Holmfirth Canvas Plain Cotton Cushion - Lichen

The Holmfirth cushion is made from 100% cotton canvas in a plain, muted olive-green the supplier calls Lichen. It is a full 45 by 45cm square, the standard scatter-cushion size, so it drops into an existing cushion arrangement without leaving you hunting for a matching insert. What sets it apart from a plain-faced cushion is the oxford border: a flat fabric frame that runs around all four sides, giving the front a defined edge rather than a raw seam. Canvas is a tightly woven cotton, so the surface reads as solid and matt rather than shiny, and the colour sits evenly across the whole face.

This is a cushion that earns its place both outdoors and in. Drop it on a garden bench, an outdoor sofa or a patio chair through the warmer months, then bring it inside onto a living-room sofa or a reading chair when the weather turns. The plain finish means it works as the quiet member of a group, letting a patterned or striped cushion take the lead beside it, and the earthy green sits happily against natural wood, stone, linen-look neutrals and warmer tan tones. If you like a layered, relaxed look on a bench or daybed, this is the steady base colour to build the rest around.

The cover is treated for outdoor use and made to be hardwearing, which is what the canvas weave is chosen for: a dense cotton cloth stands up to being sat on and moved about. A discreet zip along one edge lets you take the cover off the insert, which is far easier than wrestling a cover that has no opening. Cotton takes colour well and feels dry and matt to the touch, unlike a slippery synthetic. Style it plainly on its own, or pair it with the striped cushions from the wider Holmfirth range for a coordinated bench.

Can I use this cushion outdoors?

Yes. The cover is 100% cotton canvas treated for outdoor use, so it is suited to a garden bench, patio chair or outdoor sofa as well as indoors.

What is an oxford border and why does it matter?

It is a flat fabric frame stitched around all four sides of the cushion face, giving a defined, finished edge rather than a plain seam right at the corner.

Can I take the cover off to deal with it separately?

Yes. There is a discreet zip along one edge, so the cover comes off the insert far more easily than a closed cover with no opening.

What size is the cushion and will it fit my other covers?

It is a 45 by 45cm square, the common scatter-cushion size, so it sits alongside most standard cushions without looking out of proportion.

What does the canvas feel like?

Canvas is a densely woven cotton, so the surface is matt and solid to the touch rather than shiny, and it feels dry and natural rather than slippery like a synthetic.

Is the fabric a plain colour or patterned?

This cushion is a plain, single muted green with no print, which is what makes it a useful steady base to set patterned cushions against.