---
title: "Custom Cushions in Georgia: Savannah Porches, Atlanta Pollen"
url: "https://cushionguide.com/places/custom-cushions-georgia/"
section: "Across the Map"
author: "Rosa Delgado, The Porch Keeper of Savannah"
author_url: "https://cushionguide.com/masters/rosa/"
published: "2026-02-18"
updated: "2026-02-18"
keywords: "custom cushions georgia, porch swing cushions georgia, outdoor cushions atlanta, savannah porch cushions, rocking chair cushions georgia"
---

# Custom cushions for Georgia porches, from Savannah squares to Atlanta bungalows

*Georgia is my home state, and its porches taught me more than any pattern book. Here is what a Savannah summer, an Atlanta spring and a Tybee breeze ask of a swing, a rocker and a bench.*

> **The quick answer:** Custom cushions in Georgia should be cut in water-repellent, UV-resistant outdoor fabric for any porch that rain or sun can reach, with zip-off covers you wash after the spring pollen and again after the humid summer. Tie swing and rocker cushions to the slats, use a non-slip base on a flat bench or against a wall, and bring cushions in before storms.

![Sand beige seat and back cushions on a dark wicker sofa and two armchairs on a brick garden terrace with jute rug](https://cushionguide.com/media/outdoor-cushions/sand-beige-wicker-sofa-set-cushions-brick-garden-1600.webp "Sand cushions soften a dark wicker sofa and armchairs set on a jute rug among hydrangea borders.")

## Pollen, then damp: a Georgia porch works two shifts

Pull up a chair, neighbor, and run a finger along the porch rail in late March. That yellow film is pine pollen, and Atlanta knows it well. On March 29, 2025, Atlanta Allergy & Asthma counted 14,801, the highest it has ever recorded, with oak, pine, sycamore, sweet gum and birch all pitching in.

Then the air turns heavy. Savannah, my hometown, averages 73 days a year at or above 90°F (32°C), mornings near 86% humidity and about 48 in (122 cm) of rain. Atlanta takes about 50 in (128 cm), 44 days of 90°F or more, and a July noon UV index near 9.8. Winter is short: 26 freezing nights in Savannah, 42 in Atlanta.

Georgia shoppers know the rhythm. Searches for outdoor cushions here climb in March, peak in April and May, and nearly vanish by December.

So a Georgia porch cushion works two shifts a year. Shed the pollen in spring. Dry out between summer storms.

## Squares, raised cottages and bungalow porches

Savannah was laid out in 1733 on James Oglethorpe's plan, ward by ward around open squares, and 22 of those squares survive inside a historic district of about 1,300 acres, a National Historic Landmark since 1966. I've re-covered as many window seats in the houses around them as porch swings.

Out on Tybee, the raised cottages stand on wooden piers with enclosed wraparound porches, a type built there from 1873 on. Salt rides in off the ocean, so rinse cushions with fresh water and favor fabric ties over metal hardware.

In Atlanta, Virginia-Highland grew as a streetcar suburb, most of its houses built between 1909 and 1926, and its Craftsman bungalows face the sidewalk with generous front porches. New farmhouse builds keep the deep porch going, a swing at one end and rockers down the line. Start with [porch swing cushions](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/porch-swing-cushions/), [rocking chair cushions](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/rocking-chair-cushions/) and the [porch swing sizes](https://cushionguide.com/guides/porch-swing-cushion-sizes/) pattern.

Now look up. Many Southern porch ceilings are painted haint blue, a pale blue-green that began with the Gullah people of Georgia and South Carolina. Taupe, sand, soft gray, clean white and quiet stripes all sit happily under it. What color is your porch ceiling?

## Fabric, thickness and fastening on a Georgia porch

| Seat | Fabric | Thickness | What keeps it put |
|---|---|---|---|
| Porch swing seat | Water-repellent, UV-resistant outdoor fabric | 3 to 4 in (7.5 to 10 cm), measured inside the arms | Ties at the back corners, knotted to the slats |
| Swing back cushions | The same outdoor fabric, self or double piping | Filled back pillows | Ties to the rail; double piping adds structure |
| Rocking chair seat and back | Outdoor fabric in a mid-tone that forgives pollen | 2 to 3 in (5 to 7.5 cm), traced from a paper template | Ties at the back posts |
| Porch bench | Outdoor fabric | 2 to 4 in (5 to 10 cm) | Non-slip base |
| Screened porch daybed | Outdoor fabric; screens let pollen and humid air through | 4 in (10 cm) | Non-slip base against a flat wall |

Ties are sewn in only when you ask for them, so write the count and where each one goes in your order.

## Two porch benches, one black cushion, then another

A buyer in the US wrote to ask whether bench cushions only came 4 in thick. They don't: 2, 3, 4 and 5 in are all made. She had two matching outdoor benches and wanted something slim that would stay where she put it.

She chose a black outdoor fabric, once the workshop confirmed that every outdoor black is the same quality, and added a non-slip base. The cushion came 16 x 74 x 2 in (41 x 188 x 5 cm).

It must have behaved, because when it arrived she ordered an identical one for the other bench. On a bench with no slats to tie to, that grippy base does all the holding. More ways to keep a seat still are in [stopping a bench cushion sliding](https://cushionguide.com/guides/stop-bench-cushion-sliding-ties-nonslip/).

