A neat, defined seat? A soft, pillowy back? Or a little of both? Compare foam, fibre and foam + fibre to find the starting point that suits you.
The filling sets the starting feel. Your cushion thickness, cover and the support underneath also affect the finished result.
| Filling | Look & feel | What you choose | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foam core | A defined outline and a consistent core. | Soft, Medium, Firm or Extra Firm, plus optional finishing. | Firmness and thickness work together. A thin cushion can feel different from a deep one. |
| Fibre-filled | A rounded, pillowy insert with a relaxed look. | Standard or Extra Plump fullness. | Loose filling settles with use and benefits from regular plumping. |
| Foam + fibre jacket | A foam centre with a softer, fuller outer layer. | Foam firmness and fibre fullness. | A different construction from foam with a thin Dacron wrap. |
A cut foam core creates the shape of your cushion. It’s a useful starting point when you want a neater seat outline and a choice of firmness.
Choose the feel you enjoy, while considering the cushion’s thickness and how it will be used. The same firmness label won’t feel identical in every size or cover.
Configure a foam cushion ↗Fibre is held in an inner casing rather than cut into a solid core. It makes a soft, rounded insert for backs, scatters and cushions where a relaxed appearance is the aim.
Standard and Extra Plump describe fullness, not foam firmness. A fuller insert changes the look and feel inside the cover; it does not turn fibre into a firm foam seat. Plump and re-dress it regularly.
Configure a fibre insert ↗A foam core sits inside a fibre-filled jacket, combining a shaped centre with a pillowy outer layer. Consider it when you want more definition than loose filling alone, with softness at the surface.
Choose the core firmness and the jacket fullness separately. The fibre layer still benefits from plumping. Use the configurator’s cutaway and layer views to see how the two materials sit together.
Configure foam + fibre ↗Soft, Medium, Firm and Extra Firm describe a preferred feel. A firmer option is not automatically more comfortable: cushion thickness, the person using it and the support below it all matter.
It is usually stated in kg/m³. A higher-density foam can still be soft, and a lower-density foam can be firm. Density is a material specification, not another word for firmness.
Choose firmness for the feel you want; compare density and performance information separately when assessing a foam grade.
Switching from loose feather or fibre to a foam core can give a seat a more defined shape. Foam + fibre is another option if you want a shaped centre with a softer outer layer.
This is a change in construction, so expect a different appearance and feel rather than an exact copy of the old cushion. The cover’s cut, fabric and available depth influence how rounded or structured it looks.
Check that the cover has a usable zip or opening, and that the frame and support beneath the cushion are sound. New filling refreshes the cushion; it does not repair a broken support.
Work through the choices step by step ↗These are different additions. Choose them for the finish you want, rather than treating them as interchangeable.
A padded outer layer around the foam, adding softness and a more rounded finish. It adds material outside the foam-core dimensions.
A knitted sleeve around the foam or wrapping. It helps the interior slide into its cover; it is not a decorative cushion cover.
A fuller fibre-filled layer around a foam core. This is the foam + fibre construction, rather than the thin optional Dacron finish.
Start with one piece, then add any matching cushions you need.