Cushions, Padding, and Fills

A good support system is nice and does make a difference in the overall strength and longevity of a chair or sofa, but comfort ultimately comes down to what fill material is used and how it is employed. Check out these common fills and techniques:

• The more expensive pieces probably feature cushions filled with down (waterfowl feathers). Our feathered friends provide a softness and comfort prized by many. While these cushions do require a little bit of maintenance (a good fluff every now and then), they also possess a durability and resilience one might not expect.
• Perhaps the most common cushion used in medium to expensive pieces consists of polyurethane foam wrapped with layers of polyester fiber and sewn into an inner cover. This cushion is then inserted into a decorative cover.
• Another cushion that you may encounter is a polyurethane core with polyester bonded or glued on each side. This cushion is inserted into the decorative cover without being sewn into an inner cover.
• Less expensive cushions may simply be blocks of polyurethane foam placed directly inside the cushion cover.