---
title: "Vintage Camper & RV Cushions: Dinettes, Bunks, Retro Colors"
url: "https://cushionguide.com/concepts/vintage-camper-and-rv-cushions/"
section: "Concept Sketches"
author: "Callum Reid, The Weather Man of Casco Bay"
author_url: "https://cushionguide.com/masters/callum/"
published: "2026-05-04"
updated: "2026-09-24"
keywords: "vintage camper cushions, RV dinette cushions, camper bunk cushion, campervan seat cushions, retro camper cushion colors, RV bench cushion non-slip base, U-shaped dinette cushions"
---

# Vintage campers and RVs: dinettes, bunks and avocado green

*A camper is a small boat on wheels: tight corners, lids that lift, every inch spoken for. Eight rigs and benches from past orders, each with its measurements.*

> **The quick answer:** Vintage camper cushions are made piece by piece from a template or drawing of every cushion, because the dinettes, bunks and benches in an old rig rarely match a catalog size. Check bunk headroom before choosing thickness, use a non-slip base or hinge-side ties on lift-up lids, and compare body and piping swatches side by side for retro colors like avocado and harvest gold.

![Stack of five piped box cushions in cherry red, sage, oatmeal, antique gold and denim blue on a cream backdrop](https://cushionguide.com/media/bench-cushions/five-piped-box-cushions-stacked-color-pairs-1600.webp "Five box cushions stacked to compare body and piping pairs, from cherry red with oatmeal to gold with blue.")

## A camper is a small boat on wheels

I cut canvas for boats long before I cut a camper cushion. The two jobs are closer than you'd think.

Both are small rooms that move. Seats turn into beds, lids hide the gear, and nothing in an old rig is quite square. So vintage camper cushions start with a template, not a catalog size: one drawing per piece, every piece labeled.

Camper and RV questions circle four things. Color. Shape. Headroom. Slide. The eight rigs and benches below are past projects, measurements kept. The [boat and RV cushions](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/boat-and-rv-cushions/) hub has the full range, and the [RV dinette Pattern](https://cushionguide.com/guides/rv-camper-dinette-cushions/) covers the measuring. Converting a van instead? See [van and skoolie cushions](https://cushionguide.com/concepts/van-conversion-and-skoolie-cushions/).

So tell me, friend: how many pieces does your dinette break into?

## Eight rigs and benches, measured

### 01. Avocado green, judged beside harvest gold

![Mustard bouclé box cushion on a pale ash bench before a tall black-framed window in a teal room, teal velvet pillow](https://cushionguide.com/media/bench-cushions/mustard-boucle-ash-bench-cushion-teal-wall-1600.webp "Mustard on teal: a near-complementary pairing that makes a plain ash bench the brightest thing in the room.")

A buyer wrote to the workshop wanting avocado green for a vintage camper dinette and couldn't judge the color from photos. The workshop pointed to an olive green velvet and two harvest-gold piping options, and sent the swatches photographed side by side. The buyer picked the more mustard of the two, then asked to see a finished cushion in that piping before confirming. The workshop sent one.

**The takeaway:** Judge a retro palette as a pair: body and piping in one photo, then a finished cushion if you can get it.

> **Tailor's margin:** Avocado camper cushions: olive velvet with mustard-gold piping, judged side by side in one photo, never as separate swatches.

### 02. Six bench cushions, one template

![Stack of three piped box cushions in caramel bouclé, black textured weave and black and cream geometric jacquard on oak](https://cushionguide.com/media/bench-cushions/caramel-black-geometric-box-cushion-stack-1600.webp "Stacked side by side, three finishes from one range show how the piping color changes with each fabric.")

A buyer messaged the workshop needing new covers for the six bench cushions in a mini camper trailer. The workshop confirmed it makes camper covers, and the buyer sent one template showing every cushion's shape and size for the quote.

**The takeaway:** Trace or draw every piece, label each one, and send them together. A set quoted as a set fits as a set.

> **Tailor's margin:** Six camper bench cushions, six shapes: one labeled template of every piece gets the covers quoted right.

### 03. A U-shaped dinette, sized piece by piece

![Top-down view of a mustard bouclé box cushion on a pale oak frame with open book, glasses, lavender, coffee and croissant](https://cushionguide.com/media/bench-cushions/mustard-boucle-bench-cushion-overhead-breakfast-1600.webp "Seen from above, the mustard bouclé becomes a textured tray for a slow morning, its piping tracing the oak frame.")

