Piano Bench Cushion: Reviews & Choices

A piano bench cushion is a welcome accessory that provides several benefits to any budding pianist. If you’re in a hurry, check out these bestselling piano bench cushions on amazon

.Why Use Bench Cushions?

If you have a piano player at home or if you yourself play the piano, then you would know that serious pianists can practice for hours. Even while performing onstage, the performances can last quite long, so a piano bench cushion provides much-needed comfort.

If you intend to be a top piano performer someday, then there is no other way but to put in long hours of practice every single day.

So investing in a good piano bench cushion does make sense (especially if you sit on a wooden bench with no cover).

Are you are wondering why buy bench cushions when the piano bench already comes padded?

Yes, it’s correct that a piano bench already is padded and comfortable, and if you already have a good-quality bench, then you really don’t need cushions.

1. But what if the bench that you had bought is old and now no longer offers the comfort that it used to offer? Are you going to replace it with a new one?
2. What if you are looking for that extra padding to make it a bit taller? You can provide a raised level of seating so that even your kids can play the piano comfortably.
3. How about having some class, style and color? Adding cushions to the upholstered bench also adds style to your piano bench, and also complements the finish of the piano and the surroundings.
4. Most cushions are also reversible and can be used on either side. This can be quite handy if you are pressed for time, are feeling bored, or something more urgent comes up. You can simply give it a new look by reversing it on the other side.
5. Also, the better quality piano bench cushions are soil and stain resistant.

In addition to all these benefits, it serves the main purpose of providing comfort. Cushions are nothing but comfort pillows that can be rested on any piano bench.

And you would know how sitting for hours on a bench can feel, without adequate comfort. A bench cushion will definitely help you to play the piano for prolonged hours without any inconvenience.

What about Measurements?

The two important points that you have to consider while buying cushions are size and thickness. As mentioned before, the thicker cushions provide a raised level of seating.

If you are buying a rolled-edge cushion, you don’t have to be concerned about the size. The cushions that have a rolled edge can easily fit any type of bench.

However, if you are buying a boxed edge cashmere cushion, then you have to measure the bench before you shop for the cushion.

Piano Bench Booster Cushion

Looking for a Piano Bench Booster Cushion? Here’s an excellent booster pad, read our review and see how it compares. If you have a growing kid who is struggling to reach the keys of your piano or if you are looking for more comfort then do check this out.

There is no doubt that a cushion is intended to provide comfort as musicians can play for prolonged sessions.

But what about growing kids?

Not all of them will be able to reach the keys comfortably, but then a lot of them do start learning to play the piano quite early.

And in case your child is showing natural talent, it makes sense to encourage him/her even more so that they can spend more time practicing the piano.

Here’s an excellent booster piano bench cushion for your child, to enable them to reach the keys better and maintain the correct playing position.

Most cushions are designed to be around half an inch to one inch in thickness. These ones come with 2″ thick black pad to help children provide more reach to the piano keys.

Another important feature is that these are soil and stain resistant, just in case your child comes from outdoors and rushes straight to the piano. Here, you don’t have to be worried about these things.

The material used is very good; it is made of premium soft acrylic/polyester fabric to get that elegant look. Two ties are provided so that the pad can be safely secured to the bottom of your bench or chair.

If you have a child at home, who shows promise with the piano and is already showing lots of enthusiasm, you need to provide them with maximum encouragement.

Here’s a nice piano bench booster cushion that can help your child, reach the keyboard comfortably.

Good Piano Bench Cushions

Here are some good bench cushions that you may consider for your piano bench.

Piano Bench Pad by Jansen
Among the finest Piano Bench Pads, these pads are handmade in the USA with luxurious velour, individually tufted. The polyurethane foam padding is 1″ thick for extra comfort, is reversible, and easily attaches to your bench with three tie strings. Because of the classic rolled wedge, the dimensions need not be as exact.

One of the bigger names when it comes to making piano accessories such as benches and cushions is Jansen. It has been around for decades and is a preferred name for professional piano players, who prefer to use their piano benches & stools.

Jansen Piano Bench Pad is designed for experienced musicians who are looking for the best; these are handmade products using luxurious velour material that provides extra comfort, and come in colors that can match almost any decor.

