A Reading by CallumChaise Lounge & Sunbed Cushions
A striped sunbed cushion on a teak daybed: ties, grip and where the zippers go
Charcoal, taupe and ivory stripes on a teak frame at the edge of a lawn. Handsome. Now let's talk about what keeps it there when the wind comes up.
SaveThe quick answer
A sunbed cushion stays put through fit and fastening: order it to the frame's exact inside size, add corner ties or a non-slip underside in the personalization note, and put bolster zippers at the round ends so the fill can be adjusted. Choose an outdoor fabric, because the standard indoor fabrics are not waterproof.
The cushion, cut open
Cover fabric. A removable, zippered cover. Machine wash at 86°F (30°C) on a gentle cycle and air dry.
Piping. A fabric-covered cord sewn into the seams. It sits on the seam line, so it does not change the size.
Fiber wrap. Polyester fiber (Dacron) batting around the foam: it fills the cover out and softens the edges.
Foam core. About 2.0 lb/ft³ (32 kg/m³) high-resilience foam, firm to medium-firm, cut to the ordered size.
Zipper. Along the back band, as hidden as possible. The zipper side faces down or toward the wall.
Base panel. The underside of the cover. A non-slip fabric backing can cover the whole of it instead.
Pinned by Callum: five points from lawn to headrest
Five pins run from the teak leg in the grass up to the far bolster, the way wind and water would find them.
- Near striped bolster
A round bolster at each end gives a headrest and stops it feeling like a bench.
- Far end bolster
Two bolsters make the bed usable from either end.
- Stripes running lengthwise
Stripes run the length, so the bed looks longer and slimmer on the lawn.
- Piped boxed side
The piped box edge keeps the mattress square against the teak rim.
- Tall teak leg
Tall legs lift the cushion clear of damp grass.
- Near striped bolsterA round bolster at each end gives a headrest and stops it feeling like a bench.
- Far end bolsterTwo bolsters make the bed usable from either end.
- Stripes running lengthwiseStripes run the length, so the bed looks longer and slimmer on the lawn.
- Piped boxed sideThe piped box edge keeps the mattress square against the teak rim.
- Tall teak legTall legs lift the cushion clear of damp grass.
Leg to bolster: reading the daybed from the ground up
Start at the grass, friend, because that is where outdoor cushions suffer first. Tall teak legs lift this sunbed cushion well clear of the damp lawn, and that one choice does a lot for its life.
Above the legs, the mattress is a box with a piped edge, cut square so it sits tight against the teak rim. A tight fit is the first fastening. A cushion with a finger's gap on every side shuffles each time somebody sits down hard.
The stripes run the length, head to foot, in charcoal, taupe and ivory. On a long, flat object in a soft landscape, lengthwise stripes stretch the shape and make it look slimmer. The palette is cool enough to sit beside lavender, roses and white hydrangeas without arguing, and the stone path gives the eye a way in. Low evening sun does the rest.
Then the bolsters: one at each end, same stripe, with piped round ends that echo the mattress piping. Two headrests mean the daybed works from either end, whichever way the sun sits. Rain doesn't negotiate, though. Read up on water-repellent versus waterproof before this set stays out overnight, and browse the outdoor acrylic fabrics for stripes.
Four fastenings for a sunbed cushion, and how to ask for each
| Fastening | What it stops | How to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Exact fit | Gaps that let the cushion shuffle | Give the frame's inside size end to end; the workshop does not deduct |
| Corner ties | Lifting in wind on a slatted frame | Write corner ties, or two ties at the back, in the personalization box |
| Non-slip underside | Slow creep on smooth teak | Write non-slip base; the underside of the cover is made from grip fabric, not a loose mat |
| Bolster end zippers | Fill that settles unevenly | Ask for zippers at the round ends so the fill can be adjusted |
Thirteen patio pieces on one list
A buyer in the US wrote in with a full patio conversation set to cushion: five seats at 22 x 21.5 x 4 in (56 x 55 x 10 cm), five backs at 21.5 x 15.5 x 4 in (55 x 39 x 10 cm), an ottoman cushion at 22 x 21.5 x 4 in with rounded corners, and two 16 x 16 in (41 x 41 cm) pillows. They had picked a dark green and white stripe from a big-name outdoor brand.
The workshop offered its own outdoor stripes instead, which it prefers, and quoted all thirteen pieces together as one bundle. The lesson is plain: every piece and every rounded corner on one list gives an accurate bundle quote.
Here is what I would add to a list like that: the fastenings. Corner ties on the seats, a non-slip underside where the frame is smooth, zipper placement on the pillows. Write them in the same note, not in a follow-up. Our notes on ties and non-slip bases and zipper placement cover the options. What is on your list?
Buyer questions: weather, widths and the linen question
- A common question
Are your cushions for indoor use only? Is the fabric waterproof?
The workshop's answerThe standard fabrics are made for indoor use and are not waterproof. Outdoor cushions are made from a separate outdoor fabric range, and any color in that range can be made to order.
- A common question
Can the back cushion be a couple of inches narrower than the seat cushion?
The workshop's answerYes. For one converted bus seat in an RV, the back was made 46.5 in (118 cm) wide and the seat 48 in (122 cm) wide by 16.5 in (42 cm) deep, with the backrest thickness subtracted from the back height so the pair fit the frame.
- A common question
Does it cost more to choose linen instead of the cotton-type fabric?
The workshop's answerNo. There is no price difference between linen and the other standard fabric, so choose on look and feel.
On the cutting table: the daybed set
| Product | Mattress-style sunbed cushion with two round bolster pillows |
|---|---|
| Fabric | Outdoor acrylic stripe in charcoal, taupe and ivory |
| Stripe direction | Lengthwise, head to foot |
| Edge | Box edge with self piping |
| Bolsters | Same stripe, piped round ends, zippers at the ends |
| Fastening | Corner ties or a non-slip underside, requested in the personalization note |
| Frame | Weathered teak daybed on tall legs |
| Off-season | Store dry and indoors over winter |
| Best for | Lawn or patio lounging from either end |
Have it made
Have this made — ask Callum’s workshop
Tell them where it lives. Porch, deck or boat: the weather picks the fabric and the foam before anyone else does. — 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.
A sunbed cushion with a bolster at each end works from either end, and zippers at the round bolster ends let the fill be adjusted when it settles.
Callum
Questions buyers ask next
What keeps a striped daybed mattress from creeping on a slatted teak frame?
An exact fit to the frame's inside size plus a grip layer. Ask for a non-slip underside, which is sewn into the cover itself, and add corner ties if the frame has rails or slats to tie around.
Should stripes on a sunbed cushion run lengthwise or across?
Lengthwise, head to foot. Stripes along the length make a long daybed look longer and slimmer, which suits a flat object on a lawn or patio. Bolsters in the same stripe keep the set reading as one piece.
What two numbers does a round bolster pillow order need?
The length and the diameter you want. Add a note on zippers too: at the round ends, the fill can be adjusted as it settles, and the zipper stays out of sight against the frame.
Do outdoor cushions come in stripes?
Yes. The workshop keeps its own outdoor stripes and offered them to a US buyer who had asked for a green and white stripe for a five-seat patio set with an ottoman and two pillows.
Fair winds — Callum
