---
title: "Hemnes Daybed Cover in Cream Velvet: Box Edge, Bolsters, Piping"
url: "https://cushionguide.com/readings/symmetrical-cream-velvet-hemnes-daybed-monstera/"
section: "Readings"
author: "Hana Lindqvist, The Quiet Geometer of Seattle"
author_url: "https://cushionguide.com/masters/hana/"
published: "2026-01-19"
updated: "2026-02-07"
keywords: "hemnes daybed cover, daybed cover, ikea hemnes daybed cushion, bolster pillow, lumbar pillow, made to measure cushion"
---

# A symmetrical Hemnes daybed in cream velvet, read edge by edge

*A white daybed. A bare wall. One plant. Each piece of cream velvet on it has a different edge, and each edge has a reason.*

> **The quick answer:** On an IKEA Hemnes daybed, the mattress cover takes a box edge: a side band as deep as the mattress is thick, so give the exact thickness, whether one 6 in (15 cm) layer or two stacked. The two back pillows share the mattress length and meet in the center, and round bolsters about 8 in (20 cm) across sit crosswise at each arm.

![Front view of a white Hemnes daybed in cream velvet with burnt-orange piping, bolsters at both arms, monstera and sketch](https://cushionguide.com/media/ikea-hemnes-daybed-covers/symmetrical-cream-velvet-hemnes-daybed-monstera-1600.webp "Seen straight on, the set is balanced: a bolster at each arm and two equal back pillows meeting in the middle. The piping traces each piece like a drawn outline.")

## Four edges, one daybed

The photograph is taken straight on. That is the honest way to judge a [Hemnes daybed cover](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/ikea-hemnes-daybed-covers/).

The mattress cover has a box edge. A side band, the [gusset](https://cushionguide.com/glossary/#gusset), runs all the way around, as deep as the mattress is thick. Burnt-orange piping sits on the top seam. The band is what makes a mattress read as a sofa seat instead of a made bed.

The two back pillows are cut from the length of the mattress. They meet in the center with no gap and no overlap. Their piping continues the line of the seat, so the eye goes once around the set and rests.

The bolsters are round. They lie crosswise against each arm, the way armrests do on a sofa. A round edge has no corner to press into a hip or an elbow.

The cream [velvet](https://cushionguide.com/fabrics/velvet/) has a short, tight pile. In even daylight it shows faint lighter and darker shading where the pile turns. The piping reads like a pencil line on paper, which is why the wall holds one botanical sketch and nothing more. A single monstera balances the long, low line better than several small plants would. The side table keeps two books and a clay vase below the height of the arm. The flat-woven rug stays beige and quiet.

Which edge does your seat need: a band, a single seam, or a curve?

The band gives depth.
The cord gives the line.
The curve gives the arm a place to rest.

## Pinned by Hana

Five points where the symmetry holds.

1. **Bolster at right arm**: Bolsters placed crosswise at both arms make the daybed read as a proper sofa.
2. **Pillows meet at center**: The two back pillows are cut from the mattress length, so they meet in the middle with no gap.
3. **Seat front piping**: The burnt-orange cord works like a pencil line drawn along the front of the cream seat.
4. **Monstera in cream pot**: One big plant balances the long horizontal of the daybed better than several small ones.
5. **Single botanical sketch**: A fine line drawing repeats the thin piping line instead of competing with it.

## Box, knife or round: which edge goes where

The long version lives in [box edge vs knife edge](https://cushionguide.com/guides/box-edge-vs-knife-edge-cushion/). The short one is here.

| Edge | How it is sewn | Where it belongs on a daybed |
|---|---|---|
| Box edge | Top and bottom panels joined by a side band; two seams, square sides | The fitted mattress cover and the back pillows |
| Knife edge | Top and bottom sewn straight together; one seam, full in the middle, thin at the rim | Loose throw pillows in front of the backrests |
| Round | A cylinder sized by length and diameter, about 8 in (20 cm) across as standard | Bolsters, crosswise at each arm |
| Rounded corner | Corners cut on a curve, given as a radius | A frame with curved ends; trace one corner on paper |

## Six inches, not twelve

A buyer in the US ordered a custom cover for a Twin XL daybed mattress, 80 x 39 x 6 in (203 x 99 x 15 cm). It arrived sized for a 12 in mattress. The workshop had assumed two stacked layers, as most of its daybed buyers have.

It made a new cover at the correct 6 in depth and sent it. The buyer liked the quality and the color.

The gusset is the part that carries the thickness. Write that number clearly. Ask the maker to say it back.

## Buyer questions: sizes, words and parts

**A common question:** Can you make a floor cushion in twin, twin XL or double mattress size?

**The workshop's answer:** Yes. A twin has been made at 38 x 73 in (97 x 185 cm), and twin XL at 38 x 80 in (97 x 203 cm) is offered as a size option. A double has been quoted at 53 x 75 in (135 x 190 cm), along with a 55 x 55 in (140 x 140 cm) cushion for a loft bunk and a 48 x 44 in (122 x 112 cm) light pink velvet daybed cushion.

