Should You Change Cushion Covers With the Seasons?
Short answer. You do not have to, but it is the easiest way to change cushion covers and refresh a room twice a year. Keep the same inserts and rotate two sets of covers: velvet, bouclé, chenille or faux fur in warm colours for autumn and winter, and cotton, linen or hemp blends in lighter shades for spring and summer.
By Snoozyn · Updated October 2026
Because cushion covers come off their inserts, they are the cheapest and quickest part of a room to change. Two sets of covers, swapped in October and again in April, can make the same sofa look wintry or summery with ten minutes of work.
This guide covers which fabrics and colours suit each season, how many sets you need, and how to store the ones you are not using.
Key takeaways
- Changing only the covers, not the inserts, keeps seasonal swaps quick and inexpensive.
- Velvet, bouclé, chenille, faux fur and wool blends suit autumn and winter.
- Cotton, linen, hemp and lyocell blends suit spring and summer.
- Store off-season covers clean, dry and folded in a cotton bag, away from damp and direct light.
Is it worth it to change cushion covers with the seasons?
It is worth it if you like variety, because you only change cushion covers, not the inserts. Two sets, one warm and one light, give the room two distinct looks for little cost or effort.
Seasonal swaps also extend the life of the covers. Each set is in use for only half the year, so colours fade more slowly and pile fabrics stay plumper. Washing the outgoing set before storing it means you start each season with clean covers.
If you prefer one look all year, choose mid-weight cotton or a cotton linen blend in a neutral, then let a throw carry the seasonal change instead.
Which cushion fabrics and colours suit autumn and winter?
For autumn and winter, choose fabrics with depth and pile, such as velvet, bouclé, chenille, faux fur or a wool blend tweed, in warm or deep colours like rust, moss, brown and ivory.
Pile catches lamplight and looks warm on a dark evening. Velvet gives a smooth sheen; chenille adds a soft tufted pattern; bouclé and faux fur bring the most texture. Our brown tweed jacquard covers are a wool viscose blend with a classic winter look, and the black faux fur set adds contrast on a cream or grey sofa.
Which cushion fabrics and colours suit spring and summer?
For spring and summer, choose flat or lightly textured weaves in cotton, linen, hemp or lyocell blends, in paler shades such as oat, powder blue, rose pink and natural.
These fabrics have a dry, matt or gently lustrous surface that looks right in daylight. Stripes and checks feel fresh in the brighter months, and embroidery adds interest without weight. Our oat stripe hemp cotton covers and the linen cotton check in a natural tone both suit a light living room from April to September.
| Season | Fabrics | Colours |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn | Velvet, chenille, tweed blend | Rust, orange, moss, brown |
| Winter | Faux fur, bouclé, velvet | Ivory, grey, black, deep green |
| Spring | Lyocell linen, linen viscose | Powder blue, rose pink, ivory |
| Summer | Hemp cotton, linen cotton, cotton | Oat, natural, stripes, checks |
How do you store cushion covers out of season?
Store off-season cushion covers clean, fully dry and loosely folded in a cotton bag or box, somewhere dark and dry such as a wardrobe shelf or under a bed.
Follow these steps when you swap:
- Wash the outgoing set. Marks left in storage set over months. Our guide to washing cushion covers safely gives settings by fabric.
- Dry completely. Even slightly damp fabric can develop mildew in a closed box.
- Fold loosely. Fold velvet and faux fur with the pile outwards and avoid heavy stacking.
- Use cotton, not plastic. A cotton bag lets air move and keeps dust off.
- Protect wool blends from moths. Add cedar or lavender and check the bag mid-season.
The same principles apply to throws, which our article on storing throws and blankets covers in more depth.
How many sets of cushion covers do you need?
Two sets of covers per cushion, one warm and one light, are enough for most homes. Some people add a third neutral set for spring and autumn.
Keep the sizes the same in every set so the inserts fit without changes. Our covers come in sets of 2 or 3, and our microfibre cushion inserts are sold separately in 40×40, 45×45, 50×50, 60×60 and 30×50 cm. Buy the inserts once and every new set of covers fits straight on.
Which Snoozyn cushion covers suit each season?
Our range covers both halves of the year: velvet, chenille, bouclé, faux fur and tweed blends for the colder months, and cotton, linen, hemp, ramie and lyocell blends for the lighter ones.
For a year-round base that bridges both, the oat jacquard tassel set in cotton linen sits comfortably with either a winter or a summer set in front of it. If you are unsure which fabrics wear best, our comparison of cushion cover fabrics sets them side by side. Browse every design in our cushion covers range.
Frequently asked questions
When should you change cushion covers for autumn?
Many people change cushion covers when the clocks go back at the end of October, or when the heating goes on. Spring covers go back out around Easter or when the evenings get lighter.
Can you use velvet cushions in summer?
Yes. Velvet works all year in pale shades such as ivory, sage or powder blue. Deep velvets in rust or brown look most at home in autumn and winter, when the room is lit by lamps.
Is it cheaper to buy covers or whole cushions?
Buying covers alone is usually cheaper once you own the inserts, because you pay only for the fabric. It also means less to store, since the inserts stay on the sofa all year.
Should cushion covers be vacuum-packed for storage?
Vacuum packing is best avoided for pile fabrics such as velvet, bouclé and faux fur, because months of compression can crush the pile. Flat cotton and linen covers are less affected.
Can you change only some of your cushion covers each season?
Yes. Keep a neutral outer pair all year and change only the front cushions or the lumbar. It gives a seasonal update with half the number of covers.
Do Christmas cushion covers need their own set?
Not necessarily. A winter set in red, green, ivory or velvet can carry through December and on until spring, which avoids buying covers used for only a few weeks.
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