Save- Ribbed end disc
Ribs on the end run upright, matching the body.
- Self-fabric piping
Cord piping cut from the same fabric forms a beaded ring.
- White daybed arm
Against the arm, the bolster becomes a comfortable lean.
- Oatmeal seat
Pale linen keeps the rust warm rather than heavy.
Plate Rust corduroy bolster with self-fabric corded piping
Rust corduroy with self-fabric piping rests against the white arm of a daybed, showing the chunky beaded ring the ribs create at the seam.
A Reading by HarlanBolster Pillows
A rust corduroy bolster pillow that makes a narrow daybed feel wide
My friend, a daybed is a narrow place pretending to be a sofa. One round cushion against the arm is often all the pretending needs.
The quick answer
A bolster pillow makes a narrow daybed or window seat feel generous because it turns the hard end into a place to lean without taking inches from the seat's depth. Size it by length and diameter, cut the piping from the same corduroy so the ribs form a beaded ring at each end, and keep the seat pale so the rust stays warm.
The plate: one bolster, one arm
This is a close photograph, the kind I like best, because nothing hides. A rust corduroy bolster lies against the white arm of a beadboard daybed, on an oatmeal linen seat. The ribs on the end disc run upright, the same way as the ribs on the body. The piping is cut from the same cord, so the seam reads as a ring of beads. You only get that ring when the piping comes off the same cloth.
A seam is a promise, and this one is kept all the way around. Rust is a strong autumn color, but against white paint and pale linen it reads warm, not heavy. Set the same bolster on a dark seat and the beaded ring would sink into shadow; the oatmeal linen is doing half the work.
Where to put your thumb
Four places I would put my thumb if you handed me this bolster.
The numbers match the pins on the plate.
- Ribbed end discRibs on the end run upright, matching the body.
- Self-fabric pipingCord piping cut from the same fabric forms a beaded ring.
- White daybed armAgainst the arm, the bolster becomes a comfortable lean.
- Oatmeal seatPale linen keeps the rust warm rather than heavy.
How one round cushion buys room
A daybed seat is shallow. Line square pillows along the back and you give away inches of sitting room. A bolster goes at the arm instead, so the full depth stays yours and the arm becomes a lean, legs stretched along the seat. Two bolsters, one at each end, and a daybed passes for a sofa by day. At the end of a window seat, one bolster lets you sit sideways with your back against something soft; the Pattern on styling a daybed like a sofa shows more.
Corduroy earns the spot. One textured accent on a pale seat gives more depth than plain cotton in the same color, so a small corner looks furnished without more furniture. Where in your house is the narrow spot nobody sits in?
Five pieces and one honest inch
A buyer in the US wanted a window seat set: two rectangular cushions at 18 × 36 in, later changed to 18 × 37 in (46 × 94 cm), and three cylinder bolsters 32 in (81 cm) long, all in dark brown. The cart could not price five custom pieces sensibly, so she sent the workshop an offer, and the workshop accepted it.
I think about the inch she added more than the money. Mixed sets price best by offer or custom link, not the standard cart.
Questions that came with the order
- A common question
What foam is inside, and what density is it?
The workshop's answerMedium-hard foam, quoted as 28 to 32 density. It lasts for many years, and replacement foam can be ordered on its own.
- A common question
Can I buy a second set of covers in another color for my floor sofa?
The workshop's answerYes. Covers are sold on their own and come on and off by zipper over the fillings, which have their own inner covers. Change color or keep a spare set; extra covers can ship with a new sofa.
- A common question
Are the covers removable, and will they survive the washing machine?
The workshop's answerYes. Every cover has a zipper and comes off completely. All the fabrics, velvet and linen included, wash at 86°F (30°C) on a gentle cycle. Air dry rather than tumble dry, and iron on low if needed.
Cut the piping for a corduroy bolster from the same cord and the end seam reads as a ring of beads, a detail contrast piping cannot give.
Harlan
On my bench
| Cushion | Bolster pillow, rolled, with flat end discs |
|---|---|
| Fabric | Wide-wale corduroy, rust |
| Piping | Self piping cut from the same corduroy |
| Ribs | Upright on the end discs, matching the body |
| Beside it | Oatmeal linen daybed seat cushion |
| Sizing | By length and diameter; 32 in (81 cm) bolsters made for a window seat |
| Cover | Zippered; 86°F (30°C) gentle wash, air dry |
| Best for | Daybed arms, window seat ends, small bedrooms |
Have it made
Have this made — ask Harlan’s workshop
The best cushions I have known began with somebody asking one more question. Ask yours here. — Harlan
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
How wide across should a bolster for a narrow daybed be?
About 8 in (20 cm) looks in proportion on most daybeds, and deeper seats can carry 10 in (25 cm). Measure the length it will run along, usually the seat depth at the arm, and give both numbers.
Can a corduroy bolster be made without piping?
Yes. Corduroy looks clean with a plain seam, and some buyers prefer the softer, rounder outline. Self piping adds the beaded ring at each end; that is the whole difference.
Can I order bolsters to match a seat cushion I already have?
Yes. Give the seat's fabric code so the bolster is cut from the same cloth, or pick a contrast from any chart. The bolster is sized on its own, by length and diameter.
Sit well. — Harlan
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