x 75 in (97 x 191 cm); use those only as a check against your tape. The porch swing sizes Pattern has more.
Why does the outdoor version of a swing bed set cost more?
The outdoor fabrics are a premium range, water-repellent and UV-resistant, and the cheaper indoor fabrics aren't suitable outside. The water-repellent option is a small surcharge over standard fabric. If the swing sits fully under a roof, the workshop can re-quote the set in indoor fabric.
How do I keep a swing bed cushion from sliding?
Ask for a non-slip base when you order. A buyer in the US added one to a 91.5 x 31 in (232 x 79 cm) daybed cushion on a smooth wooden top, and the cover stayed machine washable. Ties at the corners are the other route; see the sliding fixes.
How should I store a swing bed cushion over winter?
Indoors, for the whole off-season. The foam is flexible enough to fold or roll a long mattress cushion without creasing, so it doesn't need a shelf the size of the swing. The winter storage Pattern covers the rest.
