Description
85% Feather and 15% Down Cushion Filling – 10kg Bag
This premium 85% feather and 15% down cushion filling combines the natural body and weight of European feather with the extra softness and loft provided by down.
Supplied as a 10kg bag of loose filling, the 85/15 feather and down mix is ideal for cushion makers, upholsterers, soft furnishing workrooms and customers making or refreshing soft cushion interiors.
Compared with feather alone, the addition of down creates a softer, fuller and more luxurious feel while retaining the natural movement and relaxed appearance associated with traditional feather-filled cushions.
Product Specification
- Pack size: 10kg
- Filling mix: 85% feather / 15% down
- Origin: European feather and down
- Filling type: Natural loose cushion filling
- Feel: Soft, plump and relaxed
- Suitable for: Cushion making, cushion refilling, soft furnishings and upholstery
- Standard: Responsible Down Standard feather and down
What Is 85/15 Feather and Down Filling?
An 85/15 feather and down mix contains predominantly feather for body and support, combined with a smaller percentage of down for additional softness and loft.
The two materials perform slightly different roles.
The 85% feather provides natural weight, resilience and structure.
The 15% down adds softness, loft and a lighter, more luxurious feel.
Together they create a traditional loose cushion filling that is softer than feather alone while still retaining enough body for practical cushion-making and upholstery applications.
What Is Feather and Down Cushion Filling Used For?
Loose feather and down can be used for making new soft cushion interiors or replenishing suitable existing feather-filled cushions.
Typical applications include:
- Sofa back cushions
- Armchair back cushions
- Scatter cushions
- Decorative cushions
- Loose back cushions
- Traditional cushion interiors
- Soft furnishing projects
- Furniture restoration
- Cushion refilling
- Suitable soft seat cushion interiors
For other loose-fill options, browse Loose Cushion Filling.
Why Choose an 85% Feather / 15% Down Mix?
Softer Than Feather Alone
Pure feather filling has good body and natural weight but can feel firmer and more substantial.
Adding 15% down increases the softness and loft of the mix, producing a more luxurious cushion feel.
Natural Movement and Mouldability
Feather and down move naturally within the cushion casing.
This allows the cushion to mould around the user and creates the relaxed, comfortable appearance associated with traditional feather-filled furniture.
Fuller, More Luxurious Feel
The down content helps increase loft and softness, making the filling particularly suitable where comfort and a premium plumped appearance are priorities.
Adjustable Loose Filling
Because the material is supplied loose, the quantity of filling can be adjusted to suit the cushion.
More filling creates a fuller and firmer cushion, while less filling creates a softer, more relaxed result.
Feather and Down for Back Cushions
85/15 feather and down is particularly well suited to sofa and chair back cushions.
Back cushions generally require less firm structural support than seat cushions, allowing the softness and mouldability of feather and down to work particularly well.
The filling creates a soft, plump cushion that can be dressed and reshaped by hand.
If you would rather order a complete replacement interior instead of filling a casing yourself, view Feather Back Cushions.
Feather and Down for Seat Cushions
Feather and down can also be used in suitable loose-filled seat cushions where a soft, relaxed and traditional sit is wanted.
However, feather-and-down seating behaves very differently from foam.
A feather and down seat cushion will move, compress and require regular dressing. It will not retain the firm, sharply defined shape of a foam cushion.
For customers who prefer a traditional soft seat and are happy to maintain it, feather can provide excellent comfort.
For a complete made-to-measure feather seat interior, view Feather Seat Cushions.
Feather and Down for Scatter Cushions and Soft Furnishings
The softness and loft of an 85/15 feather and down mix also make it an excellent filling for scatter cushions and decorative soft furnishings.
It produces the relaxed, plump appearance associated with higher-quality feather cushions and allows the cushion to be easily reshaped and dressed.
The loose filling format is useful for bespoke cushion makers because the amount of feather and down can be adjusted according to the required fullness and finished feel.