**A common question:** For my IKEA Kallax bench, does 'width' mean the depth?

**The workshop's answer:** Yes. Length is the longest side, measured left to right. Width is the depth, from the front edge to the back. Thickness is how tall you want the cushion to be. Cushions for Kallax benches are made all the time.

**A common question:** Do you make a cover for the IKEA Hemnes daybed, and can I order just the back cushions?

**The workshop's answer:** Yes. There is a dedicated Hemnes set with the fitted mattress cover, the backrests and the bolsters. Parts can be ordered on their own too, for example only the two backrests with covers and inserts.

> A fitted daybed cover has a side band as deep as the mattress, so a 6 in (15 cm) Twin XL mattress needs a 6 in band, not the 12 in of two stacked layers.
>
> — Hana

> **Tailor's margin:** Bolster pillows on a daybed are about 8 in (20 cm) across and as long as the seat is deep, or about 4 in shorter.

## The Hemnes set on the cutting table

|   |   |
|---|---|
| Set | Fitted mattress cover, two back pillows, two round bolsters |
| Fits | IKEA Hemnes daybed; mattress about 31 1/2 x 78 3/4 in (80 x 200 cm), measured on yours |
| Fabric | Cream velvet with a short, tight pile |
| Piping | Contrast cord in burnt orange |
| Edge | Box edge; side band equal to the mattress thickness |
| Back pillows | About 20 in (50 cm) high, sharing the mattress length |
| Bolsters | About 8 in (20 cm) across; 10 in (25 cm) on request |
| Care | Seat cover machine washable at 86°F (30°C); filled pieces spot-clean only |
| Best for | Small living rooms, guest rooms, reading corners |

## Questions buyers ask next

### What is the difference between a box edge and a knife edge?

A box edge has a side band between the top and bottom panels, so the sides stand square and hold their shape longest. A knife edge sews the two panels straight together; it is fullest in the middle, thin at the rim, and reads relaxed, like a throw pillow.

### Can the back pillows and bolsters go in the washing machine?

On daybed sets only the seat cover is machine washable. The filled back pillows and bolsters keep their fill inside and are not washed, so spot-clean their velvet with a damp cloth and a little mild soap.

### Why does cream velvet look lighter in some places?

Velvet has a directional pile. Where it lies one way it catches more light and looks paler; where it turns it looks deeper. The shading moves as you sit and brush the seat, and it belongs to the cloth.

### Is every Hemnes mattress the same size?

The Hemnes mattress is about 31 1/2 x 78 3/4 in (80 x 200 cm), but sizes vary by country and by mattress. Measure your own length, width and thickness, and send the numbers exactly as you find them.

## Related at the atelier

- [Hemnes Daybed Cover in Cream Velvet: Ordering It Right](https://cushionguide.com/readings/front-on-cream-hemnes-daybed-olive-tree-terracotta-rug/): To order a Hemnes daybed cover set right the first time, send the mattress length, width and stacked thickness, the back length inside the frame, and both fabric codes, body and piping, in one…
- [Hemnes Daybed Cover in Cream Velvet Under a Four-Print Wall](https://cushionguide.com/readings/cream-velvet-hemnes-daybed-four-print-gallery-wall/): A cream velvet Hemnes daybed cover can carry a whole room makeover if the daybed becomes the only seat.
- [Hemnes Daybed Cushion in Navy Velvet: Zippers, Grip and Fit](https://cushionguide.com/readings/navy-velvet-hemnes-daybed-cream-piping-study/): A daybed cushion cover stays in place mainly by fit: cut it to the full mattress height, stacked layers included, and it will not shift.
- [What comes in the Hemnes daybed cover set, and is the mattress included?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/daybed-cover-set-whats-included/): The IKEA Hemnes daybed cover set includes one zippered mattress cover made to your mattress size, two filled backrest pillows and two filled bolster armrests, with piping at no extra charge.
- [Can I buy only the back cushions for my Hemnes daybed, or skip the bolsters?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/daybed-backrests-only-or-without-bolsters/): Hemnes daybed back cushions can be ordered without the rest of the set: two backrests with covers and inserts, a mattress cover plus two filled backrests, or the two round backrests alone.
- [Can I get just a replacement mattress cover for my IKEA daybed?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/daybed-mattress-replacement-cover-only/): You can get just a replacement mattress cover for an IKEA daybed by choosing the Cover Only option on the daybed cover set listing.
- [How to measure an IKEA Hemnes daybed: two stacked mattresses, one cover](https://cushionguide.com/guides/ikea-hemnes-daybed-cover-measuring/)
- [How to make a daybed look like a sofa with back cushions and bolsters](https://cushionguide.com/guides/daybed-back-cushions-sofa-look/)

*— Hana*

---

Written by Hana Lindqvist (https://cushionguide.com/masters/hana/) for CushionGuide (https://cushionguide.com/about/). The site explains made-to-measure cushions and the partner workshop makes them; measurements are in inches first. This Markdown mirrors the page at https://cushionguide.com/readings/symmetrical-cream-velvet-hemnes-daybed-monstera/