Platform & Lining Cloths

Upholstery Platform Cloth and Cushion Lining Fabric

Shop upholstery platform cloth for covering the fixed seating area beneath loose cushions, lining the undersides of removable cushion covers and completing suitable sofa and chair bases.

Livedale supplies woven platform-lining cloth in poly-cotton and cotton options, with 54″ and 60″ widths and a practical choice of beige, black, brown, fawn and grey.

These specialist furniture fabrics may also be described as:

• Cushion platform cloth
• Sofa platform lining
• Upholstery decking fabric
• Decking cloth
• Cushion underside fabric
• Furniture platform material
• Seat-platform cloth
• Sofa lining fabric
• Cushion backing cloth
• Upholstery bottom lining

Platform cloth provides a neat, durable surface in areas that may remain partly visible when loose cushions are removed. It also separates removable cushions from the springs, webbing, foam and other upholstery materials beneath them.

Shop Platform Lining Cloth by Width and Colour

The range includes:

54″ Poly-Cotton Platform Cloth

Available in:

• 54″ Beige Poly-Cotton Upholstery Platform Cloth
• 54″ Black Poly-Cotton Upholstery Platform Cloth
• 54″ Brown Poly-Cotton Upholstery Platform Cloth

These cloths are available by the metre, as 10-metre rolls or as 100-metre workshop rolls.

60″ Cotton Platform Cloth

Available in:

• 60″ Black Cotton Upholstery Platform Cloth
• 60″ Brown Cotton Upholstery Platform Cloth
• 60″ Fawn Cotton Upholstery Platform Cloth
• 60″ Grey Upholstery Platform Cloth

These wider cloths are available by the metre, with selected roll lengths depending on the colour chosen.

What Is Upholstery Platform Cloth?

Platform cloth is a woven furniture lining fitted across the fixed area directly beneath removable seat or back cushions.

It may be used to:

• Conceal springs, webbing and internal fillings
• Create a smooth surface beneath loose cushions
• Protect the internal upholstery
• Reduce friction against foam and suspension materials
• Provide a neat finish when cushions are removed
• Coordinate with the main upholstery fabric
• Form the underside panel of removable cushion covers
• Complete selected furniture bases and hidden panels

The material is generally stronger and more presentable than lightweight base cloth or Corovin because it may receive regular contact from removable cushions.

Platform cloth may be visible when:

• Seat cushions are lifted
• Back cushions are removed
• Sofa beds are opened
• Modular furniture is rearranged
• Cushion covers are taken off for cleaning

Choosing a suitable colour can therefore improve the overall finish of the furniture.

Platform Cloth for Sofas and Armchairs

Platform lining is commonly fitted across sofas and armchairs with loose seat cushions.

Potential applications include:

• Sofa seat platforms
• Armchair seat platforms
• Loose-back furniture
• Modular seating
• Window seats
• Upholstered benches
• Day beds
• Sofa beds
• Campervan seating
• Motorhome furniture

The cloth creates a finished layer between the removable cushions and the furniture construction beneath.

A correctly fitted platform should be:

• Smooth
• Firmly secured
• Free from wrinkles
• Evenly tensioned
• Strong enough for regular cushion movement
• Neatly finished around the furniture edges

It should not be stretched so tightly that it distorts the frame, compresses the upholstery beneath it or tears around the fixing points.

Platform Cloth for Removable Cushion Undersides

The material may also be sewn into the underside of removable cushions.

Using platform cloth on a hidden cushion panel can provide:

• A durable cushion base
• A clean professional finish
• Reduced use of expensive decorative fabric
• A clear distinction between the top and underside
• A surface suited to regular contact with the furniture platform
• A coordinating colour beneath the main upholstery

Potential uses include:

• Sofa seat cushions
• Armchair cushions
• Bench cushions
• Window-seat cushions
• Caravan cushions
• Campervan bed cushions
• Motorhome seating
• Removable back cushions

When used as part of a cushion cover, the platform cloth should be cut and sewn with the same accuracy as the decorative fabric.

