Sofa Cushions, Covers and Inserts Made to Fit

Seat inserts are cut to the deck of the sofa, not to the old cushion, which has usually shrunk and lost its shape. We measure the width and depth of the seat between the arms and back, the height of the old cushion, and any shaping at the front corners or around the arms on a T-cushion. On a sofa with several seat cushions, each is measured, because the end ones often differ from the middle.

Firmness is a matter of taste and use. A firm seat suits upright sitting, older family members and anyone who works on the sofa with a laptop. A softer seat suits a television room. We bring foam samples so you can press them and sit on them, and we can make the end seats a touch firmer than the middle if two people like different things.

Humidity is hard on fillings. Feather absorbs moisture from the air, clumps and, in a closed room, can begin to smell by the end of the rains. Low-density foam holds damp in its cells and breaks down to crumbs. Polyester fibre barely absorbs water and dries quickly, which is why it is the safe choice for rentals and houses closed for months.

Good-quality foam copes well if it can breathe. That means a cotton or breathable ticking layer under the cover, rather than plastic wrap, and a cover fabric that is not coated. Lifting seat cushions and standing them on edge in a breezy room on a dry day after the monsoon lets them air thoroughly.

Every sofa cushion cover we make has a zip, placed along the back or underside so it does not show. Seat covers are cut to fit snugly over their inserts, because a loose seat cover creases and slides. Piping strengthens the edges, which take the most wear, and defines the shape; knife-edge and flanged finishes are softer and suit throws.

For seat covers, choose a fabric rated for heavy use. Throws can be anything: linen, cotton prints, handloom weaves, velvet in an air-conditioned room. Matching the throws to the curtains is one of the simplest ways to tie a sitting room together.

On a three-seater, two larger cushions at the ends with a smaller or rectangular one in the middle is a reliable start. On a deep L-shape, put more cushions in the corner, where people lean back sideways, and fewer along the straight run. Mixing a plain, a texture and a pattern within a related colour range looks considered without becoming busy.

A sofa throw — a light blanket folded over the arm or back — adds comfort on cooler evenings and protects the most-touched parts of the sofa. In Goa, cotton and light linen throws suit most of the year; heavier knits are only for air-conditioned rooms. We can make throws from the same fabric as the cushions.