Question 1: Which Seat Cushion Suits Which Piece of Furniture?

We make three models that look similar at first glance but do completely different jobs in everyday use. The choice isn't a matter of taste, it comes down to the piece of furniture the cushion will sit on.

In short: a chair with a backrest gets an Ibiza, a seat with no backrest gets a Nizza, and anything loose and soft becomes a Cairo. For lounges with several elements, our dedicated guide Custom Lounge Cushions is worth a look, as it explains the complete set of seat, back and fastening.

Question 2: What Sizes Are Common, and Which Are Ordered Most Often?

A custom seat cushion has no standard size, but there are measurements that come up again and again across Europe, because the furniture does too. They're a good starting point in the configurator:

Two rules from our workshop on this. First: you measure the seat, not the chair. Measure the frame instead, and you'll end up with a cushion that overhangs and tips when you sit down. Second: from 135 cm in width, we add a neat centre seam, because our fabrics are woven in a 140 cm roll width. On a 150 cm bench that's completely normal and won't be noticeable once you're sitting. The configurator on every product page shows which measurements can be selected for that model; anything outside this grid goes through as a special request by email to support@lulu-belle.de.

Question 3: Foam Flakes or Foam Board?

This is the most important difference between our models, and it's the reason there are three of them at all. The Nizza bench cushion and the Ibiza garden chair cushion have a core of high-quality mattress-grade PU foam, shape-cut from a single piece. This board carries your body weight, stays flat and springs back; you sit on it, not in it. That's exactly what you want on a chair or bench, where the cushion should sit smooth again as soon as you stand up.

The Cairo outdoor cushion is deliberately built differently: a separate inner cushion holds antibacterial, point-elastic foam flakes, with a removable olefin outer cover on top. The flakes adapt to your sitting position, can be shaken back into shape, and give the soft, slightly relaxed look that's wanted on floor cushions and platforms. A Cairo also works as a loose seat cushion on a garden chair, but if you want a firm, flat surface, choose a chair-sized Nizza instead. Which foams we use for seating and why 8 cm is the standard for benches is explained on our foam page and in the guide What Foam Thickness for Outdoor Cushions?.

Question 4: How Does a Custom Garden Chair Cushion Stay in Place?

On a garden chair, how well the cushion stays put decides whether you love it or straighten it up every evening. The Ibiza solves this through its shape: the seat and back sections are permanently joined, so the cushion folds and sits in the chair like an L. The back section leans against the backrest, your body weight holds the seat section down, and because both parts are connected, neither can slide forward on its own. On chairs with an adjustable backrest, the cushion follows the angle as it reclines.

On top of that there's the fabric: olefin has a high natural grip, so it stays put on wood, poly rattan and lacquered metal far better than smooth polyester covers do. If you'd still like extra security, say for folding chairs that get put away after dinner, or on a patio that catches a lot of wind, fastening straps or loops can be sewn on by request. This isn't listed as an option in the configurator; like all special requests, it's handled with a short email including your order number to support@lulu-belle.de. For how loose cushions stay in place with no straps at all, using the roll and wedge cushions as an example, see the comparison Roll Cushion or Wedge Cushion?.

Question 5: Which Fabric and Colour for Outdoor Seat Cushions?

All three models are sewn from 100% olefin. The fibre is dyed right through its core, so it won't fade, absorbs virtually no water, and is UV-, pool- and saltwater-resistant. The cover comes off via a zip and washes at 30 degrees. For seat cushions used every day, we recommend our heavy 460 g/m² woven fabrics: they have a visible texture, feel more premium, and forgive wear.

One pattern has proven itself when it comes to colour: keep large areas calm, be bold with small cushions. Bench and chair cushions in a plain shade that matches the furniture, plus two or three Cairo cushions in a woven pattern or an accent colour. That keeps the patio looking tidy while still giving it character. If you're unsure, order free fabric samples in advance and hold them against the chair in daylight. The criteria for choosing a fabric in detail, from abrasion rating to colourfastness, are explained in the guide Best Fabric for Outdoor Cushions?; all our fabrics at a glance are on our fabric page.

Question 6: Can I Order a Cairo as a Floor Cushion Too?

Yes, and that's one of the most common uses. A Cairo in 60 × 60 or 80 × 80 cm at 10 to 15 cm high becomes a floor cushion for the patio, a platform, or the edge of the pool. Several stacked together form a seating landscape you can rearrange every evening. The flake filling is the advantage here: the cushion is allowed to settle and can simply be shaken back into shape, instead of showing edges like a board would.

Two things are different for a floor cushion compared with a chair cushion. First, it sits closer to splashing water and gets moved around more often, so the abrasion-resistant woven fabric is worth choosing here. Second, it should be stood on edge after a rain shower so the underside can dry; the easiest way to manage that over the season is in our guide Caring for Outdoor Cushions the Right Way. If you want to build a complete ground-level lounge out of floor cushions, our Lounge Furniture Cushions Complete Guide has the matching combinations with a mattress and back cushion.

Question 7: How Do I Measure Correctly, and What Happens If Something Doesn't Fit?

Measuring mistakes are rare for us, and that has less to do with our customers than with the principle behind it: give us the measurements you need, and you'll get exactly that cushion. Three steps make sure of it:

1. Measure the seat: width from inner edge to inner edge, depth from the front edge to the backrest. For curves or angled edges, note the largest rectangle that fits, and send the shape along as a sketch or photo.
2. Choose the thickness: 5 to 6 cm for chairs you eat at, 8 cm for benches and lounges, 10 to 15 cm for floor cushions. The thicker it is, the more seat height it adds, which is worth bearing in mind at a dining table.
3. Check the backrest (Ibiza): height of the backrest from the seat, and the width at the top if it tapers upward.

We make every measurement with a guaranteed tolerance, graded by size: up to 100 cm, a maximum deviation of 1 cm. Special shapes, cut-outs for posts, or a cushion for a chair that doesn't fit any grid, we clarify by email before we start sewing. Delivery takes 2 to 3 weeks, because every cushion is only cut and sewn once it's ordered. For benches in detail, from length to centre seam, there's our guide Custom Bench Cushion: Length and Thickness.

The Quick Checklist Before You Order

• Furniture decides: backrest → Ibiza, seat only → Nizza, loose or floor → Cairo
• Measure the inside of the seat, not the frame
• Choose the thickness to match how it's used (5 to 6 cm dining chair, 8 cm bench, 10 to 15 cm floor)
• Look at fabric samples in daylight
• Request straps, cut-outs or special shapes by email

Everything else about made-to-measure cushions, from tolerances to care, is summed up on our overview page Custom Outdoor Cushions. And if you're looking for the right backrest cushion to go with your seat cushion, our guide How to Choose a Backrest Cushion covers the five factors that matter.

Frequently Asked Questions About Custom Seat Cushions