What Is a Lumbar Cushion, and Where Do You Put It?

By Snoozyn · Updated October 2026

In soft furnishings, “lumbar” is simply the name for a cushion shape: wider than it is tall, roughly twice as long as it is deep. It is also called an oblong or rectangular cushion.

Its job is to break up a row of squares, add a line of colour or pattern, and fill gaps that a square cushion would crowd. Here is how to size it and where it works.

What is a lumbar cushion?

A lumbar cushion is a rectangular cushion, longer than it is tall, used to add a horizontal line of pattern or texture in front of square cushions or pillows. The word describes the shape only.

Because it is shallow, a lumbar does not take up seat depth the way a 50×50 cm square does. That makes it useful wherever space is tight: a two-seater in a small living room, a narrow window seat, a hallway bench. Lumbar covers also tend to carry the boldest designs in a set, such as embroidery, prints and woven stripes, since a smaller surface can take a stronger pattern without overwhelming the room.

What sizes do lumbar cushions come in?

The most common lumbar sizes in the UK are 30×50, 35×55 and 30×60 cm. Choose the length by the width of the seat or bed, and the height by how deep the cushions behind it are.

Lumbar size	Suits	In front of
30×50 cm	Armchair, dining chair, single bed	45×45 cm squares
35×55 cm	Two-seater sofa, double bed	50×50 cm squares
30×60 cm	Three-seater sofa, king or super king bed	50×50 or 55×55 cm squares

A lumbar should be visibly shorter and lower than the squares behind it, otherwise it hides them. As a rule, keep the height at least 10 cm less than the squares.

Lumbar covers in our range are sold as covers only, in sets of 2 or 3. Our separately sold cushion pads include a 30×50 cm size that fits a 30×50 cm lumbar cover snugly. For the two larger lumbar sizes, use an insert of the same dimensions as the cover.

Where do you put a lumbar cushion on a sofa?

On a sofa, place the lumbar cushion in the centre, in front of the gap between two larger squares, or in front of one square at the arm for an off-centre look.

A centred lumbar suits a symmetrical arrangement and draws the eye to the middle of the sofa. An off-centre lumbar, placed in front of one end pair, feels more relaxed and leaves the middle seat free. On a corner sofa, a lumbar in the angle where the two sides meet softens the corner. For the overall count, our guide to the right number of sofa cushions gives typical layouts by sofa width.

The lumbar is also the easiest place to bring in a pattern. If your squares are plain, a striped or embroidered lumbar ties the group together; if the squares are patterned, a plain or woven lumbar calms them down. Our article on mixing cushion patterns covers scale and colour.

How do you style a lumbar cushion on a bed?

On a bed, place the lumbar cushion centrally in front of the pillows, with a length of roughly a third to a half of the mattress width.

UK beds are 90 cm wide for a single, 135 cm for a double, 150 cm for a king and 180 cm for a super king; our UK bed size guide has the full measurements. A 30×50 cm lumbar suits a single, a 35×55 cm suits a double, and a 30×60 cm suits a king or super king. On a large bed, two lumbars side by side also work.

Keep the layers simple: sleeping pillows, then two square cushions if you like, then the lumbar. Our article on how many pillows to put on a bed explains the stacking order. A throw across the foot of the bed repeats a colour from the lumbar and finishes the look, as shown in our guide to placing a throw on a bed.

Can you use a lumbar cushion on a chair or bench?

Yes. A single lumbar cushion is often the best choice for an armchair, dining chair or bench, because it adds colour without filling the seat.

On an armchair, a 30×50 cm lumbar sits neatly in the middle of the seat. On a dining bench or window seat, two lumbars laid end to end, or one 30×60 cm, give a tidy line. In a hallway, a lumbar on a bench by the door is a simple way to add pattern to a narrow space.

Which lumbar cushion covers do we sell?

Our range includes dedicated lumbar designs in printed, embroidered and woven finishes, and some square designs can be mixed with lumbars in the same set.

The black and tan woven basket weave lumbar gives a graphic, two-tone line that works with leather and dark sofas. The terracotta check print suits warm neutrals and wood, and the medallion embroidery adds detail to a plain linen-look bed.

Frequently asked questions

Is a lumbar cushion the same as a bolster?

No. A lumbar cushion is a flat rectangle with two faces, like a square cushion stretched sideways. A bolster is a long cylinder with round ends. Both add a horizontal line, but a lumbar sits more neatly in front of square cushions.

How many lumbar cushions should go on a sofa?

One is usual on a two- or three-seater. On a long sofa or corner sofa, two lumbars, one on each side or both in the centre, keep the arrangement balanced. More than two tends to look crowded.

Should a lumbar cushion match the square cushions?

It does not need to. A lumbar often works best as the contrast piece, with a pattern or texture the squares do not have. Repeat at least one colour from the squares so the group still looks connected.

Can you put a lumbar cushion on an accent chair?

Yes. A 30×50 cm lumbar suits most accent chairs and armchairs. It adds colour without taking up much of the seat, and it looks tidier on a narrow chair than a large square cushion.

What size insert do you need for a 30×50 cm lumbar cover?

A 30×50 cm insert fits a 30×50 cm lumbar cover snugly and gives a neat, tailored shape. Our cushion inserts include a 30×50 cm size, sold separately from the covers.

Do lumbar cushions go in front of or behind square cushions?

In front. The lumbar is lower and shallower, so placing it in front lets the squares behind stay visible. Put it behind and it disappears.