The complete guide
Choosing a 50 x 70 cm Linen Cushion Cover: A Practical Buyer's Guide
When a room needs one deep colour
Neutral rooms are easy to live with. White bedding, a grey sofa, pale walls. The risk is that everything blends into everything else and the room ends up looking unfinished.
The usual fix is a cushion in a strong colour, and that is where things go wrong. Bright cushions in thin, shiny fabric can look cheap against good bedding. Patterns date quickly. And a colour that looked rich on a screen can turn up looking loud.
A deep, muted colour in a natural fabric is a safer choice. Petrol blue in washed linen has enough depth to anchor a pale room, and the matt, textured surface stops it shouting. This cover is one 50 x 70 cm rectangle in 100% stonewashed linen. Below is what that means in practice, and how to choose an insert and look after it.
What stonewashed linen actually is
Linen is woven from flax, a plant fibre. When it is new it can be stiff, which is fine for a tea towel and less welcome on something you lean against.
Stonewashing softens it in advance. The cloth goes through a finishing wash before it is sold, which relaxes the weave and takes the stiffness out of the fibre. The maker describes this linen as washed and softened, and that is why it feels settled from the first day.
The wash changes the look too. Stonewashed linen has a matt surface and a soft, uneven crease. On a deep colour like petrol blue, that surface catches the light in small ways, so the cover looks textured where a smooth cotton would look flat.
The maker states the cover is 100% linen. No other fibre is listed in the cloth.
The practical details that matter
The cover measures 50 x 70 cm, which is about 20 x 28 inches. It is a rectangle, so it is longer than it is tall once it is on a bed or sofa.
The colour is petrol blue. Think of a deep blue with a touch of green. It is darker than teal and softer than navy. The finish is solid, with no print or woven pattern.
You get one cover. The insert is not included, so you will need a 50 x 70 cm pillow or pad to go inside.
The maker states it is made in the EU and is machine washable at 40°C. The maker also describes it as easy to iron, which is useful if you prefer a smoother finish than washed linen gives without pressing.
Pillowcase or cushion cover
The maker lists this as a pillowcase, and 50 x 70 cm is a common bed pillow size in Europe. If your pillows are that size, you can sleep on it.
UK pillows are often a little longer. A standard one is usually about 50 x 75 cm. A soft pillow of that size may squeeze into a 70 cm cover, but it will be tight and may bulge at the opening. If you want to use this on a UK pillow, measure the pillow first.
The other way to use it is as a cushion. A 50 x 70 cm rectangle is a generous size on a sofa. It supports your back and shoulders when you sit sideways with a book, and it looks good laid flat along the back of a window seat. On a bed, one petrol blue rectangle in front of white pillows gives the bed a focal point.
Picking the right insert
The insert decides how the cover looks, so it deserves a moment of thought.
For a smooth, plump cushion, choose a pad that measures the full 50 x 70 cm and is well filled. It will push into the corners and keep the surface of the linen even. This suits a made bed or a tidy sofa.
For a softer, more relaxed shape, a lighter pillow of the same size works. The cover will crease and fold more, which suits washed linen.
Feather fillings are soft and easy to plump by hand, though they need a shake now and then. Synthetic fillings hold their shape with less effort and are lighter. Either is fine. The size is the part to get right.
Living with petrol blue
Petrol blue is easier to place than most strong colours because it sits between blue and green. That gives it a lot of friends.
With white, off white or natural linen, it looks crisp and calm. With soft grey, it adds depth without changing the mood of the room. With ochre, rust or tan leather, it looks warmer and richer, because those colours sit opposite it. It also works well against oak and walnut.
One or two pieces are usually enough. A single petrol blue cushion on a pale sofa draws the eye. Four of them can start to feel heavy. If you want more colour, repeat the blue somewhere else in the room at a smaller scale, in a vase or a book spine or a print.
A deep colour is practical too. It hides small everyday marks better than a pale cover. The trade is that lint and pet hair show up more, so keep a lint roller nearby if you have a cat that likes cushions.
Looking after it
The maker's care instruction is a machine wash at 40°C.
Wash the cover with similar colours. For the first few washes, keep it with darks and away from white bedding, which is a sensible habit with any deep colour. Turn it inside out to protect the surface.
Use a mild detergent and leave out the fabric softener. Softener coats the fibres and can make linen feel waxy. Linen softens through washing without it.
Dry it gently. A line or an airer out of direct sun is kind to the colour. If you use a dryer, keep the heat low and take the cover out while it is still slightly damp.
Ironing is up to you. Left alone, the cover keeps the relaxed crease of washed linen. For a neater look, press it while damp. The maker describes it as easy to iron.
Strong sunlight lightens any dyed natural fabric over the years. If the cushion sits in a bright window, turn it over from time to time so it wears evenly.
Who this suits
This cover suits someone with a calm, plain room who wants one deep colour in it. It suits people who like natural fabrics and are happy with a few creases.
It is a good match if you already own 50 x 70 cm pillows or pads and want a cover that washes easily.
It is less suited to someone who wants a perfectly smooth, pressed finish all the time. Linen keeps some movement in the surface even after ironing. It is also not ideal if all your pillows are the longer UK size and you want an easy fit.
The short version
You are getting one 50 x 70 cm cover in 100% stonewashed linen, in petrol blue, made in the EU as stated by the maker. The insert is not included.
It is machine washable at 40°C and the maker describes it as easy to iron. It works as a pillowcase for a 50 x 70 cm pillow or as a long cushion on a bed or sofa.
Check your insert size, wash it with darks at first, and skip the softener. Then let the colour do its job.