These are high-end, luxurious bench cushions, handmade and individually tufted.

The 1″ foam padding thickness ensures that you get adequate comfort so that you can play for hours. You don’t have to worry about the pad slipping away, as it attaches to the bench using three tie strings, so they are adequately secured.

And the best part is that these are completely reversible, and you need not provide to-the-point measurements because of their rolled wedge design.

Polar Tufted Bench Cushions
This unique gripper upholstered bench cushion stays put without slipping, so you don’t need any ties. Its soft and easy to clean — just wipe up spills with a wet cloth. Polar bench cushions are covered with a soft, polyester chenille-like fabric that is easy to clean, and is available in a variety of colors. Dimensions – 36″ x 14″ x 2-1/2″

Piano Bench Pad
Fine quality piano Bench Pad, made in the USA, using high-grade velour material. Polyurethane foam padding is 1″ thick for extra comfort. Easily attaches to your bench with strapping ties.

Pillow Perfect Indoor/Outdoor Red Solid Wicker Loveseat Cushion
This is an excellent cushion that can be used indoors as well as outdoors – comfortable and looks elegant.

Its thick & looks luxurious, uses good material, and has vibrant color; although a bit pricey.

100-Percent polyester. 42″ wide, 18″ Depth, 2″ thick. Sewn seam closure. Resistant to fading, mildew, & weather.

Strathwood 2 Seater Hardwood Bench Cushion
Made of 100-percent-polyester cover; its reversible and its dimensions are 45-1/2 inches wide, 20 inches deep, 3 inches thick. It resists stains and fading in sunlight. You can clean it gently with mild soap and cool water, and then air dry.

Tapestry Piano Bench Cushion

A tapestry piano bench cushion is one that depicts ornate designs and pictures of various things (designs & animals). You have several choices of designs such as the ones that show grand pianos, keyboards, music notes, holidays, horses, and various other animals, etc.

You may choose a design to match the décor of your room, or probably get one stitched for you as per your requirement. Available in shops nationwide, as well as online, these cushions are available for less than 100 bucks.

Here are the various choices that are available to you:

• Grand Piano Tapestry Cushion: As the name suggests, you will find various ornate Grand Pianos and Sheet Music on these cushions. If you are crazy about pianos, or are a serious Grand Piano player, then this will suit you well. On the back side, you have a soft acrylic black backing, and these come with matching ties.
• If you are looking for more options with music related designs, then you may consider keyboard and rose tapestry cushion or probably a music notes tapestry cushion.
• If you are looking for other designs, besides music, then here’s a beautiful holiday tapestry cushion that shows an array of instruments and seasonal foliage.
• If you are fond of animals, a matching one would be this horses based tapestry cushion that shows beautiful wild horses.

Each of these comes with a matching soft velour backing and come with matching ties. So pick up the ones that you admire the most.

Pillow Perfect Red Solid Wicker Loveseat Cushion
the Pillow Perfect Indoor/Outdoor Red Solid Wicker Loveseat Cushion is an excellent cushion that can be used indoors as well as outdoors, its comfortable and looks elegant.

Premium Piano Bench Cushions

All piano players and musicians want to be seated comfortably while playing their favorite musical instrument. Thankfully, they can choose from comfortable benches.

At the top end, the concert piano benches have cushions with extra padding, smooth padded top and deep tufted buttons.

Bench Pads with Tufted Buttons
The better piano benches come with a hundred percent premium leather, and the padded tops are usually embellished with deep diamond tufted buttons.

And what is the significance of these tufted buttons?

Well, if you have seen one you would agree that hand-tufted buttons make the cushion look more stylish. But then besides the aesthetic part, these also add durability to the benches and provide structure and stability to the upholstered top.

Another thing to note is that a tufted top usually holds up better and last longer compared to a simple flat top.

Concert Piano Bench Cushions
When you are talking about concert pianos, everything concerned has to be top class. And that is the reason you will find that the highest quality piano benches do not have storage compartments.

That is indeed true! They won’t have a music compartment which is so common in budget benches.

The reason is simple! The focus here is on comfort and style.

No storage space means there is more foam, which means you feel more comfortable. You will also find a better and stronger lifting mechanism in such benches.

Thicker cushion padding also means it will last longer and won’t break down so easily, compared to the ones that come with a storage compartment.

