Garden Bench Cushions and Covers: What to Buy and Why, from Sloane and Sons
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A teak garden bench is one of the most durable outdoor investments you can make, but the right cushion and cover combination takes it from functional to genuinely comfortable and well-protected. Choosing the wrong cushion size, a material that does not hold up to UK weather, or a cover that does not fit properly can undermine an otherwise excellent piece of furniture. This guide covers everything you need to know about buying garden bench cushions and bench covers from Sloane and Sons.
How to Choose the Right Garden Bench Cushion
Getting the Size Right
The most important starting point is matching the cushion to the width of your bench. Sloane and Sons cushions are available in sizes to fit benches from 1.2m to 2.1m. As a guide, a two-seater bench cushion is sized to fit benches around 1.2m to 1.5m, a three-seater bench cushion is designed for benches at 1.5m to 1.8m, and a four-seater bench cushion covers benches at 1.8m and above.
If you are buying a cushion for an existing bench, measure the internal seat width before ordering. A cushion that is too narrow will slide around and look untidy; one that is too wide will overhang the seat edges and crease.
Filling: Why Compressed Fibre Outperforms Foam Outdoors
All Sloane and Sons bench cushions are filled with compressed fibre rather than foam. This is a deliberate choice. Foam absorbs water and can take days to dry out properly after rain, creating a damp, uncomfortable surface and encouraging mould growth. Compressed fibre, by contrast, allows water to drain through relatively quickly, which means the cushion is ready to sit on again much sooner after a shower.
Foam cushions may feel softer initially, but they lose their shape faster. Compressed fibre retains its profile over more seasons of regular use.
Fabric: Built for Outdoor Use
All of our garden bench cushions use durable olefin fabric, which is specifically engineered for outdoor use. It is UV-resistant to prevent fading, water-resistant to handle light rain, and tough enough to withstand the general wear of regular outdoor use. The cushion covers are zipped and washable, which makes cleaning straightforward.
For colour options, our garden bench cushions are available in green, cream, and Cotswold stone, giving you the flexibility to complement your garden’s existing palette or match the natural tone of your teak furniture.
Cushions for Specific Bench Styles
If you have a Lutyens bench, our range includes dedicated Lutyens chair cushions shaped to fit the distinctive curved back of this classic style. For banana benches, our banana bench cushions are cut to match the gentle curve of the seat profile. Standard flat cushions are available in all sizes for the rest of our bench range.
How to Choose the Right Garden Bench Cover
Why Use a Cover at All?
Grade A teak is highly weather-resistant and does not require a cover to survive outdoors through the year. However, a cover serves a different purpose: it keeps the surface of the furniture clean. Leaf stain, bird droppings, and general atmospheric grime are much harder to remove once they have settled into wood over an extended period. A well-fitting cover prevents this build-up and significantly reduces the amount of cleaning required at the start of each season.
Covers are also essential for protecting cushions. Cushion fabric and filling will degrade faster if left exposed to prolonged UV light and repeated wetting and drying cycles. If you cannot bring your cushions indoors, keeping them under a cover is the next best option.
Finding the Right Cover Size
Our garden bench covers are available in sizes to match our bench range. When selecting a cover, check the measurements against your specific bench dimensions, including its depth and the height of the backrest, rather than simply matching the seat width. A cover that is too short will not protect the legs or the cushions adequately; one that is significantly too large will flap in the wind and may cause more abrasion than it prevents.
Material and Fit
Our covers are made from water-resistant fabric with a construction that resists tearing in wind. Look for covers with tie-down points or drawstring closures at the base, which keep the cover in place during the kind of gusty conditions common in UK autumn and winter months.
Putting It All Together
If you are starting from scratch with a new bench, the most practical approach is to buy the bench, the cushion, and the cover together. This ensures everything is sized correctly from the outset and means your bench is ready to use comfortably and properly protected from the moment it arrives.
To explore the full range, start with our wooden benches to find the right bench for your space, then move to our garden bench cushions to find the matching cushion size, and finish with our bench covers to complete the set. Free next-day delivery is available on most orders placed before 2pm.
