Is there a good alternative to foam padding?

Question

It has gotten so expensive, and I need a thick piece for a bench that is about 53' long. I have looked at ready-made cushions, but they are generally much wider than my bench and only 44' long.

Met1485065 · Answer

catch 50% off sale.

Julies1949 · Answer

You can sometimes buy an old sofa for less at the thrift store! Check around for a one cushion sofa and use the foam from that. You can also glue two pieces of foam together if you can't find something large enough.

Moxie · Answer

if you sew; you could make one with multiple layers of batting an perhaps put a cut piece of vinyl (you can buy cheap in sheets at big box stores, meant for walls) to give it some extra rigidity and then sew a fabric cover for it. I made my bench seat out of plywood foam and vinyl and staples the vinyl over the foam to the plywood (they are removable) but the foam was uber expensive even on sale (I waited for it to)

Judy Schmitter · Answer

Try a camper bunk bed foam pad.  I recently bought one at Home Depot for 20, maybe 30 dollars.  I used it to pad a bench on my screened porch.

Benita Williams · Answer

End of summer sale on pads for out door furniture this is what I have used for kitchen chair seat cushions, you may have to recover the project but even that for a 4ft bench only cost around $30.00. With another project I purchased thick vintage wool like blankets folded in quarters then sewed edges together, covered with a polyester print. Valla!!! It was less than $25.00. If concerned about those creepy bugs! (EWWW) I place all my second hand fabric items in to a trash bag {I keep extras in trunk of car.} head straight to a laundry mat wash on warm but dry on high for 45min no less but sometimes longer. Hope you find an affordable solution

Carol · Answer

Check Craig's list and thrift stores for a foam single mattress or memory foam topper that you can cut down.

Lynn · Answer

Thanks to everyone for the great ideas. I actually did luck out on some foam at a fabrics store--not only on sale, but the store had an additional $10 off! I did really love the camper bed idea! Thanks to all!

F P Spillers · Answer

I keep a large bag full of the insides of old pillows. Just peel off the compressed outer layer of polyester after removing the fabric cover. The inside of the polyester is usually like new. I use it for stuffing and layering on furniture and making cushions. If you sew a 'pillow case' the size you need for the seat, stuff it and sew the end shut. If you already have most of the materials, it's practically free.

Annie Doherty · Answer

FP Spiller love your idea and recycling old pillows is a really cost effective solution, brilliant now that foam pads are so pricey. Thank you for sharing.

Donna Lavdis · Answer

You can go to an upholster and have it custom.  Also remember that foam comes in a variety of hardness.  Tell the guy you want the absolute hardest foam he can get.  It will be similar to what proffessionals use so that when you sit on it it won't collapse ever.

Kira Pressley · Answer

Fantastic idea - been researching online for alternatives to sofa foam as is very expensive. Once spent approx. £200 on that stuff yet unable to get it into my cushion covers that shrunk in the wash and so ended up wasting most of it and lost it during a flat move. The problem I experience is getting a hold of free or cheap second hand stuff 9especially in Surrey) where I live and everyone assumes we are all wealthy and definitely not at all - some places here just as poor as up north and very few 'better off' people give to individuals yet charitable organizations that inflate selling prices in their charity shops.

Is there a good alternative to foam padding?

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Is there a good alternative to foam padding?

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