## Rosa's wash-day calendar

- ✓ Late March and April: shake and brush pollen off the cushions every few days while the count runs high.
- ✓ When the pollen settles: unzip every cover and wash at 86°F (30°C) on a delicate cycle with mild detergent; air dry.
- ✓ June 1: hurricane season opens. Make sure each cushion is one a single person can carry indoors.
- ✓ July and August: after each storm, stand cushions on edge in moving air; standard foam needs 24 to 48 hours to dry.
- ✓ September: a second wash clears summer grime before mildew spots take hold.
- ✓ Winter: store cushions dry and breathing, never sealed in plastic.

## Buyer questions: cushions that stay put

**A common question:** What's the best way to keep back cushions in place?

**The workshop's answer:** It depends on what they lean against. Against a frame, railing or slats, matching fabric ties let you tie them on. Against a flat wall or a solid backrest, a non-slip backing does the job better.

**A common question:** Can you add Velcro or clips to hold the cushions in place?

**The workshop's answer:** No. Velcro, hook-and-loop and concealed clips aren't part of production. Firm cushions cut to size sit side by side on their own, and ties or a non-slip base are the two options for keeping them put.

**A common question:** Do custom cushions come with ties automatically?

**The workshop's answer:** No. Ties are added only when you ask for them at the time of ordering. One buyer who assumed they were standard received chair cushions without them, and the workshop offered to pay half of a local tailor's cost to add them.

**A common question:** Can you make tie-on cushions for old ladder-back chairs?

**The workshop's answer:** Yes. Send a photo, the dimensions on a simple diagram including the left and right side edges, and the quantity. Ties go at the back to secure each pad, and the covers are removable and washable.

**A common question:** Can you make a cushion for a vintage barrel-back rattan chair with a rounded back?

**The workshop's answer:** Yes, semicircular back and all. Along with width and depth, such as 17 x 18 in, send a clear photo from directly above showing the whole seat. A simple tracing or template of the seat is even better for getting the curve right.

> On a Georgia porch a cushion has two enemies, pollen in March and damp in July, and one best friend: a cover that unzips.
>
> — Rosa

> **Tailor's margin:** Ask for ties in writing, with each one's position measured from a named end. They're sewn in only when you ask.

## Georgia porch questions

### Why do Georgia porch cushions get mildew spots in summer?

Mildew is dirt plus damp, given time. It grows on pollen, dust and leaf litter left on the fabric, not on the fiber, so wash covers after pollen season and again in late summer, and dry soaked cushions within 24 to 48 hours.

### What thickness keeps a rocker comfortable without lifting me above the arms?

Usually 2 to 3 in (5 to 7.5 cm); a thicker pad raises you against the arms. For a curved seat, trace it onto paper, write the widest width and depth on it, and photograph it flat beside a tape measure.

### Do Tybee and Savannah porch cushions need a storm plan?

Yes. Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, and Ready.gov's checklist says to bring in outside furniture. Cushions sized so one person can carry each piece, and a dry closet kept for them, make that a quick job.

### Can a wicker loveseat cushion follow rounded corners?

Yes. Oval and rounded cushions are made; the craftsmen check the shape first from a simple drawing with every measurement and a photo of the seat. Matching square pillows, such as 16 x 16 in, can go in the same quote.

## Related at the atelier

- [Porch swing cushions for Arkansas porches, cabins and lake houses](https://cushionguide.com/places/custom-cushions-arkansas/): Porch swing cushions in Arkansas should be made in water-repellent, UV-resistant outdoor fabric with ties at the back corners, because spring brings the state's worst storms and most of its tornadoes.
- [Porch swing cushions for Indiana farmhouses, bungalows and dune cottages](https://cushionguide.com/places/custom-cushions-indiana/): Porch swing cushions for Indiana porches should be cut to the space between the swing's arms, tied at the back corners and made in outdoor fabric on open or screened porches.
- [Porch swing cushions for West Virginia porches and mountain cabins](https://cushionguide.com/places/custom-cushions-west-virginia/): Porch swing cushions for West Virginia porches should be measured inside the swing's arms, sewn in water-repellent outdoor fabric with zip-off covers, and tied on with ties named in your order note.
- [Porch Swing Cushion Mistakes, Read From a Burnt Orange Swing](https://cushionguide.com/readings/burnt-orange-velvet-porch-swing-cushion-golden-hour/): The classic porch swing cushion mistake is measuring across the outer frame instead of inside the arms, which gives a cushion that cannot sit flat.
- [Will you confirm my cushion size with a drawing before you make it?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/cushion-size-approval-drawing-before-production/): Yes: before production the workshop turns your measurements into a drawing of the agreed dimensions, often converted to centimeters, and makes the cushion exactly to the layout you approve.
- [Porch Swing Cushion in Rust Velvet for Long Evenings Outside](https://cushionguide.com/readings/rust-velvet-porch-swing-cushion-covered-porch-meadow/): A porch swing cushion built for long sitting covers the whole slatted seat, stops at the arms, and is thick enough to hide the slats without lowering the armrests too far.
- [Cushion tie placement for chairs, porch swings and benches](https://cushionguide.com/guides/cushion-tie-placement-chairs-swings/)
- [Standard cushion sizes, and when yours isn't one of them](https://cushionguide.com/guides/standard-cushion-sizes-chart/)

*Porch light's on — Rosa*

---

Written by Rosa Delgado (https://cushionguide.com/masters/rosa/) 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-georgia/