Allow for:

• Seam allowances
• Zip positions
• Cushion borders
• Pattern alignment on the face fabric
• Foam thickness
• Finished cushion dimensions

54″ Poly-Cotton Platform Cloth

The 54″ poly-cotton range provides a practical general-purpose platform lining for furniture repair and manufacture.

Poly-cotton combines cotton with synthetic fibres to produce a woven cloth suited to regular upholstery use.

Potential benefits include:

• Good handling during cutting and fitting
• A woven furniture-quality appearance
• Practical strength
• Suitability for sewing or stapling
• Colour options for different furniture schemes
• Availability in smaller and full workshop rolls

Beige Poly-Cotton Platform Cloth

The 54″ Beige Poly-Cotton Platform Cloth provides a pale neutral lining.

It may coordinate well with:

• Cream upholstery
• Beige furniture
• Natural linen-style fabrics
• Light brown covers
• Pale timber frames
• Neutral caravan interiors

Beige is useful where a dark platform cloth might become visible around pale cushions or beneath lightly coloured upholstery.

Black Poly-Cotton Platform Cloth

The 54″ Black Poly-Cotton Platform Cloth provides a discreet dark furniture lining.

It may suit:

• Black and charcoal upholstery
• Dark contemporary furniture
• Commercial-style seating
• Automotive-inspired furniture
• Dark leather or vinyl covers
• Furniture where the platform should remain unobtrusive

Black can also provide a strong contrast beneath bright or patterned cushions.

Brown Poly-Cotton Platform Cloth

The 54″ Brown Poly-Cotton Platform Cloth provides a traditional neutral option.

It may coordinate with:

• Brown furniture fabric
• Leather-style upholstery
• Traditional sofas and chairs
• Exposed timber frames
• Beige, tan and natural covers
• Caravan and motorhome interiors

Brown platform cloth is particularly useful where black appears too harsh and beige would be too pale.

60″ Cotton Platform Cloth

The wider 60″ range is suitable for broad sofa platforms, large cushions and furniture sections where reducing joins is important.

The additional width can be useful for:

• Large sofas
• Deep armchairs
• Wide window seats
• Bench seating
• Sofa beds
• Oversized removable cushions
• Campervan beds
• Broad upholstered panels

A single wide piece generally creates a cleaner result than joining two narrower sections across a visible platform.

Black Cotton Platform Cloth

The 60″ Black Cotton Platform Cloth provides a wider dark lining for large furniture and cushion panels.

Potential uses include:

• Sofa platforms
• Wide seat cushions
• Dark upholstered furniture
• Contemporary seating
• Furniture undersides
• Back panels and hidden linings

Brown Cotton Platform Cloth

The 60″ Brown Cotton Platform Cloth provides a traditional wider lining for brown, tan and neutral furniture.

It may suit:

• Traditional sofas
• Leather-style furniture
• Large seat platforms
• Caravan seating
• Timber-framed furniture
• Loose-cushion upholstery

Fawn Cotton Platform Cloth

The 60″ Fawn Cotton Platform Cloth provides a light, warm neutral alternative.

It may coordinate with:

• Beige covers
• Cream furniture
• Natural upholstery fabrics
• Pale brown and taupe colours
• Traditional and contemporary furniture
• Neutral campervan interiors

Grey Platform Cloth

The 60″ Grey Upholstery Platform Cloth provides a versatile modern neutral.

Grey may suit:

• Charcoal furniture
• Light-grey upholstery
• Contemporary interiors
• Blue and grey colour schemes
• Modern caravan seating
• Neutral commercial furniture

Grey provides a softer alternative to black while remaining more practical beneath many contemporary upholstery fabrics than a very pale lining.

Choosing 54″ or 60″ Platform Cloth

Choose 54″ platform cloth where:

• The furniture section fits within the narrower width
• Dining benches or smaller sofas are being covered
• Cushion underside panels are relatively compact
• A 10-metre or 100-metre poly-cotton roll is useful
• Beige, black or brown poly-cotton is preferred

Choose 60″ platform cloth where:

• A wide sofa platform needs covering in one piece
• Large cushion panels are being manufactured
• Reducing joins is important
• Cotton platform cloth is preferred
• Fawn or grey is required

Measure the widest point of the platform, including enough material for securing the cloth beyond the visible seating area.

