Across the Map · Midwest · United States

Custom cushions for Minnesota cabins, porches and window seats

On December 21 the Minneapolis sun sets at about 4:36 p.m. The window seat does a lot of work in winter. So does the cabin, when you close it.

MinnesotaMidwest · United StatesCapital: Saint Paul

Sun & UVModerate
HumidityModerate
WinterLong and hard
SettingInland
Typical seatsWindow seat, cabin bunk, sleeping porch daybed

Field notes by Hana

The Quiet Geometer of Seattle · January 22, 2026

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A peach pentagon cushion fills an oak corner nook between two forest-facing windows. The clipped front corner makes it easy to climb in.

The quick answer

Custom cushions in Minnesota serve three places: the window seat through short winter days, the cabin up north, and the screened or three-season porch. Choose 3 in (7.5 cm) for a calm window seat, size bunk and daybed covers to the mattress's length, width and thickness, use outdoor fabric behind screens, and store porch cushions clean and dry before the first freeze.

Field notes

Weather and light in Minnesota

Sun & UVModerate (level 2 of 4)Long June days, short December ones
HumidityModerate (level 2 of 4)Humid summers, very dry heated winters
Rain & stormsModerate (level 2 of 4)Summer storms and spring hail
Snow & freezeLong winters (level 4 of 4)Long, snowy winters, longest up north

Watch for

Dry furnace air
Hail on open porches
Cabins closed for winter

Plain-language levels from general climate patterns, not measurements. Your own porch, shade and window exposure matter more.

Eight hours and fifty minutes of light

On December 21, Minneapolis gets about 8 hours and 50 minutes of daylight. In June it gets about 15 hours and 40.

Winter is long. Minneapolis-St. Paul averages 51.2 in (130 cm) of snow and 153 days at or below 32°F (0°C). Duluth has 182 such days. International Falls has 198.

The air changes with the season. Outdoor afternoon humidity averages about 68% in January and 54% in July, yet a heated house turns dry. The EPA suggests keeping indoor humidity between 30 and 50 percent. Firm foam and a stable weave hold their shape through the swing.

Sun is gentle. The noon UV Index averages about 7.9 in July and 0.9 in December. Fading is a summer question here.

Lakes, cabins and a porch for sleeping

Minnesota counts 11,842 lakes of ten acres or more. Many have a cabin. That is where the bunks are, and the dock, and the bench by the door.

Sleeping porches were built into many Minnesota houses in the early 1900s, during the fresh-air movement. If yours is still screened, a daybed there wants outdoor fabric: screens let in pollen and damp air. Indoor fabric belongs under a closed roof, behind glass. The Pattern on covered porches draws the line.

Inside, rooms tend to be plain. Minnesota has the highest share of Scandinavian ancestry of any state, and it shows in pale wood, white walls and a few good things. Height is a feeling. On a window seat, 3 in (7.5 cm) keeps the line low. 4 in (10 cm) is for the seat you nap on.

The wider region is on the Midwest page. Lake cabins share a lot with Great Lakes cottages.

Snow outside. Light on the seat. Nothing else needed.

Window seat, bunk, porch: what to choose

Seat	Fabric	Thickness	Notes
Window seat in winter light	Linen or soft performance fabric, light neutral	3 in (7.5 cm)	Self piping keeps the line quiet
Cabin bunk or daybed	Soft performance fabric or linen	Cover cut to the mattress	State length, width and thickness
Screened sleeping porch	Outdoor fabric, UV-resistant and water-repellent	3 to 4 in (7.5 to 10 cm)	Indoors from the first freeze to spring
Glassed three-season porch	Linen, velvet or soft fabric	3 to 4 in (7.5 to 10 cm)	Fine under a closed roof; keep wet boots off
Two bunk cushions for sleepovers	Any indoor fabric	Same thickness for both	Ties on the edges hold them flat together
Dock bench at the cabin	Outdoor fabric, not tufted	2 to 3 in (5 to 7.5 cm)	Ties at the back corners; in before storms

Seat foam is 32 kg/m³, about 2.0 lb/ft³, firm enough for daily use at any thickness. One contrast piping line is plenty in a calm room.

Picked for Minnesota

Seats to start from

Fabric families

Try it in the Studio

A real project

Two daybeds under two windows

A parent in the US wanted two twin XL daybeds under windows, one in each child's room. Not beds against a wall. Sofas for reading.

The mattresses measured 38 x 80 x 10 in (97 x 203 x 25 cm). She asked for extra-tall back pillows, about 26 in (66 cm) high, running the full length. That height fills the space between mattress and window, so the daybed reads as a sofa by day.

She liked linens 2, 3 and 6 and asked for larger photos before choosing. Good. Pale linens shift a lot between a screen and a gray January window.

The same method fits a sleeping-porch daybed or a cabin bunk. Give the mattress's length, width and thickness, and the height up to the sill. What is the height from your mattress to the sill?

Measured: Two twin XL mattresses 38 x 80 x 10 in; back pillows about 26 in high
What it taught: Give the mattress size and the sill height, so the back pillows fill the gap.

Closing the cabin, opening the porch

Late September: Duluth averages 2 freezing nights in September, International Falls 4. Bring porch cushions in before them.
Wash covers at 86°F (30°C) on a gentle cycle and air dry. No tumble dryer, especially for non-slip pads.
Dry the foam completely, standing on edge where air moves.
Store off the floor, in a breathable bag or a dry closet. Never sealed damp.
Storm season: carry porch cushions in when hail is forecast.
May: Minnesota's outdoor-cushion searches peak sharply. Check stored cushions for damp spots before they go out.
Winter: wipe the sill dry under a window seat by cold glass.

