SaveA Reading by CallumChaise Lounge & Sunbed Cushions
A mustard pinstripe sunbed cushion, and how to set a row of loungers for guests
Teak, travertine, turquoise water. Callum reads a two-part lounger cushion and what changes when you are seating a crowd instead of yourself.
A two-part lounger cushion in a woven mustard pinstripe, split at the hinge so the back can recline. Teak, travertine and turquoise water do the rest.
The quick answer
A sunbed cushion for a reclining lounger should be made in two sections that meet at the hinge, so the back tilts without creasing the seat. Measure each section from the hinge to its end, not one overall length. Self piping and a head-to-toe stripe, like this mustard pinstripe, keep a whole row of loungers calm.
Two sections, one hinge, and a stripe that runs the long way
Out by a pool, the sun does most of the talking. A cushion has to hold up under it.
This one is a sunbed cushion in two pieces. The back is its own panel, the seat is another, and they meet at the lounger's hinge. Tilt the back and the seat stays flat. No crease, no bunching, every recline position covered.
The stripe runs head to toe: mustard and charcoal on a cream ground, woven in outdoor acrylic. Running the long way, it stretches the lounger. The cream keeps it from looking heavy in full sun.
Self piping in the same pinstripe outlines the seat, so no new color lands next to the water. The cushion sits inside the teak side rails, leaving the wood visible from the side, and it is slimmer than an indoor seat, which keeps the lounger's low profile.
Mustard is the warm opposite of turquoise water. That is why the stripe glows. Pale travertine underfoot and a clipped green hedge behind finish the frame. How many loungers are you cushioning this summer, friend?
Pinned by Callum at the poolside
Five pins: the hinged back panel, the break at the hinge, the self-piped seat edge, the teak rail and the turquoise pool.
- Hinged backrest section
The back is a separate panel, so it tilts with the lounger without creasing the seat.
- Break at the hinge
A clean break where the frame bends lets the cushion follow every recline position.
- Piped seat edge
Self piping in the pinstripe outlines the seat without adding a new color beside the pool.
- Teak side rail
The cushion sits inside the teak rails, so the timber frame stays visible from the side.
- Turquoise pool
Mustard is the warm opposite of turquoise water, which is why the stripe glows here.
- Hinged backrest sectionThe back is a separate panel, so it tilts with the lounger without creasing the seat.
- Break at the hingeA clean break where the frame bends lets the cushion follow every recline position.
- Piped seat edgeSelf piping in the pinstripe outlines the seat without adding a new color beside the pool.
- Teak side railThe cushion sits inside the teak rails, so the timber frame stays visible from the side.
- Turquoise poolMustard is the warm opposite of turquoise water, which is why the stripe glows here.
Seating a crowd: four rules for a row of loungers
Measure every lounger
Frames that look alike can still differ. Measure each section of each lounger from the hinge to its end, and label them. The sunbed cushion size guide shows where the tape goes.
Order the set together
One order, one fabric, one piping choice. Cushions made at the same time match side by side; a pair added next summer may not, as dye lots explains.
Tie them where guests get up
Ties can go wherever you ask. Put them where the cushion wants to slide when someone swings their legs off, and add a non-slip bottom on a smooth frame.
Plan for the evening
Rain doesn't negotiate. When the party ends, stack the cushions under cover, and bring them in for the winter.
Avocado green, harvest gold, and the swatch test
A buyer wrote in about a vintage camper. They wanted avocado green cushions, the color of the era, and couldn't judge it from photos on a screen.
The workshop pointed them to an olive green velvet and suggested two harvest gold fabrics for the piping, then sent swatch photos side by side. The buyer picked the more mustard of the two. Then they asked to see a finished cushion in that exact color, and the workshop sent a photo of one before confirming the setup.
Same lesson by a pool as in a camper. When a bold palette matters, compare body and piping swatches side by side before anyone cuts. More campers like that one live in vintage camper and RV cushions.
- Sizes
- Not given
The lesson: For retro palettes, compare body and piping swatches side by side before ordering.
Buyer questions: covered couches, outside fabric and hook-and-loop
- A common question
My outdoor couch is always under a roof. Can you make cushions for it?
The workshop's answerYes. The workshop agreed to make two patio cushions for a covered outdoor sofa with a seat about 95.7 in wide and 31 in deep (243 x 79 cm), and offered to send pricing.
- A common question
Can I send you my own outdoor fabric, or ask for a big-name acrylic brand?
The workshop's answerNo. Cushions are made only from the workshop's own fabrics, and customer-supplied fabric isn't accepted. There are close to 200 outdoor options to choose from to match what you had in mind.
- A common question
Could you add hook-and-loop tape instead of ties to keep cushions on the frame?
The workshop's answerNot at the moment; hook-and-loop isn't offered. Ties can be placed wherever you want them, and a non-slip bottom is another way to stop cushions moving.
On the cutting table: the poolside lounger
| Cushion | Two-section sunbed cushion, back and seat split at the hinge |
|---|---|
| Fabric | Mustard, cream and charcoal pinstripe outdoor acrylic |
| Stripe | Runs head to toe to lengthen the lounger |
| Piping | Self piping in the pinstripe |
| Edge | Box edge, slimmer than an indoor seat |
| Frame | Slatted teak lounger with an adjustable back |
| Fit | Sits inside the teak side rails |
| Measure | Each section from the hinge to its own end |
| Best for | Pool decks and patios where several loungers sit in a row |
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 reclining sunbed cushion should be made in two sections that meet at the hinge, so the back tilts and the seat never creases.
Callum
Questions buyers ask next
Should a sunbed cushion be one piece or two?
For a lounger with an adjustable back, two pieces that meet at the hinge work best: the back tilts freely and the seat stays flat. A one-piece cushion suits a fixed, flat lounger or a daybed.
Which way should stripes run on a lounger cushion?
Head to toe. A stripe running the length of the lounger makes it look longer and calmer, and the pattern keeps its line across both sections when the back is raised or lowered.
What piping looks best on a poolside cushion?
Self piping in the cushion's own fabric outlines the seat without adding another color beside bright water. Contrast piping works too, but compare the two swatches side by side in daylight before ordering.
How do I keep outdoor lounger cushions from blowing away?
Ask for ties at the exact positions your frame needs, and consider a non-slip bottom. In a storm or overnight, stack the cushions somewhere dry; no tie beats bringing them inside.
Fair winds — Callum
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