A Reading by MaggieDining Chair Cushions & Pads
Round striped chair cushions on teak, built for a lunch that runs long
Four teak chairs, four striped discs and a lunch that lasted until someone lit the lantern. Right, then: here is what keeps a round chair cushion comfortable at hour three.
SaveThe quick answer
A round chair cushion stays comfortable through a long meal when the chair seat is at least as deep as the cushion's diameter. Give it a box edge so it bridges the slats, and add ties or a non-slip base so it cannot creep on smooth teak.
Newport ·
Dear long-lunch sitter,
Why round cushions suit a round table
A round cushion on a squarish chair seat leaves four corners of wood showing, and in this courtyard that is exactly right.
The discs repeat the round teak tabletop, so four ordinary slat-back chairs look like a set someone planned. The stripe runs straight across every disc, coral, teal, mustard and sage on cream, and self piping cut from the same stripe finishes the edge.
A bright stripe outdoors forgives: crumbs and a drop of wine vanish into the bands, which is why the outdoor fabric family suits a table people linger at.
Pinned by Maggie
Five things I would point at if we were standing at that table together.
- Round box cushion
The disc repeats the round tabletop, a simple geometry match.
- Teak corners visible
A round cushion on a square-ish seat leaves wood showing at the corners.
- Brass lantern
The centerpiece stays low so faces are visible across the table.
- Rattan tray of pebbles
Natural textures balance the bright stripe.
- Potted maple
Its bronze leaves warm the corner behind the chairs.
- Round box cushionThe disc repeats the round tabletop, a simple geometry match.
- Teak corners visibleA round cushion on a square-ish seat leaves wood showing at the corners.
- Brass lanternThe centerpiece stays low so faces are visible across the table.
- Rattan tray of pebblesNatural textures balance the bright stripe.
- Potted mapleIts bronze leaves warm the corner behind the chairs.
A rattan armchair, measured before anyone argued
A buyer in the US wrote to the workshop about a classic rattan armchair with a U-shaped seat, a little wider at the front and curved along the back edges. Measured, the seat came to 24 in (61 cm) deep and 21.25 in (54 cm) wide, with a cushion under 3 in (7.5 cm) thick. The workshop called the seat pad straightforward.
The back cushion was another matter. A cushion pressed against a curved frame is where fit goes wrong, so the workshop asked for measurements of the curve and a photo taken straight on before promising anything. I once guessed a bentwood curve from an angled photo. Once.
- Sizes
- Seat 24 x 21.25 in (61 x 54 cm), under 3 in (7.5 cm) thick
The lesson: Seat pads on curved chairs are easy; back cushions pressed against a curve carry the real fit risk.
Hour three: what the teak chairs ask of a cushion
Long sitting tests three things, and the stripe is not one of them.
- Depth against diameter. The seat must be at least as deep as the cushion is wide, or the back edge hangs off and tips when someone leans back to laugh.
- A real edge. A box cushion bridges the slats, so you sit on foam, not on the gaps between boards.
- Anchors. Teak is smooth. Ties around the back uprights or a non-slip base stop a round pad creeping; the guide to ties and non-slip bases covers both.
The props agree: a low brass lantern keeps faces visible across the table, pebbles and a linen napkin cool the stripe, and the maple's bronze leaves warm the corner.
How deep is your chair seat, front rail to back slat? Measure it before you pick a size in the dining chair cushion atlas.
Buyer questions
- A common question
Could I order just the ottoman from the floor sofa set, and how big is it?
The workshop's answerYes. The ottoman is sold on its own at 39 x 39 in (99 x 99 cm), made in the color you pick, for example brick to match a sofa you already own. It needs no metal bars.
- A common question
Before you cut anything, can you show me you have my sizes right?
The workshop's answerYes. The workshop sends a drawing of the agreed dimensions for your approval, usually converted to centimeters for the cutting table, and makes the cushion exactly to it.
- A common question
I forgot to add the non-slip base and the ties when I checked out. Can I still get them?
The workshop's answerYes. Both can be chosen at checkout, or the workshop sends a separate payment link afterward. A paid custom link shows as sold out, which simply means the payment went through.
A round chair cushion needs a seat at least as deep as its diameter, or the back edge hangs off and tips when you lean back.
Maggie
On the cutting table: the courtyard discs
| Cushion | Round box cushion, one per teak slat-back chair |
|---|---|
| Fabric | Outdoor stripe in coral, teal, mustard and sage on cream |
| Piping | Self piping cut from the same stripe |
| Edge | Box edge; stripe runs straight across each disc |
| Anchors | Ties or a non-slip base, at checkout or added afterward |
| Fit rule | Seat depth at least equal to the cushion's diameter |
| Best for | Slow lunches and late dinners on a patio or deck |
Have it made
Have this made — ask Maggie’s workshop
Numbers first, fabric second, piping last. Jot down what you have, and the workshop will go down the list with you, item by item. — Maggie
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
Will a round cushion fit a square dining chair seat?
Yes, if the seat is at least as deep as the cushion's diameter. The disc sits inside the seat and a little wood shows at each corner, as on these teak chairs. A shallower seat leaves the back edge overhanging.
How thick can an outdoor dining chair cushion be?
Outdoor cushions are made 2, 3, 4 or 5 in thick (5 to 12.5 cm), with 4 in (10 cm) the standard. On a dining chair each extra inch lifts you toward the tabletop, so check knee room first.
Do the stripes line up from one round cushion to the next?
Here the stripe runs straight across each disc and the piping is cut from the same stripe. If every chair should show the stripe running the same way, say so in your order note.
Stitch straight — Maggie
P.S. Forgot the ties at checkout? They can still be added afterward on a separate payment link. I have done the same thing with my own order more than once.
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