Cotton Cushion

Cotton cushions: cotton fill, cotton covers and how to choose

"Cotton cushion" can mean two different things, and it is worth knowing which one you are buying. Some cushions are filled with cotton, the dense, natural fill used in traditional Indian gaddas and pillows. Others have a cotton cover over a different fill. Both can be good choices, but they feel and behave very differently. This guide explains both, so you can choose with confidence.

What we offer today

To be clear: Soft Souls does not sell cotton-filled cushions yet. Our current filled cushions are 16 × 16 inch jute cushions with polyester hollow fibre, and our cushion covers are velvet. For a natural cotton fill now, our cotton pillows (15 × 22 inches, set of two) make good back cushions on a bed or diwan. When we add cotton cushions, they will appear here with the fill and cover named clearly.

Cotton fill: what it feels like

• Firm and dense. Cotton fill gives a solid, supportive feel rather than a bouncy one.
• Heavier. A cotton-filled cushion weighs noticeably more than a fibre or kapok cushion of the same size, so it stays in place on a sofa.
• Breathable. Natural cotton lets air move through it, which many people prefer in a warm room.
• Compacts with use. Over months, cotton fill presses down and becomes firmer and flatter, especially where you lean most.

Cotton covers: what they offer

A cotton cover is a separate choice from the fill. Cotton covers are matte, breathable and easy to wash, and they come in endless prints and weaves, from simple plain weave to handloom and block prints. They feel cooler and fresher against bare arms than velvet or synthetic covers on a hot afternoon. A cotton cover can go on almost any fill: cotton, kapok, hollow fibre or foam.

Cotton fill compared with other fills

If you like a firm back rest that does not slide, cotton fill suits you. If you like a soft, light cushion that is easy to move, look at kapok or hollow fibre.

Where cotton cushions work well

• Back support on firm seats, such as wooden chairs and diwans.
• Floor seating, where a heavier cushion stays put against the wall.
• Traditional homes where cotton gaddas and pillows are already the norm.

Caring for a cotton-filled cushion

1. Do not soak the fill. Wet cotton fill takes a long time to dry and can lump or develop a musty smell. Wash only the removable cover, and keep spilled tea or water off the fill.
2. Sun it regularly. A few hours of sun every few weeks keeps cotton fill fresh and dry. Turn it once.
3. Beat and plump it. Patting and shaking loosens the fill and slows compaction.
4. Re-fluff when it hardens. When the cushion feels hard and flat, a local pillow-maker can open it, card the cotton and refill it, the same way traditional gaddas are renewed.

Caring for cotton covers

Machine wash cotton covers inside out on a gentle cycle with mild detergent, wash bright prints with similar colours, and dry in the shade so the colour lasts. A warm iron gives them a crisp finish.

Cotton cushions through the seasons

Cotton fill absorbs moisture from the air, so in the monsoon a cotton cushion can feel slightly heavy and damp. On the first sunny day after the rains, put cotton-filled cushions out for a few hours and turn them once. In summer, the same fill feels pleasantly solid and breathable behind your back, especially with a light cotton cover. In winter, a cotton-filled cushion holds warmth well on a cold floor or a stone bench.

Firmness and fill weight

A cotton cushion's firmness depends on how much cotton is packed into it. A generously filled cushion feels firm and holds its shape longer before it compacts; a lightly filled one feels soft at first but flattens sooner. When comparing cotton cushions, the fill weight on the label is the most useful number: it tells you how much cotton you are actually getting for the price.

How to read a cushion label

Look for two separate lines: the cover fabric and the fill. "Cotton cushion" on its own does not tell you what is inside. A clear label says, for example, "Cover: 100% cotton. Fill: cotton" or "Cover: cotton. Fill: polyester hollow fibre". Also look for the size and the fill weight, which tells you how plump the cushion will be.

Cotton cushion questions

Do you sell cotton-filled cushions? Not yet.

Are your jute cushions cotton-filled? No. They are filled with polyester hollow fibre, and we say so on every product page.

Can I use a cotton pillow as a cushion? Yes. Our 15 × 22 inch cotton pillows make firm back cushions.

Why does my cotton cushion feel hard? Cotton fill compacts with use. Sunning and beating help for a while; after a few years, the cotton can be carded and refilled.

Cotton cushions in a small home

In a one-room home or a small flat, the same cushions often move from the sofa to the floor to the bed in a single day. A cotton-filled cushion is heavier to carry around, but it also stays where you put it. For cushions that travel around the house, a lighter fill is usually more practical.

Explore

See our cotton pillows, cotton mattresses and all cushions.

Part of our Cushions range. Also see Kapok Cushion, Sofa Cushion, Bed Cushion, Sofa Pillow.