Bolster Pillow Cover

Bolster pillow cover in short-pile velvet or 260 gsm woven cotton with cord piping on both end caps and a full-length concealed zip along the underside — sized 18 × 8, 24 × 8 and 36 × 8 in. Our bolster pillow cover uses a proper circular end-cap (bias-cut with cord piping) so the cylinder holds shape rather than collapsing into a lumpy sausage.

Two things ruin most bolster pillow covers

Bolster pillow covers fail in two consistent ways. First, cheap versions use flat gathered end caps that pucker within a week and eventually pull the cylinder out of shape. Second, the zip is placed at one end rather than along the underside, so the fabric bunches at that end and reads uneven from any angle.

What we specify to make a bolster hold its shape

Ours use bias-cut circular end caps with cord piping — the way an upholsterer would make one. The end caps are structural: they hold the cylinder circular, and the piping keeps the seam sharp. The full-length concealed zip runs along the underside, so the fabric on either end lies flat.

Specifications

• Face (velvet version): Short-pile velvet, cotton reverse
• Face (cotton version): 100% cotton, 260 gsm, yarn-dyed
• End caps: Bias-cut circular with cord piping
• Closure: Full-length concealed zip along the underside
• Sizes: 18 × 8 in., 24 × 8 in., 36 × 8 in.
• Colours (velvet): Ink, Sable, Fog Grey, Sage, Clay, Bone
• Colours (cotton): Bone, Alabaster, Sable, Ink, Fog Grey, Sage, Clay, Indigo
• Insert: Sold separately — round-end bolster insert same size as cover
• Care (velvet): Cool machine wash, low tumble, brush pile
• Care (cotton): Machine wash cool, low tumble

Bolster pillow cover size guide

Two versions — velvet or cotton

Velvet is the dressing-room version: the pile catches light at either end of the cylinder and reads as a considered detail. Cotton is the practical version — machine-washable, no brushing needed, works everywhere velvet is too much.

How to care for your bolster pillow cover

• Velvet: cool machine wash inside a mesh bag, low tumble, brush pile with a soft brush after drying
• Cotton: machine wash cool, tumble low
• Zip closed before washing to protect the teeth
• Skip fabric softener — flattens velvet pile, dulls cotton yarn-dye

Frequently asked questions

What size insert for a bolster pillow cover?

Round-end bolster insert same length and diameter as the cover — 18 × 8 in. insert for the 18 × 8 in. cover, 24 × 8 in. for 24 × 8 in., etc.

Are bolster pillow covers washable?

Ours are — cotton version at cool wash, velvet version at cool wash inside a mesh bag. Zip closed before washing.

Do bolster pillow covers hold their shape?

Ours do — bias-cut piped end caps hold the cylinder. Cheap gathered-end bolster covers puckers within a week.

Can I use a bolster pillow cover on a modern bed?

Yes — a single 24 × 8 in. bolster across the head of a made bed reads modern rather than traditional, especially in Ink or Charcoal velvet.

Complete the daybed

Pair with two square throw pillows for the back, a reversible cotton quilt for the throw and a coordinated round pillow cover for the far end.