So now you can get the ultimate playing experience with piano bench cushions that use extra-thick padding.

Why Posture is Important?
If you have ever been to a concert and seen a pianist perform, it is very easy to get awed by the performance. It is very common for pro piano players to put in hours and hours of practice every day. To be able to do that, it is important that they use accessories that make it much easier and more comfortable to play the piano for a longer duration. A well padded piano bench cushion can really provide that much-needed comfort, required to practice the piano for hours.

Jansen Piano Bench Cushions

Tapestry Piano Bench Cushion

Every piano player is taught to maintain a good posture all the time, while playing the piano. This is the basics of playing any music instrument; to make yourself comfortable and to maintain the right posture. Though it is easy to do that for a short duration, when you are supposed to play for hours at a stretch, it is important for the piano bench cushion to offer adequate padding so that one does not feel any sort of stress after a long playing session.

And when one is talking about playing at the highest level, the benches also need to be of top quality. This is where the benches use tufted cushions and fabric of the highest quality. They are available in rich leather, satin as well as other fabric, and are available in rich as well as bright colors. The more expensive piano benches usually do not have storage space in between as they are only used for performances, unlike those that are used at homes.

More Options
So is this something that beginning piano players also need to buy? Definitely not! Most benches anyways come with padding and they are good enough to get started. These are the usual piano benches, which in most probability will also come with storage space. Since you will have lots of learning materials, it acts as a good storage place to store your books and sheets.

However, there are many more reasons why you would want to have some spare piano bench cushions. For most users, these are like their regular pillows and cushions; you want them to look good as well as complement the other things at home. Even for your piano, it does make sense to buy a spare piano bench cushion, not just for looks but also considering the comfort factor.

Piano Bench Pad

Piano Bench Pad

Useful Links

• Leather Piano Bench & Cushions

Piano Bench Cushion: How to Make Your Own?

You can even make your own piano bench cushion. Reupholstering a cushion requires you to do the following steps:

Cut out the top and bottom pieces
Measure and allow space for the seam
Cut out the side pieces
Sewing along the edges

Here’s an instructional video that you could use.

How to Measure Your Bench Cushion

Here’s how to measure your bench cushion.

There are several places in your house where a bench cushion may be required, for your entryway bench, shoe bench, window or patio seat, dining bench, and even for your wooden piano bench. Anything on which you can sit needs to be comfortable, and using a good quality bench cushion is the way to make it comfortable.

You may choose to sew your own cushion, or the easier option is to just order them. The best thing about shopping nowadays is that you can do it online, right from the comfort of your own home, without even having to step outside.

The only thing you need to know is the measurements. Be it your piano bench or any other bench at home, you need to have some idea of the measurements before you can order.

Doing the Measurements
Here’s what you need to know before you can sew or order a bench cushion.

• Find out the length, width and depth of the cushion that you desire.
• You may use a flexible measuring tape (used by tailors) or even a firm tape (use by carpenters); in fact the latter will provide more accurate results.
• When ordering, you’ll need to round up to the nearest 1/2 inch (some only allow 1-inch increments)
• Thickness of Bench cushions can vary from 2-8 inches (usually in 1-inch increments)

Helpful Instructions
Here’s a nice video that shows you how to measure a bench so that you can order the right cushion for it, with specific dimensions.

This instructional video is quite helpful as it explains how to successfully measure your bench and order your bench cushion.

There are cushions available that come with rolled edges, in which case the dimensions don’t have to exactly match the dimensions of your piano bench. Irrespective, you have the option of going in for ready-made ones or getting these cushions stitched.

The price will depend on several factors such as fabric selected, elaborate designs, and of-course the dimensions. all things being equal, a 2-inch thick cushion will definitely be cheaper than a 5-inch bench cushion.

As far as cleaning is concerned, the instructions are provided when you order. Depending on the material, some of them can be cleaned/washed in the washing machine, whereas some of them need to be only spot cleaned.

There are many online retailers who custom design bench cushions that are uniquely crafted for your needs, including any odd-shaped designs.

How to Sew a Bench Cushion Cover

Whether your bench gets daily use at the dining table or serves as a catchall in your entry hall, give it a makeover by sewing a new cushion cover. Replace a faded, dated cover to update your room. If your bench is currently bare, make a cushion and cover from scratch to turn a hard, wooden bench into a comfortable place for your family to sit.