A note on repellent finishes and the PFAS law

Since January 1, 2025, Minnesota has prohibited intentionally added PFAS in 11 product categories, including textile furnishings and upholstered furniture. PFAS have been used in some water- and stain-repellent finishes, which is why the rule matters for outdoor fabric.

The workshop describes its outdoor fabric as UV-resistant and water-repellent. It does not call it PFAS-free, and neither will I without the mill's paperwork. If the finish matters to you, ask for the fabric's documentation before ordering. This is a summary, not legal advice; the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency lists the categories.

Photographs for homes like these

Open any photograph large; each one has its own link and a Save button.

Ivory daybed mattress cushion with navy piping and three back pillows on a wicker daybed in a screened porch at sunset — A thick ivory mattress cushion with navy piping turns a wicker daybed into the porch's summer reading bed.

Pale blush velvet box cushion on a long oak window bench with a book, stoneware cup and linen throw, sheer curtains behind — A full-depth blush cushion turns a plain oak bench under two casement windows into a daybed for gray mornings.

Sage bouclé window seat cushion with tonal piping on a rounded-corner oak box seat, with ivy, open book and cup — Sage bouclé, trailing ivy and warm oak: a small window seat set up for reading.

Plum velvet window seat cushion with self piping on white drawers with brass pulls, with charcoal, gold and faux-fur pillows — A thick plum velvet cushion turns a white storage seat into a jewel-toned perch, finished with gold, charcoal and fur pillows.

Scarlet velvet box seat and back cushion with silver-gray piping on a white built-in ledge under a sloped attic ceiling — A red velvet cushion set turns a low attic ledge into a snug reading corner.

A palette for short days

Birch white#EEEBE3Returns what light December gives.
Oat linen#D8CDB9Warm without turning yellow in cool light.
Lake slate#5E6B73Hides lint on a cabin bench.
Pine green#3E5344For one pillow, not the whole seat.
Lingonberry#9E2B35One line of piping in a white room.

In a Minnesota winter, the window seat is where the day's light goes. Keep the cushion low and the color pale.
Hana

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Buyer questions: bunks, daybeds and dry storage

A common question
What do you need to make a cover for my daybed mattress?
The workshop's answer
The mattress's length, width and thickness, for example a twin at 39 x 75 x 12.5 in. If no thickness is given, the workshop may assume a double-layer mattress and make the cover twice as thick, so always state it.
A common question
Can two cushions tie together so they lie flat as a bed for sleepovers?
The workshop's answer
Yes. Ties can go on the edges or corners, so a seat and back, or two floor cushions, tie into one bigger sleeping surface. Specify the ties for every cushion in the order.
A common question
Will your linen cushions be all right on a covered porch?
The workshop's answer
Yes, under a roof. For a daybed on a covered patio, the workshop checked the area was under a roof before recommending the regular fabric.
A common question
Can I take the cover off and put it in the washing machine?
The workshop's answer
Yes. Covers zip off completely. Machine wash at 86°F (30°C) on a gentle cycle, air dry without a tumble dryer and iron on low if needed. Non-slip pads in particular don't tolerate the dryer.
A common question
What's the real difference between 2, 3 and 4 in cushions?
The workshop's answer
2 in is a slim, low-profile pad; 3 in adds cushioning and a fuller look while still sitting neatly; 4 in is noticeably plumper. All use firm 32-density foam, and 3 in is a solid middle ground for benches and window seats.

Have it made

Have it made for your home — ask Hana’s workshop

A good size is a quiet thing. You notice it only when it is wrong. Let the workshop check yours first. — Hana

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.

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Measurements optionalIn inches: length × depth × thickness, plus any angles or cut corners.

Notes optional

* Required. A member of the workshop team will call you to talk it through; nothing is charged and nothing is made until you have agreed on every detail with them.

We use these details only to answer this request and make your cushion: your name and contact details, the cushion details and photos you send, the page you came from and the ad or link that brought you, if any. The workshop that makes the cushions receives them. We don't sell them or share them for advertising, and we delete requests after 24 months. Privacy notice for requests.

Nothing is made or charged until you approve the details.

Want to pick the shape and add photos? Use the full quote form

Questions buyers ask next

When do cabin porch cushions come in up north in Minnesota?

Before the first freeze. Duluth averages 2 freezing nights in September and 12 in October; International Falls 4 and 16. Wash and dry covers and foam in September, while the air is still warm.

Can a cabin bunk cushion be made thick, like a mattress?

Yes. A pair of cushions for a camper top bunk was quoted at 12 in thick. Measure the headroom first, from the bunk deck to the ceiling or the bunk above, and leave room to sit up.

Does Minnesota's PFAS law cover cushions?

The prohibition in force since 2025 covers intentionally added PFAS in textile furnishings and upholstered furniture, among 11 categories. This is a summary, not legal advice. Ask for the fabric's documentation if a repellent finish matters to you.

Should hail change where I keep Minnesota porch cushions?

Yes, in storm season. Minnesota ranked fourth in the nation for hail loss claims from 2017 to 2019, with 150,673. Carry porch and dock cushions in when hail or severe storms are forecast.

— Hana

Concept Sketches

Sketches for homes like these

Real projects, drawn up as ideas you can borrow.

Concept Sketches
A sofa frame with no cushions: eight rebuilds from past orders
Hana · July 8, 2026

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