Short answer: For our soft, loose-cushion sofas, Ciello and Gaia, we recommend fluffing the cushions about every week or two and rotating them between busy and quiet seats where your layout allows. It takes about a minute per cushion. Our Atmosphere seat cushions are D35 foam and do not need a regular fluffing routine, although the loose lumbar and decorative cushions do.
Cushions flatten because the fiber inside them compresses every time someone sits. A short, regular routine keeps that fiber spread out, and it is much easier than trying to rescue a cushion that has been left for years. This guide covers why cushions go flat, how to fluff and rotate them, and what to do when fluffing is no longer enough.
On This Page
- Why do sofa cushions flatten?
- Which of our sofas need fluffing?
- How do you fluff and rotate sofa cushions?
- How often should you fluff and rotate?
- What about new cushions and washed covers?
- What if fluffing is no longer enough?
- Our recommendation
- Explore our sofas
Why do sofa cushions flatten?
Cushions lose some loft with use, but the cause depends on how it is built. Our Ciello and Gaia cushions use soft synthetic fiber around a D35 high-density foam core. When you sit, the fiber is pressed down and pushed toward the edges, so a cushion can look slightly deflated after an evening of lounging.
Regular fluffing redistributes that fill and helps stop it staying compacted. If a cushion is used for a long time without being fluffed, the fiber can become permanently compressed. At that point fluffing may no longer fully restore the original shape, even though the foam core is still in good condition.
That distinction matters: a cushion that looks flat does not always have worn-out foam. Often it is the fiber around the core that needs attention. Foam also softens gradually with use, which is normal, and our guide to how long our sofas last explains how long we expect each part to stay comfortable.
Which of our sofas need fluffing?
It depends on the cushion. The collections below are listed by how much fluffing they need, from most to least.
Which of our sofas need fluffing?
| Collection | How the cushions are built | Care routine |
|---|---|---|
| Ciello and Gaia | Loose cushions: synthetic fiber around a D35 foam core, plus an extra 1.5-inch layer of D35 foam on top of the seat base | Fluff and rotate about every week or two |
| Orian | Firmer seat, softer fiber-filled back pillows | Back pillows may need occasional fluffing |
| Atmosphere | Seat cushions are D35 foam and back cushions are D30 foam, built into the modules | No regular fluffing routine; fluff and rotate the loose lumbar and decorative cushions |
| Neptune and Cassini | Layered-foam seating | Minimal on Neptune; no regular fluffing routine on Cassini |
Our Gaia sofa guide and Ciello sofa guide give the full construction of each, and our Atmosphere sofa guide covers the foam-seat alternative. If you like the soft look but do not want the routine, our Atmosphere vs Ciello comparison shows the trade-off side by side. The Orian, Neptune and Cassini collections use more structured foam seating.
How do you fluff and rotate sofa cushions?
The steps below are general advice for fiber-filled cushions, not a product specification. Our own guidance is the timing: fluff regularly, and rotate where your layout allows.
- Lift and loosen: take the cushion off the sofa or lift it clear of the seat base, then pull the fiber gently apart with your hands.
- Shake and pat: hold the cushion by its sides, shake it lightly, then pat the top and corners so the fill spreads out evenly.
- Reshape: press the corners out, smooth the surface and set the cushion back with its seams lined up.
- Rotate: swap cushions between the seats you use most and the ones you use least, so wear is shared. Where the configuration does not allow it, simply fluff in place.
- Back and arm cushions: these are separate on Ciello, so reshape them at the same time.
It takes about a minute per cushion. Doing it a little more often when the sofa is heavily used helps, and fluffing sooner is sensible if a cushion starts to lose its shape.
How often should you fluff and rotate?
For Ciello and Gaia loose cushions, our guidance is every week or two, depending on how often the sofa is used. A sofa that many people use daily sits at the weekly end, and a lightly used one sits closer to every two weeks.
A simple routine is to tie it to something you already do, such as the weekly vacuum. Our sofa cleaning guide lists upkeep for each collection if you want one checklist, and if pet hair collects between cushions as you fluff, our guide to removing pet hair from a sofa covers each fabric.
With regular fluffing, we expect these cushions to stay comfortable and attractive for 10 years or longer. Cushions that are rarely fluffed compress faster and may need replacing sooner, in some cases around the five-year mark.
What about new cushions and washed covers?
Cushions that arrive vacuum-packed can take up to two weeks to expand fully after delivery, so a new Gaia may look flat at first. Fluff and plump them by hand to help restore their loft. The Ciello chaise cushion is also vacuum sealed for shipping and can take up to two weeks to fully expand.
Covers are a separate matter. The seat and back cushion covers on Ciello and Gaia are removable, and the care instructions say to wash them cold on a gentle cycle and air dry, avoiding bleach and high heat. On Ciello, the seat, back and arm cushion covers zip off and the base cover is held under the seat base with Velcro. Ciello and Gaia do not come in bouclé, but on Atmosphere the Cloud bouclé covers are machine washable and we advise spot cleaning them to maintain their look, since washing can reduce their fluffy loft. Our covers and slipcovers guide explains which parts come off on each sofa, and our guide to how often to wash sofa covers suggests a rhythm.
Once a cover is back on, fluff the cushion as usual. That is general advice, and it helps the fill settle evenly inside the cover.
What if fluffing is no longer enough?
Fluffing cannot reverse permanent compression of the fiber, and it will not restore foam that has worn out. If a cushion stays flat, or you notice a significant or unusual loss of support, contact our Customer Happiness team for guidance.
Individual cushions can be replaced without replacing the sofa, and you can buy replacement cushions and covers through the Modules & Replacements section of our website. If the part you need is not listed online, our team can help identify it.
Concerns such as cushion flattening are looked at case by case, based on the nature of the issue, how long you have owned the sofa, how it has been used and maintained, and whether there is a manufacturing defect. Our 5-year limited warranty is described on our warranty page.
Our recommendation
Match the routine to the sofa you have, or the one you are choosing.
- Soft, cloud-like seat: choose Ciello or Gaia and plan on fluffing and rotating them every week or two. Our guide to cloud sofas compares them.
- Steadier seat, minimal routine: choose Atmosphere, whose seat cushions keep their shape without regular fluffing.
- Already own Ciello or Gaia: fluff every week or two, rotate where you can, and fluff again after washing the covers.
- Cushion stays flat after fluffing: contact our Customer Happiness team, and consider a replacement cushion.
Explore our sofas
Product specifications can change. Check the current dimensions on the product page before ordering.