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A Reading by MaggieBench Cushions

Slate chenille bench cushions on a low oak sofa, and what holds them

One gray block of chenille, an oak outline, a knit throw to break it up. Handsome. Now, what keeps it from creeping forward by Tuesday?

Read by

The Piping Queen of NewportPublished Updated 4 min read

Slate gray chenille seat cushions and a long back cushion on a low oak platform sofa with a monstera and cream knit throwSave
Slate chenille seats and a full-width back make a low oak sofa; a folded knit throw and a monstera stop the gray feeling heavy.

The quick answer

A custom bench cushion stays put with fabric ties sewn into the seams, a non-slip base across the whole underside, or both. Ties suit frames with something to knot around; the grip base suits flat platforms. Put the hidden zipper on the back edge facing the wall, or underneath. Hook-and-loop, clips and snaps are generally not fitted.

Three chenille cushion questions first

  1. A common question

    What fabric are the K color codes, and can those covers go in the wash?

    The workshop's answer

    The K colors are linen. Their covers come off and wash at up to 86°F (30°C) like the rest of the range. There are no close-ups of K fabrics, so use the chart or order samples.

  2. A common question

    Can a backrest be made to a custom size, say under 15 in tall or 63 in long?

    The workshop's answer

    Yes. A 14 to 15 in tall backrest is no problem; write the height in personalization. A 63 in (160 cm) backrest can be one piece or split to match the seats, and a 3 in back with a 2 in seat is fine.

  3. A common question

    On your size options, what do width and length actually mean?

    The workshop's answer

    Width is the short side, length the long side. For a 105 x 29 in sill, pick the 27 to 29 in width range and the 101 to 105 in length range, then write the exact size, like 28½ x 104½ in.

Now, the reading

What the oak frame is doing

Right, then. A low oak platform, slate chenille seats, one long back cushion, a monstera in a seagrass basket. Seat and back are the same cloth with self piping, so the sofa reads as one gray block and the oak becomes its outline.

The back cushion runs the full width and stops flush with the seat ends. No overhang, no gap. I once cut a back cushion to the old one instead of the frame. Never again.

Chenille has a slight sheen that shifts with the light, which gives plain gray some depth. Slate is a sensible family color, dark enough to hide a spill. The cream cable-knit over the end seat breaks the long gray run and marks the lounging end, and the basket answers the oak with another warm texture.

Four pins on a gray sofa

Four things worth a second look, left to right.

Pinned: Slate gray chenille seat cushions and a long back cushion on a low oak platform sofa with a monstera and cream knit throw
  1. Slate chenille seats

    The soft chenille has a slight sheen that shifts with light, giving a plain color depth.

  2. Full-width backrest

    One long back cushion sits flush with the seat ends for a tailored silhouette.

  3. Folded knit throw

    A cream knit laid over the end seat breaks the long gray block.

  4. Monstera in basket

    Big glossy leaves and a woven basket bring life to the white corner.

  1. Slate chenille seatsThe soft chenille has a slight sheen that shifts with light, giving a plain color depth.
  2. Full-width backrestOne long back cushion sits flush with the seat ends for a tailored silhouette.
  3. Folded knit throwA cream knit laid over the end seat breaks the long gray block.
  4. Monstera in basketBig glossy leaves and a woven basket bring life to the white corner.

Ties, grip or zipper: what holds a bench cushion

A low platform sofa has two fastening problems. Seats creep forward when people flop down, and a tall back cushion slides down the wall.

Ties are sewn into the seams on request, at the corners or along the back, wherever you say. They hold a seat to a frame, or tie a back cushion to the seat below it.

A non-slip base replaces the whole underside with a grippy fabric that holds by friction. It is not adhesive or rubber and leaves nothing on the wood. There is no strip-only version, and the panel stays out of the washer and dryer.

The zipper hides on the back edge or underneath; you choose. On long custom bench cushion covers it often turns two corners so the foam slides out.

More on stopping a bench cushion sliding and where the zipper goes. The trellis swatches below are jacquard and damask.

A real project

Five cushions, one run, one bundled quote

A buyer came to the workshop with a multi-bench project: four cushions at 18 x 42 in and two at 18 x 72 in, all corduroy, and asked for a volume price. The workshop bundled them into one quote with shipping included, then redid it when the plan changed to one 19 x 72 in plus four 18 x 42 in.

Five cushions on one run is where fastening earns its keep. Every piece that can creep, will.

Sizes
Four at 18 x 42 in, one at 19 x 72 in
Fabric
Corduroy

The lesson: Order the whole run together for one bulk price, and ask whether shipping is inside it.

A non-slip base on a bench cushion covers the whole underside and grips by friction. Skip it if you plan to flip the cushion over.

Maggie
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What the sofa is made of

CushionBench seat cushions plus one full-width back
FabricSlate gray chenille, slight sheen
PipingSelf piping, same slate
Thickness4 in (10 cm) standard seat
Back cushionAbout 16 in (40 cm) tall as standard
FasteningTies on request; optional non-slip base
ZipperHidden, back edge or underside
Care86°F (30°C) gentle wash, air dry; wipe the grip base
Best forLow platform sofas and built-in benches

Order this cushion

Have it made

Have this made — ask Maggie’s workshop

I once cut a lovely cushion two inches short, and I have not forgotten it. That is why the workshop goes over your measurements with you on the phone. — 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.

Fabric · Foam · Pipingwhat the workshop will confirm with you

Fabric
Slate gray chenille, slight sheen
Foam
The core: its density and thickness set the feel.
Piping
Self piping, same slate
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

Questions buyers ask next

Can you add Velcro strips to hold a bench cushion down?

No. Hook-and-loop, clips and snaps are generally not fitted. Fabric ties sewn into the seams, or a non-slip base across the whole underside, do that job instead.

Does a non-slip base mark a wood frame or floor?

No. It holds by friction, not adhesive or rubber, so it leaves no residue on wood. It covers the whole underside; there is no border-only version.

Will ties show on a low platform sofa?

They sit at the seams you choose, usually the back corners, and knot around the frame. On a flat platform with no rails, a non-slip base is often tidier.

Stitch straight — Maggie

Other benches, other fabrics, same question

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Taupe and cream stripes along a built-in banquette, turning the corner so the oak bench wraps the kitchen table.
Silver gray and ivory damask box cushion on a black piano bench in front of an upright piano with sheet musicSave
A pale silver damask pad lifts a black piano bench; the ivory ground picks up the sheet music and the lamp's warm glow.
Pale gray seat cushions and one wide back cushion on a low oak platform sofa with a stool of books and a jute rugSave
Pale gray chenille catches the warm afternoon light on a low oak reading sofa, with books and a mug on a stool at one end.
Fabric chart of 32 jacquard upholstery swatches: blue damask, silver damask, trellis, stripe and plain weaves on gray boardsSave
The full jacquard family in one view, from bold damasks at the top to stripes and quiet weaves below.