85/15 Feather and Down vs Duck Feather
Both are natural loose cushion fillings, but they produce a different result.
Choose 85% feather / 15% down when you want:
- A softer cushion
- Greater loft
- A more luxurious feel
- Natural movement and mouldability
- A fuller, premium cushion finish
Choose Duck Feather when you want:
- Traditional natural feather filling
- More body and weight
- A slightly firmer feather feel
- A more economical feather-only option
The addition of down makes the 85/15 mix the softer and more luxurious of the two.
Feather and Down vs Carded Fibre
Feather/down and fibre are both soft loose cushion fillings, but they behave differently.
Feather and down is natural, heavier and more mouldable. It creates a relaxed cushion that moves naturally and needs regular plumping.
Carded Fibre is lighter and feather-free and gives a soft, plump cushion with a different feel and recovery.
Choose feather and down when you want traditional natural comfort and a luxurious relaxed finish.
Choose fibre where a feather-free, lightweight alternative is preferred.
Feather and Down vs Foam Cushions
Feather and down creates a very different cushion from upholstery foam.
Feather and down is:
- Soft
- Relaxed
- Mouldable
- Naturally moving
- Regularly plumped and dressed
Foam is:
- More structured
- More supportive
- Better at holding a fixed shape
- Lower maintenance
- Better suited where firm seat support is required
Neither is automatically better. The right choice depends on the finished feel and level of maintenance the customer wants.
For firmer supportive seating, browse Foam Cut to Size.
Can You Top Up Existing Feather Cushions?
Loose feather and down can be used to top up suitable existing cushion interiors that have lost some fullness.
However, adding more filling will not always solve an old cushion problem.
Existing feather can become compressed, uneven or worn over time. If the original interior is badly collapsed or the casing has deteriorated, replacing the complete cushion interior may give a better result than continually adding more filling.
Before topping up an existing cushion, check the condition of both the filling and the inner casing.
How Much Feather and Down Does a Cushion Need?
There is no single filling weight that suits every cushion.
The amount required depends on:
- Cushion dimensions
- Cushion depth
- Shape
- Inner casing construction
- Desired firmness
- Desired finished appearance
A generously filled cushion will normally feel firmer and look fuller.
Using less filling produces a softer and more relaxed cushion.
When reproducing an existing cushion, the original filling weight can be useful as a guide, provided the old filling has not been substantially lost or replaced over time.
Caring for Feather and Down Cushions
Feather and down is a natural loose filling and will settle with use.
Regular care is therefore part of owning a feather-filled cushion.
For best results:
- Plump cushions regularly
- Turn and rotate where the cushion construction allows
- Redistribute the filling by hand
- Dress corners and edges back into shape
- Avoid allowing the filling to remain compressed in one area for long periods
Regular plumping helps redistribute the feathers and down and maintain an even, comfortable cushion.
A feather cushion is not intended to retain the fixed appearance of foam. Its softer, lived-in character is part of the product.
Responsible European Feather and Down
This 85/15 cushion filling uses European feather and down supplied to the Responsible Down Standard.
The Responsible Down Standard is intended to provide traceability and animal-welfare requirements within the feather and down supply chain.
For customers choosing natural cushion fillings, this provides additional reassurance about how the feather and down has been sourced.
Loose Feather Filling for Trade and Cushion Makers
The 10kg pack size is particularly suitable for upholsterers, cushion manufacturers, soft furnishing workrooms, furniture repairers and customers undertaking larger cushion-refilling projects.
For alternative loose fillings including feather, fibre, foam crumb and poly beads, browse Loose Cushion Filling.
For complete made-to-measure cushion interiors, browse Feather Seat & Back Cushions.
For the wider selection of feather and fibre cushion products, visit Fibre & Feather Cushions.
For help choosing between feather, feather and down, fibre or foam for your cushion, contact Livedale.
