---
title: "Custom Cushions in British Columbia: Condos, Rain, Okanagan"
url: "https://cushionguide.com/places/custom-cushions-british-columbia/"
section: "Across the Map"
author: "Hana Lindqvist, The Quiet Geometer of Seattle"
author_url: "https://cushionguide.com/masters/hana/"
published: "2026-07-09"
updated: "2026-07-09"
keywords: "custom cushions british columbia, custom cushions vancouver, balcony cushions vancouver, window seat cushions victoria bc, okanagan patio cushions"
---

# Custom cushions for British Columbia condos, cabins and covered decks

*Coastal British Columbia is gray and damp for half the year, and its homes are small and high. The Okanagan asks different things of a cushion: dry heat, hard sun, a deck by the lake.*

> **The quick answer:** Custom cushions in British Columbia depend on which BC you live in. On the coast, where Vancouver gets 46.8 in (1,189 mm) of precipitation a year, use outdoor fabric on balconies and bring pads in for wet weeks. In the Okanagan, choose mid-tone outdoor fabric for hot, bright summers. Indoors, condo floor seating and window seats want warm colors and covers that wash.

![Beige and white awning-stripe box cushion on a white folding bistro chair on a balcony overlooking a harbor and city](https://cushionguide.com/media/dining-chair-cushions/sand-awning-stripe-bistro-chair-cushion-harbor-balcony-1600.webp "A thick awning-stripe cushion makes a slatted folding chair comfortable enough for a long balcony coffee.")

## Fifty-six hours of December sun

Vancouver gets 56 hours of bright sunshine in an average December. July gets 290.

The winter is wet more than stormy. The airport averages 46.8 in (1,189 mm) of precipitation a year, about 72% of it from October to March, with measurable rain on 165 days. Morning humidity averages 86%. Snow is light, 15 in (38 cm), and only about 41 nights a year reach 32°F (0°C).

Victoria, across the strait, is drier: 34.8 in (883 mm) and 2,109 hours of sunshine. Most of its rain still falls in winter.

For custom cushions in Vancouver and Victoria, that means damp, not downpour. A cushion left on an open balcony stays wet for days. A window-seat cushion against cold glass collects condensation. Seattle lives under the same sky; our [Pacific Northwest reading](https://cushionguide.com/places/pacific-northwest-cushions/) covers it.

## Over the mountains: dry heat, then deep snow

In the interior the numbers turn over. Kelowna averages 15.2 in (387 mm) of precipitation a year and 26 days above 86°F (30°C). July highs average 82°F (27.9°C), and July afternoons sit near 36% humidity. Cushions dry quickly there. They also spend the summer in hard light, on lake decks and patios, so Okanagan patio cushions want [outdoor fabric](https://cushionguide.com/fabrics/outdoor-acrylic/) in mid-tones and some afternoon shade.

Winter is real in the valley too: about 150 nights at or below 32°F (0°C) and 35 in (89 cm) of snow in Kelowna. Whistler gets 165 in (419 cm) a year. A cabin there needs a boot bench by the door and deck cushions stored dry indoors, off concrete, until spring.

For the rest of the country, start with [custom cushions in Canada](https://cushionguide.com/places/custom-cushions-canada/).

## Balconies, Vancouver Specials and old Victoria bays

Many BC condos from the late 1980s to the early 2000s were built with minimal roof overhangs, and the rain found them: about 45% of the 159,979 condo units built in the province from 1985 to 2000 had envelope leaks. The lesson for cushions is simple. Rain reaches a balcony. Balcony cushions in Vancouver are outdoor fabric, with ties, and they come inside for a wet week.

The Vancouver Special, built from 1965 to 1985, put the living rooms upstairs with a balcony through sliding glass doors. Covered or not, that balcony breathes coastal air all winter, so it takes outdoor fabric too.

