A Reading by CallumPorch Swing & Swing Bed Cushions
Blue ticking-stripe porch swing cushions: what's inside the seat, and why it's firm
A garden swing, two back cushions and a seat that rolls over the front rail. Here's the foam that makes it work, and the weather it won't forgive.
SaveThe quick answer
A porch swing cushion should be firm: standard seat foam of about 2.0 lb/ft³ (32 kg/m³), 4 in (10 cm) thick, wrapped in polyester fiber. Firm foam holds a waterfall front over the rail on a seat that never stops moving. Tie two back cushions between the rope hangers, and bring the set under a roof in heavy rain.
A swing seat like this one, cut open
Outdoor ticking cover. Pale blue and white stripe in water-repellent, UV-resistant outdoor fabric. Zippered and removable.
Fiber wrap. Polyester fiber batting around the foam. It fills the cover out and softens the waterfall roll.
Seat foam. About 2.0 lb/ft³ (32 kg/m³), medium-firm to firm. Standard foam, not a quick-dry type, so keep it out of standing rain.
Zipper. Along the back edge, facing the swing back and out of sight.
Base panel. The underside that rests on the slats. Ties can be sewn into the back corners on request.
Firm foam under a soft stripe
A porch swing cushion earns its keep at the front rail. That's where legs hang, where weight shifts every time the swing goes back, and where a soft cushion gives up first.
This one meets the rail with a waterfall front: the seat fabric rolls over the edge instead of stopping at a hard box corner. Under the pale blue ticking sits a block of standard seat foam, about 2.0 lb/ft³ (32 kg/m³), medium-firm to firm, wrapped in polyester fiber so the roll looks full. Firm is right on a swing. A seat that never stops moving needs foam that holds its shape.
The back is split in two for a reason. Rope hangers come down on either side, and one long back would bunch against them. Two shorter backs sit between the ropes and tie at the top.
Then the garden. Coral geraniums and pink roses warm a cool stripe, and hydrangeas repeat the blue. The iced tea on an open book says this swing is built for a long, slow sit. People shop for waterproof outdoor cushions, but what you get is water-repellent outdoor fabric over ordinary seat foam, not a quick-dry foam. Rain doesn't negotiate. Is your swing under a roof, or out in the open?
Five pins around the swing
Five spots where the cut, the foam and the garden work together.
- Two back cushions
Separate backs fit between the arms and rope hangers.
- Waterfall seat front
The seat fabric falls over the rail to soften the hard edge.
- Rope hanger
Cushions are cut to clear the ropes as the swing moves.
- Iced tea and book
A side table invites a long, slow sit.
- Coral geraniums
Warm flowers balance the cool ticking stripe.
- Two back cushionsSeparate backs fit between the arms and rope hangers.
- Waterfall seat frontThe seat fabric falls over the rail to soften the hard edge.
- Rope hangerCushions are cut to clear the ropes as the swing moves.
- Iced tea and bookA side table invites a long, slow sit.
- Coral geraniumsWarm flowers balance the cool ticking stripe.
Seat foam or pillow fill: which goes where
| Seat | Back cushions | |
|---|---|---|
| Fill | Solid seat foam, about 2.0 lb/ft³ (32 kg/m³) | A 4 in foam pad, or shredded foam in its own inner cover |
| Feel | Medium-firm to firm; not memory foam | A foam pad stands upright; shredded foam is softer, but not very soft |
| Thickness | 4 in (10 cm) standard; 2 to 5 in on the menu | Match the seat for a tidy line |
| Wet weather | Not quick-dry: stand it on edge to drain and dry | Same rule; the outer cover unzips to wash |
Good foam, tired covers
A buyer in the US wrote to the workshop about a hanging porch swing. The foam was still good; the covers weren't. They wanted covers only, in cinnamon, with extra-strong zippers, for two pieces: a seat of 55.25 x 27.75 x 4 in (140 x 70.5 x 10 cm) and a back pad of 50 x 13 x 4 in (127 x 33 x 10 cm).
The workshop asked for one thing before quoting: the sizes of the foam itself. Then it quoted zippered covers without inserts, which cost less than whole new cushions. If your foam still springs back when you press it, friend, keep it and dress it new. The measuring notes for swings are in porch swing cushion sizes, and more swings live under porch swing cushions.
- Sizes
- Seat 55.25 x 27.75 x 4 in (140 x 70.5 x 10 cm); back 50 x 13 x 4 in (127 x 33 x 10 cm)
The lesson: If you already have good foam, zippered covers made to its exact size are a cheaper refresh.
Curves, color and a chair that folds flat
- A common question
My chair is rounded at the back and dips. Can you make a horseshoe-shaped seat cushion for it?
The workshop's answerYes, a curved edge can be made. Send a clear drawing with the width, the depth, where the curve starts and ends along each side, and how deep it runs. A photo of the chair helps too. The workshop confirms the shape with you before you order.
- A common question
If I order an ottoman later, will it match my sofa's color?
The workshop's answerNot guaranteed. In one case a velvet ottoman bought separately came out a warmer brown than the sofa. The workshop sent replacement covers, asked for photos with the covers fitted on the foam, because velvet sheen shifts the color, and then refunded the cover cost.
- A common question
Do you make a single-seat chair version of the modular floor sofa?
The workshop's answerYes. An ottoman with a backrest works as a lounge chair. Its layers are connected, so it lays flat or folds back into a chair. Write the color you want in the order note.
If the foam in a porch swing cushion still springs back when pressed, order zippered covers cut to the foam's exact size instead of whole new cushions.
Callum
The swing set, piece by piece
| Cushions | One seat with a waterfall front, two back cushions |
|---|---|
| Fabric | Pale blue and white ticking stripe in outdoor fabric |
| Outdoor finish | Water-repellent and UV-resistant; not waterproof |
| Seat foam | About 2.0 lb/ft³ (32 kg/m³), medium-firm to firm |
| Wrap | Polyester fiber batting around the foam |
| Thickness | 4 in (10 cm) standard |
| Piping | None; the waterfall front carries the line |
| Fastening | Ties at the top of each back cushion; seat ties on request |
| Best for | Hanging porch swings and A-frame garden swings with rope hangers |
Have it made
Have this made — ask Callum’s workshop
Short list: size, sun hours, how fast it has to dry. The workshop goes through it with you. — Callum
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.
Questions buyers ask next
How firm is the foam inside an outdoor swing cushion?
The standard seat foam is about 2.0 lb/ft³ (32 kg/m³), a high-density polyurethane with a medium-firm to firm feel. It isn't memory foam, so it holds a waterfall front and keeps its shape on a seat that moves.
Are porch swing cushions waterproof?
No. The outdoor fabric is water-repellent and UV-resistant, and the foam is standard seat foam, not a quick-dry type. That suits a covered porch. On an open swing, bring the cushions in before a soaking and for the off-season; see water-repellent vs waterproof.
What thickness should a swing seat cushion be?
4 in (10 cm) is the standard for seat and outdoor cushions, and 3 to 4 in is the usual advice for outdoor benches. The standard options run 2 to 5 in; anything thicker is a custom build that costs more.
Fair winds — Callum
More outdoor seats in stripes and prints
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