The papasan, properly cushioned.

GOOD QUESTIONS

Papasan cushions, answered.

• How do I find my papasan bowl size?

  Measure across the inside top of the rattan frame — rim to rim through the centre. Most papasans fall on a standard size: 44 inches (smaller children's), 45 inches (most common adult), 55 inches (oversized adult), or 60 inches and up (mamasan loveseat). If your tape lands between two of those, measure twice in different directions and pick the larger — a slightly oversized cushion settles into the bowl beautifully; an undersized one sits awkwardly proud.

• Indoor or outdoor fabric — which should I choose?

  If the papasan lives strictly inside (reading nook, bedroom corner, sunroom with closed windows), an indoor performance fabric like Aquaclean linen gives you the soft, lived-in feel papasans are known for. If it's on a screened porch, conservatory or anywhere humidity reaches it, go outdoor performance fabric — same plumpness, none of the mildew worry. Browse the library filtered by use, and order free swatches.

• How thick / lofty are the cushions?

  Our standard papasan cushion is 8 to 10 inches of loft at the centre, tapering to roughly 5 inches at the rim. That's enough to sink into without your back finding the rattan, and enough to hold its plumpness for years before needing a fluff or a top-up of fill. If you specifically want a thinner pillow-style cushion or an extra-deep cloud, tell us in the order notes and we'll adjust the fill weight.

• Should I replace the cushion or buy a whole new papasan?

  Almost always replace the cushion. Rattan frames are usually sound for decades; what fails first is the cover (faded, torn, dated fabric) and the fill (compressed, lumpy). A fresh cushion costs a fraction of a new bowl, looks dramatically better, and the rattan you already own is probably better-made than what's on the shelf today. Send a photo of the bare frame and we'll confirm fit.

• What size is a mamasan loveseat?

  Mamasans are the wider two-person papasans — typically 60 inches wide, 45 inches deep, with an oval rather than circular outline. We pattern them as ovals (major and minor axis) and use slightly more fill toward the centre to support two people. If you have an unusual mamasan frame (some vintage ones run 65 or even 72 inches across), measure the rim oval and we'll cut to fit. They take a couple of days longer than round bowls in production.

• Do papasan cushions pill or shed over time?

  Indoor cottons and linens can shed lightly for the first few weeks — that's loose surface fibre, not a defect, and it stops on its own. Pilling happens on lower-quality blends; we don't carry those. The Aquaclean and Crypton linens we recommend for papasans are pill-resistant and stay smooth for years. Outdoor performance weaves don't pill at all. Browse filtered by indoor performance for the longest-living indoor options.

• Is the cover washable?

  The cover unzips for cleaning. Most outdoor performance covers can be cold-washed on delicate, inside out, and air-dried flat — never tumbled. Indoor linens and cottons should be spot-cleaned only or dry-cleaned, because the dye lots can shift in a wash. Specific care depends on the fabric you choose; we include a care card with every order. Don't ever wash the fill itself — fiberfill compacts in a machine and doesn't recover.