U-shaped dinettes come up regularly, from vintage trailers to vans. One was built from a long 65 x 17.5 in (165 x 44 cm) seat, two 17.5 x 24.5 in (44 x 62 cm) side seats and a 65 in (165 cm) back cushion 4 in (10 cm) deep. Each piece was sized on its own.

**The takeaway:** Send a drawing with every run of the U, the depth, the thickness you want and a photo of the space. Seats can go 8 in (20 cm) thick or more.

> **Tailor's margin:** One U-shaped dinette took four cushions: a 65 in seat, two 17.5 x 24.5 in sides, a 65 in back.

### 04. A 12 in top bunk and the ceiling above it

![Charcoal and mustard nubby tweed box cushion on a walnut bench with two off-white velvet pillows beside a bedside lamp](https://cushionguide.com/media/bench-cushions/charcoal-mustard-tweed-bedroom-bench-cushion-1024.webp "A textured charcoal-and-mustard weave gives a walnut bedroom bench some weight, lightened by two off-white velvet pillows and a glowing bedside lamp.")

A buyer in the US wanted two 71 x 28 in (180 x 71 cm) cushions for a camper's top bunk, in beige linen-look fabric or gray velvet. The workshop sent the velvet chart with its beige and dark beige, and pointed out that the cushion in the picture the buyer liked was 12 in (30 cm) thick. The buyer kept the 12 in.

**The takeaway:** Before you fall for a thick cushion, measure from the bunk platform to the ceiling. Every inch of foam comes out of the headroom.

> **Tailor's margin:** A 12 in (30 cm) top-bunk cushion takes 12 in of headroom: measure platform to ceiling first.

### 05. A lift-up RV bench that keeps its cushion

![Black and cream ticking stripe box cushion with piped edges on a walnut bench, lit by low sun from a side window](https://cushionguide.com/media/bench-cushions/black-cream-ticking-cushion-walnut-bench-1536.webp "Close up, the ticking shows a small herringbone texture in each stripe, and self piping keeps the box edge tight.")

A buyer wrote in about an RV bench cushion, 28.75 x 17 in (73 x 43 cm), sitting on a lid that lifts for storage. Instead of a strap, the buyer went with a non-slip base, and cream piping around the edge.

**The takeaway:** A non-slip base is the whole bottom panel sewn in grippy fabric. It holds when you sit and lean; it won't hold a cushion on a lid tipped open.

> **Tailor's margin:** A non-slip base holds an RV bench cushion when you sit, not when the lift-up lid tips open.

### 06. Backrests shorter than their seats

![Pistachio and white geometric seat cushion with two deep green dotted box back cushions on a teak bench against red brick](https://cushionguide.com/media/bench-cushions/pistachio-kilim-seat-deep-green-pindot-backs-brick-patio-1600.webp "A bright pistachio kilim-style print on the seat and deep green pindot box backs on a high-backed teak bench beside a brick wall and a small lawn.")

A buyer wrote to the workshop fitting out a campervan with two seats: one about 22.8 x 24 in (58 x 61 cm) with a 22.8 in (58 cm) backrest, and one 47.2 x 23.6 in (120 x 60 cm) whose backrest was only 36.6 in (93 cm) long. The backrest sizes went into the personalization box, and the buyer was pointed to three linens: cream-beige, greige and a warmer beige.

**The takeaway:** Give each backrest its own length. It doesn't have to match the seat under it.

> **Tailor's margin:** A campervan backrest can be shorter than its seat: 36.6 in of back over a 47.2 in bench.

### 07. A thinner back that wins back seat depth

![Oatmeal cushion with espresso grain-sack bands and zigzag stitching on an oak tongue-and-groove bench against a sage wall](https://cushionguide.com/media/bench-cushions/espresso-grain-sack-cushion-oak-settle-sage-wall-1600.webp "Oak boards, a sage wall and a jute runner let the dark grain-sack bands read as the only pattern.")

A couple converting a van re-measured their bench base at about 52 x 17.3 in (132 x 44 cm). They kept the standard 4 in (10 cm) seat and chose a 2 in (5 cm) back cushion about 49 x 8.7 in (124.5 x 22 cm), both in burnt orange.

