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A Reading by CallumBench Cushions

A green striped custom bench cushion on a built-in pine deck bench, ordered right the first time

Cloudy summer, a pine bench somebody built with their own hands, and a striped cushion that fits it to the inch. That fit was won before anyone cut cloth. It was won in the message.

The quick answer

To order a custom bench cushion right the first time, measure the seat from the backrest to the front edge and from end to end, then send those numbers, the fabric and piping codes, the thickness and the quantity in one written message. On a built-in deck bench, a cushion cut to the exact seat size has no room to slide.

Read by

The Weather Man of Casco BayPublished Updated 4 min read

Forest green, lime and sky-blue striped outdoor box cushion on a built-in pine bench with plank back on a backyard deckSave
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Five pins on a backyard build

Five pins, from the stripe direction to the seedling at the rail, each one a choice you can write into an order.

Pinned: Forest green, lime and sky-blue striped outdoor box cushion on a built-in pine bench with plank back on a backyard deck
  1. Lengthwise stripes

    Running the stripes along the bench makes a short built-in look longer and lines up with the deck boards.

  2. Striped self piping

    The piping is cut from the same stripe, so the green and blue carry round the corner.

  3. Plank backrest

    A fixed timber back means only a seat cushion is needed; a lumbar pillow could be added later.

  4. Pine seat frame

    Raw pine is yellow-toned, which is why a stripe with lime in it suits it better than a cool gray.

  5. Potted seedling

    Small green pots at the rail repeat the darkest stripe without competing with it.

  1. Lengthwise stripesRunning the stripes along the bench makes a short built-in look longer and lines up with the deck boards.
  2. Striped self pipingThe piping is cut from the same stripe, so the green and blue carry round the corner.
  3. Plank backrestA fixed timber back means only a seat cushion is needed; a lumbar pillow could be added later.
  4. Pine seat frameRaw pine is yellow-toned, which is why a stripe with lime in it suits it better than a cool gray.
  5. Potted seedlingSmall green pots at the rail repeat the darkest stripe without competing with it.

What the deck bench gets right

The cushion fills the seat from the plank back to the front rail and stops flush at both ends. No overhang, no gap. It looks made for this bench because it was measured on this bench.

The stripe runs lengthwise, along the deck boards, which makes a short built-in look longer; the Pattern on stripe direction explains why. The piping is cut from the same stripe, so forest green and sky blue carry around every corner. Raw pine is yellow-toned, and the lime thread warms to it where a cool gray would sulk.

The fixed plank back means only a seat cushion was needed; a lumbar pillow can come later. The green pot with its seedling repeats the darkest stripe, the terracotta pot of red flowers is the one warm spark, and the vinyl siding and chain-link fence say ordinary backyard, not showroom.

Sketch your own in the bench cushion builder, or browse bench cushions and patio and porch cushions.

The one message that gets a deck cushion right

  1. Measure the seat, not the frame

    Tape from the plank back to the front edge, then end to end. On a built-in, those two numbers are the cushion.

  2. Name every code

    Body fabric and piping, and say which is which. For an open deck, name the outdoor acrylic range so nobody guesses.

  3. Set the real quantity

    Two cushions means quantity two, each with its own fabric and piping line in the note.

  4. Ask for close-ups

    Side-by-side photos of your codes are the usual preview. For color-critical jobs, order swatches before ordering the cushion.

A real project

A 173 inch built-in, cut into two

A buyer wrote in about a built-in sofa bench 173 1/4 in (440 cm) long and 22 7/8 in (58 cm) deep. They didn't want one piece, and they were right. The workshop made two equal cushions, each 86 5/8 x 22 7/8 in (220 x 58 cm), from the linen bench range.

Splitting a very long bench into two equal cushions keeps each piece manageable. On a deck that counts double: a cushion you can carry under one arm comes indoors before the squall does. How long is your bench, end to end?

Buyer questions

  1. A common question

    Can you send a rendering or mockup of my cushion so I can approve it before I buy?

    The workshop's answer

    A rendering has been offered once the colors are chosen. Otherwise the workshop helps you picture it with close-ups of your codes side by side and photos of finished cushions. For large or color-critical projects, physical samples are recommended.

  2. A common question

    Can I order several cushions in the same size, each in a different color?

    The workshop's answer

    Yes. Set the quantity to the number of cushions, not one, and list each cushion's fabric and piping codes in the note. One buyer ordered four 12 x 33 in (30 x 84 cm) velvet cushions in olive with lilac, mauve with mustard, and mustard with pale pink.

  3. A common question

    What are the striped fabrics made of, and are there stripes beyond the ones shown?

    The workshop's answer

    The striped fabrics in that listing are 100% cotton, a fully natural fabric, and the stripes shown are the only striped options. There is no linen-feel red stripe, but an extra linen chart in creams and beige-whites is available on request.

On the cutting table: the deck bench cushion

CushionBox seat cushion cut to a built-in bench
FabricOutdoor acrylic stripe: forest green, lime and sky blue on white
PipingSelf piping from the same stripe
Stripe directionLengthwise, parallel to the deck boards
FitBackrest to front rail, end to end, no overhang
BackrestFixed pine planks; lumbar pillow optional later
Long runsTwo equal cushions, like 2 x 86 5/8 in (220 cm)
Best forDIY and built-in deck, porch and patio benches

Order this cushion

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.

Fabric · Foam · Pipingwhat the workshop will confirm with you

Fabric
Outdoor acrylic stripe: forest green, lime and sky blue on white
Foam
The core: its density and thickness set the feel.
Piping
Self piping from the same stripe
Only for this request: no marketing calls or texts. Outside the US, add the country code.
In inches: length × depth × thickness, plus any angles or cut corners.

* 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

Running a stripe the length of a deck bench makes a short built-in look longer and lines the cushion up with the deck boards.

Callum
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Questions buyers ask next

How do I keep a cushion from shifting on a built-in deck bench?

Cut it to the exact seat, backrest to front edge and end to end, so it has nowhere to go. On open benches without a back, ties or a non-slip base help; the Pattern on stopping bench cushions sliding compares them.

Does a bench with a fixed plank backrest need a back cushion?

No. A fixed timber back only needs a seat cushion. If the planks feel hard after an hour on the deck, add a lumbar pillow later rather than a full back cushion.

Should two halves of a long bench cushion be equal lengths?

Equal halves are the simple choice. One built-in of 173 1/4 in (440 cm) became two cushions of 86 5/8 in (220 cm), which puts the joint in the middle and keeps each piece easy to lift.

Fair winds — Callum