Here are the steps:

1. Remove the old cushion cover. Measure the cushion from side to side for the length, and from front to back for the width. Measure the height, or thickness, of the cushion. Measure the length and width of the seating area if you are making a cushion from scratch. Cut foam of any height to fit.
2. Cut two pieces of fabric one inch longer and one inch wider than the cushion, one for the cushion top and one for the cushion bottom. Cut them from matching fabric or choose different fabrics for the top and bottom.
3. Multiply the cushion length and the width by two, and then add the totals together for the cushion perimeter. Add one inch to the perimeter, and add one inch to the height. Cut a long strip of fabric to those measurements to make the boxing band for the cushion cover.
4. Cut two lengths of lipped cording, each three inches longer than the perimeter from Step 3. Trim the flat lip of the cording to 1/2-inch wide, if it is wider.
5. Fold the boxing band in half width-wise, right sides together. Pin the ends together. Machine stitch the ends together with a 1/2-inch seam allowance
6. Pin the cording lip to the right side of the cushion top, starting at the center of the long side that will become the back of the cushion. Align the edges as you pin. Pleat the cording lip at the corners, if necessary. Trim the cord once you have pinned all the way around to your starting point; the cut ends of the cording should butt up against each other. Place a small dot of super glue on one of the cut ends, and glue the cord together. Repeat the process with the second piece of cording and the cushion bottom.
   
   Here’s a video that shows how easy it is to sew a cushion.
   
7. Attach a zipper foot to your sewing machine, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Place the cushion top on the sewing machine, cording side up. Sew the cording to the cushion top, starting at the back, where you joined the cording ends. Sew as close to the cord as you can, which leaves a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Stop sewing when you reach each corner. Turn the corners with the needle in the down position, and then resume sewing until you reach the next corner. Remove each pin just before you sew over it. Repeat the process with the cushion bottom.
8. Pin the boxing band to the cushion top, right sides together. Keep the boxing band seam at the back, where the cording ends meet.
9. Place the pinned fabrics on your sewing machine, boxing band up. Sew the boxing band to the cushion top, starting at the boxing band seam at the back. Sew with a 1/2-inch seam allowance, and remove the pins before you sew over them. Turn the corners with the needle down, as you did in Step 7.
10. Repeat Steps 8 and 9 with the boxing band and the cushion bottom, but leave an unsown opening at the back. Make the opening large enough to insert your bench cushion when’s it is rolled into a tight bundle, typically 7 to 12 inches.
11. Clip the loose threads, and then turn your bench cushion cover right side out. Roll your bench cushion and feed it through the opening at the back of the cushion. Unroll the cushion inside the cover. Pin the opening, and stitch it closed by hand.

Buying a Custom Bench Cushion

A bench without a cushion is like…uncomfortable. That’s why it’s important to make bench cushions. Benches need to be comfortable and using a cushion is the way to do it.

If you’ve never used a cushion before, you’ll be amazed how much more comfortable your bench will be with a nice cushion sitting on top of it.

You can even order custom-made bench pads according to your specifications. You may choose from an extensive selection of fade and stain-resistant fabrics in countless vibrant colors and patterns, and create high-quality and extremely durable bench pads that can be used both indoors and outdoors.

To order a custom-made bench cushion, you need to:

1. Select the shape of the cushion – square corners or rounded corners
2. Choose the thickness, most bench cushions are from 2 to 5 inches
3. Select the dimensions – width and length dimensions
4. Choosing the desired fabric for your bench cushion

Sunbrella fabrics are usually comfortable and durable, you can choose from a variety of patterns, and are stain, mold and mildew resistant – that’s why they can be used as indoor bench pads as well as as window bench cushions, outdoor bench cushions and patio bench cushions.

Whether you need to replace a worn-out cushion on your patio bench, cover a breakfast nook, create window bay pads, or simply would like to make the hope chest at the end of your bed more comfortable, you can buy or make a suitable bench cushion.

Remember, a cushion not only fits a wooden top bench but also goes equally well with upholstered benches. You can buy a set of multiple cushions with different colors; a set gives you good value-for-money and saves you money.