Choosing a Platform-Cloth Colour

The lining does not always need to match the main upholstery exactly.

It can be selected to:

• Blend with the principal cover colour
• Coordinate with the cushion borders
• Match the furniture’s piping
• Complement exposed timber
• Provide a deliberate contrast
• Hide regular dust and wear
• Suit the original furniture construction

For pale upholstery, beige, fawn or grey may create a softer transition.

For dark upholstery, black or brown often provides the most discreet finish.

Where the platform will remain visible around separate cushions, compare the cloth directly with the intended cover fabric before ordering.

Platform Cloth or Anti-Slip Cloth?

Standard platform cloth creates a strong woven lining beneath removable cushions, but it is not primarily designed to stop them moving.

Choose standard platform cloth where:

• A finished furniture surface is required
• Internal upholstery needs concealing
• The platform may be visible
• A durable woven lining is needed
• Loose cushions rest directly on the platform

Choose Anti-Slip Cushion and Mattress Cloth where:

• Loose cushions repeatedly slide forward
• Additional surface grip is required
• Mattresses move on their supporting bases
• A removable non-slip layer is preferred

Anti-slip cloth can be positioned over a conventional platform lining where both a finished surface and additional grip are needed.

Platform Cloth or Needle-Punch Fabric?

Choose platform cloth where:

• A woven upholstery surface is preferred
• The material may remain visible
• A traditional furniture lining is required
• The cloth will cover a fixed cushion platform
• Colour coordination is important

Choose Needle-Punch Upholstery Fabric where:

• A non-woven felt-like material is preferred
• Cushion undersides or reverse panels are being manufactured
• A non-fraying cloth is useful
• Caravan or motorhome cushions are being made
• Additional abrasion resistance is required

Platform Cloth or Corovin Base Cloth?

Choose platform cloth where:

• The material sits beneath removable cushions
• It may be visible during normal furniture use
• It will receive regular rubbing and contact
• A substantial woven material is required

Choose Corovin, Dipryl and Upholstery Base Cloth where:

• The underside of a sofa or chair is being covered
• The fabric is primarily a dust cover
• It will normally remain hidden
• A lightweight, economical lining is sufficient

Corovin should not automatically replace platform cloth on a seating area that receives regular cushion movement.

Platform Cloth or Hessian?

Platform cloth and hessian have different roles within furniture.

Choose platform cloth for:

• The finished surface beneath loose cushions
• Cushion underside panels
• Selected furniture bottoms
• Modern upholstery linings
• Visible internal seating surfaces

Choose Upholstery Hessian and Linen Scrim for:

• Covering springs
• Retaining hair or coir
• Building traditional upholstery foundations
• Forming stitched edges
• Antique furniture restoration

Hessian normally sits deeper within the upholstery construction, while platform cloth provides a cleaner finished layer closer to the removable cushions.

Measuring Platform Cloth

Before ordering:

1. Remove the loose cushions.
2. Measure the full width of the fixed platform.
3. Measure from front to back.
4. Include the depth around rails or edges.
5. Add material for gripping and fixing.
6. Check whether the selected cloth width covers the platform in one piece.
7. Include underside cushion panels where required.
8. Allow for seams and zips.
9. Add cutting waste.
10. Include spare material for later repairs.

The visible platform dimensions are normally smaller than the amount of cloth required.

Additional fabric is needed for:

• Turning beneath furniture rails
• Stapling or tacking
• Sewn seams
• Cushion borders
• Shaped corners
• Access openings
• Trial cutting

Buying Platform Cloth by the Metre or Roll

Ordering by the metre is suitable where:

• One sofa or chair is being repaired
• A small number of cushions are being made
• Different colours are being compared
• Storage space is limited

Roll quantities are useful where:

• Furniture is manufactured regularly
• An upholstery workshop replaces platform cloth frequently
• Several matching sofas or chairs are being completed
• Caravan cushions are being produced
• A consistent workshop stock is required

Available roll lengths vary by product and colour, so select the required purchase option on the individual product page.