Victoria keeps a large stock of Edwardian houses, and James Bay and Fairfield hold Victorian and Edwardian streets. Old houses bring window seats and bays that are rarely square. Window seat cushions in Victoria, BC start from a drawing of every edge; see [bay window cushions](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/bay-window-cushions/).

Inside the condo, the answer is usually low. Height is a feeling. A [floor cushion](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/floor-cushions/) or a floor sofa made to length keeps a small room open and the ceiling feeling higher.

## Which cushion for which BC space

| Space | Fabric | Thickness | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Condo balcony chair or bench | Outdoor fabric, water-repellent and UV-resistant | 2 in (5 cm) chair pads; 3 to 4 in (7.5 to 10 cm) on a bench | Ties at the back corners; indoors for a wet week |
| Covered deck or Vancouver Special balcony | Outdoor fabric, even under a roof | 4 in (10 cm) | Stand on edge after rain; store dry for winter |
| Condo living room floor seating | Soft easy-clean weave or velvet | 4 in (10 cm) floor cushion; floor sofa made to length | Freestanding frame, no wall needed |
| Victoria bay window seat | Linen-look or velvet in a warm tone | 3 to 4 in (7.5 to 10 cm) | A drawing of every edge, plus the depth |
| Okanagan lake deck or patio | Outdoor fabric in a mid-tone | 4 in (10 cm) | Afternoon shade; indoors before the first frost |
| Whistler cabin boot bench | Outdoor fabric or a tough weave with a zip-off cover | 3 in (7.5 cm) | Dry snowmelt within 24 to 48 hours |

Covers zip off and wash at 86°F (30°C) on a gentle cycle; air dry, no tumble dryer.

## The support post, and a little air

A buyer in Canada had 77 to 78 in (196 to 198 cm) of floor between the wall and a support post, and worried about a return if the sofa did not fit.

The workshop asked for measurements first. A sofa of 70 to 72 in (178 to 183 cm) would leave comfortable clearance, so it made the standard floor sofa 72 in (183 cm) long.

Condos have columns, heaters and doors that swing. Measure to the obstacle, not to the wall. Then take a little off for air.

## Warm colors for short days

Low winter light cools every color. On the coast I choose warm ones: oat, rust, moss, cedar brown, a soft ochre. Textured weaves catch what light there is. Pale gray on a gray day looks like weather.

In the Okanagan the problem reverses. Strong summer sun is hard on saturated colors, so sand, sage and terracotta mid-tones do better on a deck.

Choose one color to carry the room. Let the rest be quiet. What color is the light in your room at four in the afternoon in December?

Gray outside.
Warm inside.
Enough.

## A coastal year and a dry one

- ✓ October on the coast: the rain returns. Balcony cushions come in for wet weeks or live under cover.
- ✓ November to February: lift window-seat cushions off cold glass now and then, and wipe condensation away.
- ✓ After any soaking: stand the cushion on edge and get it dry within 24 to 48 hours.
- ✓ May: wash covers at 86°F (30°C), air dry, and put balcony pads back out.
- ✓ July in the Okanagan: turn deck cushions weekly and give them afternoon shade.
- ✓ Before the first interior frost: covers washed, foam dry to the core, stored off concrete, never sealed in plastic.
- ✓ Whistler winter: keep a spare cover for the boot bench so one can be washing.

> On the coast, a balcony cushion is a guest. It comes inside when it rains.
>
> — Hana

> **Tailor's margin:** Measure a condo wall to the column or the door swing, not to the corner. Then leave a few centimeters of air.

## Buyer questions: floor sofas, balconies and washing

**A common question:** Can a modular floor sofa be made in an in-between length, like about 100 in (255 cm)?

**The workshop's answer:** Yes. Custom lengths between the 79 in and 118 in (200 cm and 300 cm) models are common, and the seat can be one piece rather than split. Order the closest size and write the exact length and color in the personalization box.

**A common question:** Does the floor sofa have to sit against a wall?

**The workshop's answer:** No. It has metal bars along both sides and the back, so it stands on its own in the middle of a room.

