A Reading by NateBench Cushions
A cheetah-print bench cushion, and what keeps it in place
A cheetah print on a white bench, a painted arch, a green pillow. Looks calm. My question is the same as always: what stops this box from walking off the front edge?
SaveThe quick answer
A custom bench cushion comes without ties or a non-slip base unless you ask, so write the request in the personalization note when you order. Two corner ties suit a bench with legs, posts or slats to tie around. An anti-slip underside suits a flat bench top against a wall, where there is nothing to tie to.
What holds this cushion down (so far)
From above, this is a clean rectangle: a cheetah-print box cushion, tan, black and brown, on a white bench with an oak top, piped in its own cloth. The box edge and piping keep the corners crisp against the soft curve of a painted white arch on a sage wall. The arch works like a headboard. It gives a plain bench a backdrop for the price of a quart of paint; keep it a shade lighter than the wall.
The props are placed with care. A forest green pillow and a cream one, layered front to back and set off-center so the arch still shows. The green ties the print to the monstera in its rattan planter, which bridges the sage wall and the tan spots. A see-through wire side table keeps the corner light next to a dense print, and a stack of books and a jute rug ground the lot.
What I don't see is a tie. The bench top is flat, there are no slats, and the cushion sits against a wall. That is the fastening question in one picture, partner, and it has three parts: what holds the cushion, where the ties sit, and which edge hides the zipper. Decide all three on one drawing. Put the zipper on the edge you won't see, usually the one against the wall, and mark that side clearly.
The long version is in ties, non-slip bases and other fixes and zipper placement. Try it first in the bench cushion builder, or browse more bench cushions.
The own-fabric sum
| Item | Inches | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Cushion top | 60 × 14 in | 59¾ × 14¼ in (152 × 36 cm) |
| Fabric width | 45 in | 45 in (114 cm) |
| Fabric sent | about 98 in (2 3/4 yd) | about 2 3/4 yd (2.5 m) |
| Piping | cut from the same fabric | — |
From the order in the story below. Conversions rounded; the buyer's fabric covered the cushion and its piping.
Pencil marks on the photo
Five marks, one question: what keeps this cushion where it is?
- Cheetah box cushion
From above, the box edge and piping hold a crisp rectangle against the soft arch.
- Forest green pillow
The green links the print to the monstera and the sage wall.
- Painted arch
A painted arch works like a headboard and gives the bench a clear backdrop.
- Monstera in rattan
Rattan and big leaves bridge the green wall and the tan print.
- Wire side table
A see-through table keeps the corner light next to the dense print.
- Cheetah box cushionFrom above, the box edge and piping hold a crisp rectangle against the soft arch.
- Forest green pillowThe green links the print to the monstera and the sage wall.
- Painted archA painted arch works like a headboard and gives the bench a clear backdrop.
- Monstera in rattanRattan and big leaves bridge the green wall and the tan print.
- Wire side tableA see-through table keeps the corner light next to the dense print.
Three ways to stop a bench cushion sliding
| Option | Best on | What to write in the order |
|---|---|---|
| Corner ties | Benches with legs, posts or slats to wrap around | "2 corner ties, back edge" |
| Anti-slip underside | Flat tops and built-ins against a wall | "Anti-slip fabric on the bottom" |
| Nothing at all | Heavy box cushions boxed in by walls or arms | The exact end-to-end size, so there is no room to shift |
60 x 14 inches in the buyer's own cloth
A buyer in the US wanted a 60 x 14 in piped bench cushion in a yarn-dyed cotton bought from another seller. The workshop said yes and was honest about the catch: fabric sent in from elsewhere adds transit time and a little risk, so it also offered similar fabrics from its own charts as a fallback.
The buyer stuck with the cotton and shipped about 2 3/4 yd (2.5 m) of the 45 in wide cloth straight to the workshop, enough for the cushion and its piping. Measure twice; the fabric remembers. With your own bolt there is no spare yardage on a shelf if a cut goes wrong, which is why the amount gets confirmed before anything ships.
- Sizes
- 60 × 14 in (152 × 36 cm), piped
- Fabric
- Buyer-supplied yarn-dyed cotton, 45 in wide, about 2 3/4 yd (2.5 m)
The lesson: When you supply your own fabric, confirm the yardage with the maker first and allow extra time for it to arrive.
Buyer questions: ties, extras and quotes
- A common question
Does the bench cushion come with a non-slip bottom, or ties?
The workshop's answerNot by default. On request, the workshop can use anti-slip fabric on the underside or add ties, such as two corner ties; write it in the personalization note. Straps have been added free of charge.
- A common question
Can I buy extra back pillows or armrests on their own?
The workshop's answerYes. Straight back pillows, extra L-shaped corner backrests and pairs of armrests are all sold separately. An L-shaped back pillow can also be exchanged for a straight one at the same price.
- A common question
How much does a custom window seat or bench cushion cost?
The workshop's answerEach size is quoted on its own, so send the length, depth, thickness and fabric. Recent quotes ranged from a 14 x 44 in window seat and a 14 1/2 x 72 in bench base to a 20 x 70 in linen cushion and three 16 x 32 in cushions covering one 96 in bench, quoted as a single total.
A bench cushion with nothing to tie around needs an anti-slip underside; a bench with legs or slats takes two corner ties at the back edge.
Nate
On the cutting table: the cheetah-print bench cushion
| Cushion | Bench box cushion, seen from above |
|---|---|
| Fabric | Cheetah print in tan, black and brown |
| Piping | Self piping |
| Fastening | None by default; corner ties or anti-slip underside on request |
| Zipper | On the edge that faces the wall; say which one |
| Thickness | 4 in (10 cm) standard |
| Your own fabric | Accepted; confirm the yardage first |
| Best for | Bedroom and entry benches, anywhere a print needs a backdrop |
Have it made
Have this made — ask Nate’s workshop
Send the numbers in inches: length × depth × thickness, plus any angle. The workshop checks them with you, because foam has no undo button. — Nate
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
Where should ties go on a bench cushion?
Usually at the back corners, where they can wrap a leg, post or slat. Mark each tie on your drawing, since ties are sewn where you draw them, and check the photo sent before shipping to confirm they are there.
Can I send my own fabric for a bench cushion?
Yes. One buyer shipped about 2 3/4 yd (2.5 m) of 45 in wide cotton for a 60 x 14 in piped cushion. Confirm the yardage with the workshop before you buy, and allow extra time for the fabric to arrive.
Does a painted arch behind a bench call for a plain cushion?
No. The arch is the backdrop, so the cushion can carry a busy print. Paint the arch a shade lighter than the wall and let one pillow repeat the wall color, as the forest green pillow does here.
± 1/4 in — Nate
Animal prints on other benches, fastened or not
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