Education
Sensory Room Cushions for SEN Schools, OT Clinics and Autism Centres
A practical guide for SEN schools, OT clinics and autism centres on planning, measuring and ordering made-to-measure floor cushions, wedges and bench pads for sensory rooms.
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Quick answer: For a sensory room, choose made-to-measure floor cushions, wedges and bench pads with a firm foam core and zipped covers in a wipe-clean fabric such as Ultraleather or Sunbrella Horizon marine vinyl. Measure the room and each fixed bench, agree colours and the fire requirement with your team, and approve a spec sheet before anything is cut.
A sensory room has to work hard. It is used by many children or clients each day, it is cleaned often, and it needs to feel calm and safe. Off-the-shelf cushions rarely fit the alcoves, window seats and floor plans these rooms actually have. If you are planning a new room or refreshing an old one, our bulk cushion enquiry form is the quickest way to get a quote for the whole space.
This guide is written for SEN coordinators, occupational therapists, school business managers and facilities teams. It covers which cushions to choose, how to measure, which fabrics clean well, how to think about zips, and how a school or clinic order works from first enquiry to delivery.
What cushions a sensory room usually needs
Most rooms use a mix of three types. Each does a different job, so it helps to plan them together.
- Floor cushions. Square, round and rectangular floor cushions give children a soft, defined place to sit or lie. Our floor cushions collection shows the standard shapes, all made to your sizes.
- Wedges and odd shapes. Wedges, corner pieces and shapes that fit around fixed equipment are made as custom shapes. We quote them after you send a template or a simple drawing. Our custom-shaped cushions page explains how to make a template.
- Bench and window seat pads. Fixed benches, window seats and low platforms are often the main seating in the room. Pads are made to the exact length and depth of each one.
Keep the layout simple. Fewer, well-fitting pieces are easier to clean and easier for staff to reset at the end of a session.
Foam, firmness and thickness
Every cushion has a firm foam core. Foam is made and cut in the UK by GB Foam in High Wycombe, an ISO 9001 manufacturer working since 1976. It meets UK fire safety regulations for upholstered furniture.
- Floor cushions: a firmer foam holds its shape when children kneel, roll or climb, and it springs back between sessions.
- Bench pads: a medium-firm seat feels comfortable without letting a child sink too low.
- Thickness: the online builder goes up to 8 inches (about 20 cm). If your team wants something thicker, email us and we will quote it.
Ask your occupational therapist which firmness suits the children using the room. We make to your specification; we do not give clinical advice.
Fabrics that stand up to daily cleaning
In a busy room, the fabric decides how easy life is for staff. Two options suit most sensory spaces.
| Fabric | Best for | Cleaning |
|---|---|---|
| Sunbrella Horizon marine vinyl | Floor cushions, wedges, high-use benches | Wipe-clean surface |
| Ultraleather by Ultrafabrics | Bench pads and window seats with a softer feel | Wipe-clean surface |
| Sunbrella upholstery fabrics | Quieter corners where a woven texture helps | Removable covers are machine washable |
Woven textures can be soothing for some children and too much for others. Order swatches so staff can test the feel with the children who will use the room. Swatches carry a small charge, and the cost is credited back with a one-time code on your order.
Colour matters too. With more than 10,000 colours across our fabric partners, you can keep the room to a calm, limited palette, or pick a few clear colours to mark zones.
Zips, covers and supervision
All our cushions have zipped, removable covers. That makes them easier to clean and lets you replace a cover without replacing the foam. Covers can be ordered on their own later, and foam can be ordered alone too.
Some settings worry about children opening zips. If zip access is a concern for your room, tell us when you enquire and we will talk through the options for your layout. Soft furnishings in a sensory room should always be used with adult supervision, in line with your own risk assessment.
Fire safety in schools and clinics
Schools and clinics are public interiors, so your fire risk assessment may set a requirement for upholstered items. Tell us what it is. We match fabrics to the requirement and send the maker's test reports with your quote or spec sheet. Sunbrella upholstery fabrics, for example, are tested to Cal TB 117-2013, NFPA 260 and UFAC Class I, confirmed per pattern.
We do not certify the finished installation. Your fire officer or responsible person has the final say. Our UK fire safety fabrics guide explains the tests in plain words.
Measuring a sensory room
- Sketch the room and mark each bench, window seat, platform and floor zone.
- Measure each bench and window seat: length, depth at both ends, and any angle or curve. Rooms are rarely square.
- Decide floor cushion sizes by how many children use the space at once and how much clear floor you need.
- For wedges and odd shapes, make a paper template or a drawing with every dimension marked.
- Photograph each area and label the photos to match your sketch.
We make every cushion to within 6 mm (maximum ±2.5 cm) of the ordered size. If we miss that, we remake it free.
Mistakes to avoid
- Guessing bench lengths. Measure every bench, even ones that look the same.
- Choosing fabric from a screen. Order swatches and let staff test them.
- Ignoring the cleaning routine. Check your cleaning products against the fabric maker's care guidance before you order.
- Too many pieces. A crowded room is harder to supervise and to clean.
- Leaving fire questions late. Confirm the requirement before the quote, not after delivery.
How a commercial order works
Send your sketch, measurements, photos, fabric ideas and any fire requirement through our bulk cushion enquiry form, or email operation@fabricakraft.com. We reply with fabric suggestions, test reports and a quote.
Before anything is cut, you approve a spec sheet with a drawing of each piece. Standard shapes take 2 to 3 weeks to make. Custom shapes from a template take 5 to 6 weeks. Rush production and express shipping are available at extra cost if a term start date is close. Delivery across the UK is free and shipped DDP, so there is no duty or VAT to pay on arrival.
There is no minimum order, so you can fit out one room now and add more later. Multi-academy trusts, local authority teams and education designers can join our trade programme for 10%, 15% or 20% off, based on rolling 12-month spend. If you also furnish boarding or residential spaces, see our student accommodation cushions page, and our commercial cushions and curtains hub for other areas of the site.
Frequently asked questions
Can you make wedges and other shapes for a sensory room?
Yes. Wedges and odd shapes are made as custom shapes. Send a template or a drawing and we quote it, then confirm every dimension on the spec sheet.
Which fabric is easiest to keep clean?
Sunbrella Horizon marine vinyl and Ultraleather both have a wipe-clean surface. Always follow the fabric maker's care guidance for cleaning products.
Can we replace covers without replacing the foam?
Yes. Covers are zipped and removable, and can be ordered on their own. Foam can also be ordered alone.
What warranty do the cushions have?
Fabric carries a 5-year warranty from the fabric partner and workmanship is covered for 2 years. Foam warranty depends on the grade.
Is there a minimum order?
No. You can order a single bench pad or a full room, and add pieces as your space grows.