**The takeaway:** Choose the seat thickness first, then the back. In a van, a thinner backrest saves seat depth.

> **Tailor's margin:** A 2 in back cushion instead of 4 in gives a 17.3 in van seat 2 in more depth.

### 08. Ties on the hinge side only

![Caramel bouclé box cushion with self piping on an antique turned-leg oak bench below French windows with a balcony rail](https://cushionguide.com/media/bench-cushions/caramel-boucle-cushion-antique-oak-bench-balcony-1600.webp "A caramel bouclé cushion makes an antique oak bench at the bedroom window into a place for morning coffee.")

A buyer in the US wanted a tie-on cushion for a family cedar chest, but ties wouldn't work with the hinges. The cushion was sized to the 42 x 18 in (107 x 46 cm) inside of the lid's bevel, in linen with self-piping, and the workshop was straight about it: a non-slip base helps, but a lifted lid will still shed the cushion. RV storage lids follow the same rules.

**The takeaway:** Where the hinges allow, ask for ties on the hinge side only, with each hinge's position from a stated end, its width and a photo.

> **Tailor's margin:** Hinge-side ties keep a cushion on a lift-up lid; send each hinge's position, width and a photo.

## Four ways to keep a camper cushion where you left it

Roads shake, lids lift and people slide in sideways. The [stop-the-slide Pattern](https://cushionguide.com/guides/stop-bench-cushion-sliding-ties-nonslip/) and the [hinged lid Pattern](https://cushionguide.com/guides/storage-bench-cushion-hinged-lid/) have the long version, the glossary defines a [non-slip base](https://cushionguide.com/glossary/#non-slip-base) and [ties](https://cushionguide.com/glossary/#ties), and the [bench cushion builder](https://cushionguide.com/studio/bench-cushion-builder/) will sketch the seat.

| Hold | How it works | Best on | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-slip base | The whole bottom panel sewn in grippy fabric; friction, no adhesive, no residue | Fixed dinette seats and RV bench lids in normal use | Can't hold a cushion on a lifted lid; an optional add-on that scales with size |
| Hinge-side ties | Ties sewn on one side only, lined up with the hinges | Lift-up storage lids | Needs hinge positions, widths and a photo; small extra charge |
| Corner or back ties | Sewn into the seams at any position | Seats, backrests tied to seats, stacked cushions | Added only on request; put position, length and color in writing |
| Two-sided velcro strip | One side sewn under the cushion, the other fixed to the bench | Requests where ties or a non-slip base won't suit | Made on request at extra cost; tabs and snaps aren't made |

## The camper checklist before you order

- ✓ A template or drawing of every cushion, each piece labeled.
- ✓ Length, depth and thickness for each piece; for a U-shaped dinette, every run of the U.
- ✓ Each backrest's own length and height, even when it's shorter than the seat.
- ✓ Headroom from bunk platform to ceiling before you pick a thickness.
- ✓ Which lids lift, with each hinge's position from a stated end, its width and a photo.
- ✓ Ties, velcro or a non-slip base written into personalization, then confirmed by message and checked on the pre-dispatch photo.
- ✓ Body and piping swatches photographed side by side, in velvet or [linen-look fabrics](https://cushionguide.com/fabrics/linen-look-fabrics/).

> Vintage camper cushions start from a template of every piece: seat, sides, back and bunk, each with its own length, depth and thickness.
>
> — Callum

## Camper and RV questions

**A common question:** Which velvet is olive green, and will it look too bright in my camper?

**The workshop's answer:** Olive green is velvet 123, a muted, earthy olive and the closest to avocado for vintage campers; linen L24 is the non-velvet alternative. Velvet 123 shifts with light: under white light it reads yellow-lime, under warm light much calmer. Greens are the hardest colors to judge on a screen, so check close-ups in your own light or order samples. For harvest-gold piping, 920 is the most mustard, 921 more yellow and 919 orange.

**A common question:** What exactly is a non-slip base, and how does it hold?

**The workshop's answer:** The cover's bottom panel is sewn from a grippy anti-skid fabric instead of the regular fabric, across the whole underside rather than strips or dots. It's built into the cover, not a separate mat. It grips by friction, not adhesive, so it keeps the cushion planted when someone sits or leans back, even on smooth painted or wooden benches, and leaves no residue. You can't see it in use. It's chosen in personalization, works on covers-only orders, and can be removed before production.

