Sofa Cushion

Sofa cushions: how to choose, arrange and care for them

A sofa without cushions looks unfinished and often feels too deep or too hard to sit on for long. The right cushions fill the gap between your back and the sofa frame, add colour and texture to the living room, and make the sofa the place everyone wants to sit. Soft Souls sofa cushions are 16 × 16 inch jute cushions, filled with soft polyester hollow fibre and sold in sets of two, in navy blue and ocean blue.

Our sofa cushions

• Cover: jute, for a natural, textured look
• Fill: polyester hollow fibre, light and bouncy
• Size: 16 × 16 inches
• In the set: 2 filled cushions, about 300 g per set
• Colours: navy blue and ocean blue

Why 16 × 16 inches suits most Indian sofas

Many sofas in Indian homes, from compact apartment sofas to wooden-frame sofas and diwans, have seats that are not very deep. A 16-inch cushion fills the space behind the lower and middle back without pushing you to the front of the seat. Larger 18 to 20 inch cushions suit deep, modern sofas; smaller 12-inch cushions are accents for the front row. If you are unsure, 16 inches is the safest single size.

How many cushions for your sofa?

Leave room to sit. A sofa crowded with cushions looks full in photos but pushes people forward in real life.

Arranging sofa cushions

1. Start at the ends. Place a pair of matching cushions in the corners, against the arms.
2. Add texture. Pair jute with a smoother fabric, such as velvet on a smaller 12-inch cushion in front.
3. Keep the colours related. Two or three colours that appear elsewhere in the room look calm and planned.
4. Plump and stand them upright. A quick chop down the top edge with the side of your hand gives the classic relaxed look; a plain plump gives a neater one.

Choosing colours

Navy blue jute looks rich against a beige, grey or white sofa and works with wooden furniture. Ocean blue is brighter and fresher, lovely on a cream sofa or in a room with plants and natural light. Use one colour for a calm room, or mix the two for a gentle, layered blue palette.

Sofa cushions and comfort

Sofa cushions are about comfort as much as looks. A cushion behind your lower back helps you sit back comfortably on a sofa that is too deep, and a cushion under your arm makes reading or using a phone on the sofa more relaxed. If you like to stretch out and nap on the sofa, a proper sofa pillow works better under your head than a decorative cushion.

Why hollow fibre?

Hollow fibre is a polyester fibre with a tiny channel through each strand. That makes it light and springy: it gives when you lean on it and springs back when you get up. It holds its shape well on a sofa that is used every day, and it is easy to plump. Natural alternatives such as kapok and cotton feel different and need more upkeep; our guides explain both.

Living with jute

Jute is a natural plant fibre with a coarse, textured weave and a matte finish. It looks earthy and handmade, and it hides small marks well. It is not as soft against bare skin as velvet or cotton, which is why many people place jute cushions behind the back rather than under the cheek. Jute can shed a few fibres when new; this settles with use.

Sofa cushions in a small living room

In a compact apartment living room, the sofa is often the largest piece of furniture, and cushions are what people see first. Fewer, well-chosen cushions make a small room feel calm; too many make it feel cluttered. Two 16-inch cushions in one colour at the ends of a three-seater, plus one textured accent, is usually enough. Choose a colour that also appears in a rug, curtain or wall art, so the room feels connected.

Caring for sofa cushions

• Plump every day or two so the hollow fibre stays even.
• Rotate cushions between the ends and the middle so they wear and fade evenly.
• Keep them out of strong afternoon sun through a window, which fades colour.
• Spot clean marks quickly with a damp cloth and mild soap; follow the care instructions on the product page for washing.
• Air them in the shade on a dry day after the monsoon.

Sofa cushion questions

Are the cushions filled? Yes, two filled cushions per set.

Can I change the cover? The jute cushions come as filled cushions. Our velvet cushion covers are 12 × 12 inches, for smaller cushions.

Are these good for a bed too? Yes. The same cushions work as bed cushions.

Will the colour run? Spot clean rather than soaking, and test any cleaner on a hidden corner first.

Choosing between navy and ocean blue

Pick navy if your sofa is light and you want the cushions to stand out, or if the sofa gets heavy daily use. Pick ocean blue for a fresher, brighter look on a darker or neutral sofa. A set of each gives you a two-tone arrangement with no clashing colours.

Shop sofa cushions

Sofa cushions start from ₹497.00 for a set of two, inclusive of all taxes, with cash on delivery and 7-day returns on unused products. See all cushions.

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