**A common question:** Is the backrest filling stuffed straight into the cover, or can I still wash the cover?

**The workshop's answer:** The backrest filling comes in its own inner cover. Put the filled insert into the outer cover, and the outer cover can come off for washing any time.

**A common question:** Do you make outdoor cushions for a patio or balcony?

**The workshop's answer:** Yes. There is a separate outdoor fabric chart of water-repellent fabrics to choose colors from. For a larger patio project, one cushion can be ordered first to test the fit.

**A common question:** Which fabric is the most durable and easiest to clean for heavy use?

**The workshop's answer:** The soft fabric is recommended as very durable, soft to the touch and easy to clean. Between linen and velvet, velvet is the more durable choice.

## British Columbia cushion questions

### Do Vancouver balcony cushions need outdoor fabric?

Yes, unless the balcony is fully covered and rain never reaches it. Vancouver averages 46.8 in (1,189 mm) of precipitation a year, about 72% of it from October to March. Use water-repellent outdoor fabric and bring pads inside for long wet spells.

### Will cushions fade on an Okanagan deck?

Sun is the main wear there. Kelowna averages 26 days above 86°F (30°C) and July afternoons near 36% humidity, so cushions dry fast but take a lot of light. Choose mid-tones, turn cushions weekly and store them in shade when not in use.

### What should happen to deck cushions at a Whistler cabin in winter?

Bring them in. Whistler averages 165 in (419 cm) of snow and about 147 nights at or below 32°F (0°C). Wash the covers, dry the foam right through and store cushions where air moves, off concrete and out of sealed plastic.

### How should a Victoria bay window seat be measured?

Draw the bay from above and write every edge on it: front, back, each angled side and any short returns, plus the depth from front to back. Add a photo. The numbers are checked to close into a shape before anything is cut.

## Related at the atelier

- [Window seat cushions for Utah homes, ski condos and desert houses](https://cushionguide.com/places/custom-cushions-utah/): Window seat cushions in Utah should be planned for strong sun and dry air, not damp.
- [Custom cushions for Latvian apartments, wooden houses and seaside homes](https://cushionguide.com/places/custom-cushions-latvia/): Custom cushions in Latvia follow the light, and window seats matter most in winter, when December brings about 25 hours of sun and humidity averages 89%: choose velvet, corduroy or a linen blend, 2…
- [Window seat cushions for Idaho homes, cabins and lake houses](https://cushionguide.com/places/custom-cushions-idaho/): Window seat cushions in Idaho should be firm, 2 to 4 in (5 to 10 cm) thick and sized to the view window, with long runs split into equal pieces.
- [Cinnamon Velvet Daybed Cushion: How It Ages on a Covered Patio](https://cushionguide.com/readings/cinnamon-velvet-carved-riad-bench-cushion-lattice/): A velvet daybed cushion can live on a patio only when the spot has a solid roof, because velvet is an indoor cloth that must stay out of rain.
- [Which countries do you ship custom cushions to?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/international-shipping-countries-list/): Yes, custom cushions ship worldwide, and the workshop states the shipping cost for your destination with the quote.
- [Chair Cushion with Ties: Sand Awning Stripe in Harbor Light](https://cushionguide.com/readings/sand-awning-stripe-bistro-chair-cushion-harbor-balcony/): Choose an outdoor bistro chair cushion color by looking at the swatch outside, in the morning and again in late afternoon, because pale neutrals like sand take on the color of the light around them.
- [Window seat cushion thickness compared: 2, 3, 4 and 5 inches](https://cushionguide.com/guides/window-seat-cushion-thickness/)
- [How to measure a window seat cushion when the walls aren't square](https://cushionguide.com/guides/how-to-measure-window-seat-cushion/)

*— Hana*

---

Written by Hana Lindqvist (https://cushionguide.com/masters/hana/) 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/places/custom-cushions-british-columbia/