**A common question:** Does the non-slip bottom come standard, or is it extra?

**The workshop's answer:** It's an optional add-on, available on any shape, including bench, window seat, daybed and trapezoid cushions, and it has been added to outdoor seats too. The add-on scales with cushion size, so larger cushions cost more. Order as usual, write 'non-slip base' with your exact size in personalization, and the workshop includes it in your quote or sends a link for the difference. You can have it on some cushions in a set and not others.

**A common question:** How do I stop a cushion sliding off the lift-up storage lid in my RV?

**The workshop's answer:** Ask for ties on the hinge side only, so the cushion stays attached when the lid opens. Write your exact size and 'ties on the hinge side' in personalization, and give each hinge's position from a stated end, its width and a photo; one-sided ties normally carry a small extra charge. If ties won't work with your hinges, size the cushion inside the lid's bevel with a non-slip base. On RV bench lids, a non-slip bottom is often preferred to straps.

## Questions buyers ask next

### How thick can camper dinette cushions be made?

The workshop standard for seat and bench cushions is 4 in (10 cm), and dinette seats have been made 8 in (20 cm) thick or more. A top-bunk cushion in this series was 12 in (30 cm). Check table clearance for a dinette and headroom for a bunk before you settle on a number.

### Can I get new covers made for the old foam in my trailer?

Yes. Camper and trailer covers are made from a template or drawing of each cushion with its dimensions, so measure every piece and label it. Every foam cushion cover zips and comes fully off. The [covers for existing foam Pattern](https://cushionguide.com/guides/cushion-covers-for-existing-foam/) walks through the measuring.

### Should a campervan backrest be as firm as the seat?

By default backrests are made a little softer than seats, which sit at about 6 to 7 on a 1-to-10 firmness scale. If you want the back as firm as the seat, ask; it can be made equally firm. Try the [foam firmness finder](https://cushionguide.com/studio/foam-firmness-finder/) to see where your numbers land.

### Where does the zipper sit on an RV bench cushion?

Every foam cushion comes with a fully removable zippered cover at no extra cost. The zipper is hidden on the back edge, facing the wall, or on the underside, and you choose which. On bench covers it often wraps around two corners in an L so the foam slides out easily.

## Related at the atelier

- [Can you make U-shaped dinette or campervan seat cushions?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/u-shaped-dinette-campervan-cushions/): Yes, U-shaped dinette and campervan seat cushions are made regularly, each piece cut to its own measured size.
- [RV and camper dinette cushions: measuring seats that become a bed](https://cushionguide.com/guides/rv-camper-dinette-cushions/): Measure RV dinette cushions one piece at a time: every seat, back and side run gets its own length, depth and thickness.
- [Boat Cushions in White with Navy Welting: Where to Spend](https://cushionguide.com/readings/white-l-shaped-boat-bow-cushions-navy-welting/): On a boat cushion, spend on the template and the outdoor fabric, and save on the extras.
- [Boat Cushion for a V-Berth in Cobalt With Ivory Piping](https://cushionguide.com/readings/cobalt-v-berth-boat-cushion-ivory-piping-cabin/): A V-berth boat cushion should follow the hull's taper, and splitting it into a main piece plus a separate bow infill lets you lift the small piece to reach the lockers below.
- [Making templates for boat cushions, V-berths and cockpit benches](https://cushionguide.com/guides/boat-cushion-templates-v-berth/): To get boat cushions that fit a V-berth or curved cockpit bench, trace each plywood base in paper or thin plastic, mark 'top side up' and 'bow' on every piece, and photograph it flat with a tape…
- [Custom Bench Cushion in Cobalt Velvet With Ivory Piping](https://cushionguide.com/readings/cobalt-velvet-teak-bench-cushion-ivory-piping/): A custom bench cushion in cobalt velvet with ivory piping suits a covered terrace with teak and terracotta, because blue sits opposite orange on the color wheel and the pale piping ties it to the…
- [How to stop a bench cushion sliding: ties, a non-slip base or velcro?](https://cushionguide.com/guides/stop-bench-cushion-sliding-ties-nonslip/)

*Fair winds — Callum*

---

Written by Callum Reid (https://cushionguide.com/masters/callum/) for CushionGuide (https://cushionguide.com/about/). The site explains made-to-measure cushions and the partner workshop makes them; measurements are in inches first. This Markdown mirrors the page at https://cushionguide.com/concepts/vintage-camper-and-rv-cushions/