Whether you’re shopping for a cozy family-friendly sectional, a classic loveseat, or a sleek modern sofa, you’re probably thinking about the fabric color, the style, or whether it’ll fit through your front door. However, let’s not overlook something equally as important – the insides of those cushions and pillows.
Sure, the upholstery itself may be what first catches your eye, but the real comfort – the thing that makes you want to sink in and stay awhile – is all about the stuff underneath the cover. That includes both the seat cushions you sit on, and the back cushions and pillows you lean against.
If you’ve ever wondered why one sofa feels plush and cloud-like while another feels firm and supportive, you’re in the right place! In this brief guide, we’ll walk you through the different types of pillow and cushion fills, what they mean, and how they impact comfort, durability, and price.
Pillows vs. Cushions: What’s the Difference?
Before diving into the materials, let’s define what we’re talking about:
- Seat cushions are the comfort foundation that you sit on. These cushions need to be supportive enough to hold a user's weight while still feeling comfortable for sitting. Seat cushions can be crafted from a variety of materials and may come in a number of different densities that provide different levels of comfort and durability.
- Back cushions, sometimes called back pillows, are the ones you typically sit back or lean against. These cushions can be loose, semi-attached, or attached to the sofa back and are usually softer and more plush than seat cushions.
- Pillows on a sofa or couch likely require very little introduction or explanation. Often called accent pillows or throw pillows, they can be functional, purely decorative, or a little bit of both. They can also come in a variety of sizes and shapes, from standard square, to rectangular kidney pillows, to cylindrical roll pillows or bolster pillows.
Let’s explore the different options and fill materials below.
Cushion & Pillow Fill Materials: Foam, Fiber, Down & Coil
Whether we’re talking about the seat cushions you sit on, the back cushions you sink into, or the throw pillows that tie your room together, the type of fill inside plays a significant role in how your upholstered seating feels, functions, and wears over time. While the form and function may differ between seat cushions, back cushions, and pillows, many of the same fill materials are used, just in different ways. Let’s take a closer look at the most common types of cushion and pillow fills you’ll encounter when sofa shopping.
Foam Cores
Foam is a huge part of upholstery manufacturing. Especially when it comes to seat cushions. Between polyurethane foam (also known as poly-foam) and viscoelastic foam (i.e. memory foam and gel memory foam), foams are widely used in seat cushions and, occasionally, in firmer back cushions.
Foam cushion cores are often fiber-wrapped in Dacron – a very thin, polyester fabric – in order to provide extra structure and support. In some cases, this fiber-wrap may also include duck or goose down to provide an extra soft feel.
Foam core cushions are typically available in a range of firmness levels and densities. Generally speaking, the higher the foam’s density, the greater the durability and firmer the seat. Read more on foam density in cushions here.
Fiber Fill (aka Poly-Fiber or Polyester Fiber)
Lightweight, soft, and affordable, fiber fill is commonly used in both back cushions and in pillows for its airy, plush feel. It’s also hypoallergenic and great for those with sensitivities to natural materials like goose down or duck down.
While it does feel cozy, fiber fill also tends to compress and clump more quickly over time than other fill options. Especially without regular fluffing or in high-use areas. As a result, this is typically the most affordable fill option, but it only sees limited use in seat cushions due to its loose composition and minimal support.
Down & Down Blend
The ultimate in softness, down and down-blend fills are most often seen in upscale upholstered pieces – or sold as an upgrade to take your custom upholstered seating to the next level. Cushions or pillows made with down are stuffed with the natural feathers from ducks or geese. By contrast, down blend cushions and pillows typically include a mix of natural feathers along with polyester fiber fill, making them the best of both worlds.
Most down fills these days are a down blend, and are most often used for pillows and back cushions. Down is incredibly soft, but it does require frequent fluffing, is typically more expensive than synthetic options, and may not be ideal for allergy-sensitive households – although manufacturers are now stressing that down can be hypoallergenic too.
Spring Coil & Pocketed Coil Cushions
The last of our cushion and pillow options is a little less conventional, a little less common, and is strictly used for seat cushions. We’re talking about spring coils – similar to the ones you’d find in the latest innerspring and hybrid mattresses. Much like down fill, cushions featuring spring coils are often available as an upgrade at an additional cost to the consumer.
In most cases, these coils are integrated within a foam cushion core or encasement. In some designs, the coils are directly encased in the foam cushion core, while in others they may be individually-wrapped pocketed coils. Regardless of which you go with, this type of cushion design offers a more responsive feel that distributes weight evenly, helping to maintain cushion shape over time. As a result, coil core and pocketed coil cushions are excellent choices for those who want extra durability — particularly in households where seats get a lot of use.
So, What Cushion Fill Is Right for You?
Ultimately, the cushions and pillows you choose should be whichever option best fits your life, home, and budget. If longevity and durability are your top priority, high-density foam cushions, or those with foam-wrapped coil interiors, are a wise investment. This is especially true if your upholstered seating is for a high-use area. If you’re more interested in the pinnacle of comfort and luxury – and you don’t mind fluffing a few pillows on occasion – you really can’t beat a down blend fill. However, if you want something practical and affordable at an accessible price point, there’s nothing wrong with a standard density foam seat cushion and cozy fiber fill back cushions and pillows.
At the end of the day, the right pillow or cushion fill comes down to your personal comfort preferences and how you plan to use the piece. As always, our team at Woodstock Furniture & Mattress Outlet is here to help you find that just-right fit – not just for your style and budget, but for your comfort, too. Whether you're shopping online or visiting us at one of our North Georgia showrooms, our team can help you explore different options and answer any questions so that you can make a confident, informed choice.
Have more upholstery questions? Ready to keep learning? Don’t miss our other helpful upholstery guides below:
- Cushion Conversations: Tight Back vs Loose Back Sofas
- Upholstery Suspension Systems: What You Should Know
- How Long Do Sofas Last? A Guide to Upholstery Lifespan
- Understanding Cushion Foam Density: What It Is & Why It Matters for Your Sofa
Better yet, if you’d like to feel the difference between the different cushion types and fills, come see us! We’d love to help you find your perfect seat. See you soon!
