---
title: "Custom Cushions in Minnesota: Cabins, Sleeping Porches, Snow"
url: "https://cushionguide.com/places/custom-cushions-minnesota/"
section: "Across the Map"
author: "Hana Lindqvist, The Quiet Geometer of Seattle"
author_url: "https://cushionguide.com/masters/hana/"
published: "2026-01-22"
updated: "2026-01-22"
keywords: "custom cushions minnesota, cabin cushions minnesota, window seat cushions minneapolis, three-season porch cushions, outdoor cushions minnesota"
---

# 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.*

> **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.

![Peach pentagon-shaped corner window seat cushion in an oak-lined nook with linen pillows and forest views](https://cushionguide.com/media/window-seat-cushions/peach-pentagon-corner-cushion-oak-forest-nook-1600.webp "A peach pentagon cushion fills an oak corner nook between two forest-facing windows. The clipped front corner makes it easy to climb in.")

## 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](https://cushionguide.com/fabrics/outdoor-acrylic/): screens let in pollen and damp air. Indoor fabric belongs under a closed roof, behind glass. The Pattern on [covered porches](https://cushionguide.com/guides/indoor-cushions-covered-porch/) 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](https://cushionguide.com/places/midwest-cushions/). Lake cabins share a lot with [Great Lakes cottages](https://cushionguide.com/places/great-lakes-cottage-cushions/).

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.

## 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?

## 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.

## A palette for short days

- Birch white — #EEEBE3 — Returns what light December gives.
- Oat linen — #D8CDB9 — Warm without turning yellow in cool light.
- Lake slate — #5E6B73 — Hides lint on a cabin bench.
- Pine green — #3E5344 — For one pillow, not the whole seat.
- Lingonberry — #9E2B35 — One 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

> **Tailor's margin:** Before ordering bunk or daybed covers, write down the mattress thickness. Without it, a cover can be cut for a double layer.

## 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.

## 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.

## Related at the atelier

- [Window Seat Cushion in Powder-Blue Ticking for an Apricot Kitchen](https://cushionguide.com/readings/powder-blue-ticking-window-seat-apricot-kitchen/): A window seat cushion on a shallow kitchen seat should stay slim, around 2 to 3 in (5 to 8 cm), so it doesn't crowd the window or look top-heavy.
- [Window Seat Cushion in Ochre Stripe on an Olive Kitchen Bench](https://cushionguide.com/readings/ochre-stripe-cushion-olive-panelled-kitchen-window-bench/): On a dark painted bench, the window seat cushion should be the lightest thing on it.
- [Window Seat Cushion in Pinstripe Linen with a Pink Bolster](https://cushionguide.com/readings/pinstripe-bedroom-window-seat-cushion-pink-bolster/): A bedroom window seat cushion should be only as deep as the seat allows once window handles, latches and trim are counted; one buyer cut a 21 in (53 cm) depth to 16 in (41 cm) so the handle would…
- [Cushions for Louisiana and the Deep South](https://cushionguide.com/places/louisiana-deep-south-cushions/): For New Orleans porch cushions and gallery swings, choose outdoor-rated, water-repellent fabric with zippered covers, and keep velvet and chenille indoors.
- [Custom cushions for Swedish summer cottages, apartments and boats](https://cushionguide.com/places/custom-cushions-sweden/): Custom cushions in Sweden mostly serve three places: the apartment window seat through dark winters, the summer cottage that stays closed through the cold months, and the archipelago dock or boat.
- [A sofa frame with no cushions: eight rebuilds from past orders](https://cushionguide.com/concepts/sofa-frame-cushion-rebuilds/): Cushions for a sofa frame are cut to the frame you have, not to a catalog sofa.
- [Sunroom and three-season room cushions: fabric for sun, heat and damp](https://cushionguide.com/guides/sunroom-cushion-fabric-humidity/)
- [Will a window seat cushion fade? Choosing fabric for sun through glass](https://cushionguide.com/guides/window-seat-cushion-fading-sun/)

*— 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-minnesota/