Cushions for rattan garden furniture: sizes, colours and what to replace first
Rattan (nearly always synthetic PE rattan on an aluminium frame) is the most common garden furniture in Britain. It lasts. Its cushions do not. Here is what to put on it.
What fits
| Rattan piece | Seat pad | Back cushion | Scatter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Armchair | 55×55 to 60×60, 8 cm | 55×45 | 1 × 45×45 |
| 2-seater sofa | 2 × 60×60 or 1 × 120×60 | 2 × 60×45 | 2-3 × 45×45 |
| Corner set | Per seat 60×60; corner 70×70 | Per seat 60×45 | 5-7 × 45×45 |
| Cube set (dining) | Per stool 40×40 | none | optional |
| Daybed | Custom | Custom | 4-6 × 45×45 or 50×50 |
Those are typical; measure your frame inside the arms before ordering. The method is in replacement cushions for garden furniture.
Colours for each rattan colour
- Grey rattan (the most common): warm neutrals and earth tones. Sand, olive, terracotta, rust, mustard. Cool greys on grey rattan look like a waiting room. Full guide: cushions for grey rattan.
- Brown or natural rattan: natural white, sage, navy, lemon. Avoid brown cushions; everything merges.
- Black rattan: charcoal base with one strong colour: burnt orange, deep teal, or a navy stripe.
- White rattan: almost anything. Stone, sage and soft pink for a coastal look; navy and yellow for a sharper one.
Cushions should contrast with the rattan, not match it. Grey on grey disappears; sand on grey looks expensive.
Replace the scatters first
If the budget does not run to a full set, replace the scatter cushions. They are what you see and what gets forgotten in the rain. Six 45×45 Sunbrella® cushions in a planned palette lift a tired set more than new seat pads do, and they are in stock in 158 colours. Seat pads can follow as a made-to-measure order when the old foam finally gives up.
Why rattan cushions go mouldy
Rattan seats are open weave over a frame, so a seat pad on rattan dries from below as well as above, which is good. The problem is the pad itself: standard foam in a printed polyester cover. Water gets in, cannot get out, and the underside of the pad against the weave stays damp. Replacement pads with quick-dry foam in a water-permeable inner solve it. Fillings explained in foam vs hollow fibre.
Keeping rattan cushions nice
Stand seat pads on their side after heavy rain, wash covers at 30° once a season, and store dry in winter if you can. Sunbrella® covers can be bleached 1:9 to remove the green algae that collects where the pad meets the weave. See how to clean outdoor cushions.
158 Sunbrella® colours in 45×45, filling included, shipped next working day. Browse the collection or ask about made to measure.