Removing Old Platform Cloth

Before fitting a replacement:

1. Photograph the existing construction.
2. Remove loose cushions.
3. Identify how the cloth is fixed.
4. Remove staples, tacks or stitching carefully.
5. Lift the old cloth away.
6. Inspect the materials beneath it.
7. Remove loose threads and damaged fixings.
8. Complete any necessary repairs.
9. Clean the area.
10. Measure for the replacement material.

Browse Staple Removers, Tack Lifters and Ripping Chisels for suitable dismantling tools.

Check the underlying:

• Springs
• Webbing
• Foam
• Felt
• Wadding
• Timber frame
• Fixing rails

New lining cloth should not be used simply to conceal broken suspension, deteriorated foam or frame damage.

Cutting Platform Lining Cloth

Use sharp Upholstery Shears and Fabric-Cutting Tools.

Before cutting:

• Lay the cloth flat
• Identify the face and reverse
• Square the grain
• Mark the required dimensions
• Add fixing allowances
• Label cushion panels
• Keep the cloth clean
• Avoid pulling the weave out of shape
• Prepare a cutting layout for several items

Following the woven grain will help create straighter panels and more consistent tension during fitting.

Fitting Platform Cloth to Furniture

Platform cloth may be stapled, tacked or sewn according to the furniture construction.

Browse:

• Upholstery Staples
• Pneumatic Upholstery Guns and Tackers
• Upholstery Tacks

A practical fitting sequence is:

1. Position the cloth centrally.
2. Align the weave with the furniture.
3. Temporarily fix the centre of the back edge.
4. Apply gentle tension towards the front.
5. Secure the centre of both sides.
6. Work gradually towards the corners.
7. Keep the tension even.
8. Form neat folds or cuts around shaped areas.
9. Complete the fixing line.
10. Trim unnecessary excess cloth.

The finished platform should remain flat without crushing the padding or distorting the furniture frame.

Sewing Platform Cloth into Cushion Covers

When sewing the cloth into a removable cushion cover:

1. Prepare an accurate cushion pattern.
2. Add the correct seam allowances.
3. Mark the front and back.
4. Cut the platform base panel.
5. Position any zip opening.
6. Join the base to the cushion border.
7. Use suitable upholstery thread.
8. Check the stitch length and tension.
9. Turn and inspect the completed cover.
10. Fit the foam or cushion interior.

Browse:

• Upholstery Sewing Threads and Barbobs
• Upholstery Zips and Components

Prepare a test seam before sewing the finished cover, particularly when joining the platform cloth to thick upholstery fabric or vinyl.

Foam and Fillings Beneath Platform Cloth

Platform cloth should be supported by a sound upholstery construction.

Browse:

• Foam Cut to Size
• Foam Sheets
• Polyester Wadding
• Upholstery Springs and Webbing

Inspect the furniture for:

• Compressed foam
• Broken springs
• Loose webbing
• Sharp wire ends
• Uneven padding
• Failed adhesive
• Loose timber joints
• Contamination

Correct underlying problems before installing the new lining.

Fire Performance

The platform cloths in this category meet:

• BS 5852 Schedule 4 Part 2 cigarette test
• BS 5852 Schedule 5 Part 3 match test

The cloth should still be used as one component within a correctly specified upholstery construction.

The performance of the completed furniture may also depend on:

• Cover fabric
• Foam
• Loose fillings
• Interliners
• Sewing thread
• Adhesives
• Springs and webbing
• Upholstery methods
• Permanent fire labels
• Intended domestic or contract use

Where a separate fire barrier is required, browse Calico, Cambric and Crib 5 Upholstery Interliners.

Trade Upholstery Platform Cloth

Livedale supplies woven platform and cushion-lining cloth to professional upholsterers, furniture manufacturers, repair workshops, caravan and motorhome converters, cushion makers and training colleges throughout the UK.

The range includes:

• 54″ poly-cotton platform cloth
• 60″ cotton platform cloth
• Beige, black, brown, fawn and grey
• Material by the metre
• Selected workshop roll lengths
• Cloth for platforms, removable cushions and furniture bottoms

Approved trade customers can access preferential pricing across eligible products after registering for a trade account.

Choose the cloth according to the required width, colour, fibre composition, furniture position and finished appearance.