The Perfect Patio Cushion
The perfect patio cushion to enhance your garden probably already exists somewhere. If you know what you are looking for in patio cushions no doubt you will be able to find it here on the web even if you don’t get quite the same choice in your local store.
But do you know what you are looking for? Here are some guidelines to finding the perfect patio furniture cushion.
1. A Cushion which Gives the Right Look to Your Patio
Patios come in all shapes and sizes and they are made of all types of materials. Ditto patio furniture and accessories. The best patios however have every element working together to create a particular style. They don’t have a classic style chair coupled with a funky or retro patio seat cushion. Better to have a classic chair with a cushion in a plain sober color or in a subtle stripe. The best patios don’t have a colonial sun shade in a natural color together with a tropical palm print patio chair cushion. The natural color umbrella goes much better with natural colored seat cushions.
Reversible Patio Cushions (Click Image for Details)
When choosing a patio furniture replacement cushion make sure you measure your furniture first. You will find patio cushions comes come in many standard sizes but you have to get the right standard size so that the cushion can be secured to the chair with ties and is not slipping all over the place. If your patio furniture is not in a standard size then you can look for custom cushions which are available from a number of sites. They are a little more expensive but worth it to get a good fit. If you are not sure how to measure see How to measure for replacement patio cushions
3. A Cushion which Feels Good
Patio cushion covers are generally made from waterproof fabric but the perfect outdoor patio cushion will not actually FEEL waterproof (or look it). You want it to feel like standard fabric so that it is comfortable to sit on. Certain manufacturers specialize in this kind of fabric. If you feel a PVC cushion and then a Sunbrella patio cushion, for example, you will know the difference. The perfect cushion is thick enough so that you don’t feel the hardness of the furniture through it and it is filled with foam that is comfortable yet firm and springy.
4. A Cushion which is Weatherproof
Aside from being waterproof which means that your cushion will manage to cope with the odd shower of rain, the fabric needs to be fade resistant too. If you buy a patio furniture replacement cushion in a fabric which cannot withstand the baking sun, no matter how good it looks now, it will be faded and gray looking after one good summer.
5. A Cushion which Lasts and Lasts
Patio cushion replacement is expensive especially if you have quite a few different items of furniture. So it is not something which you want to do too often if you are on a limited budget. Of course, the fabric is important in making sure that the cushions look good year after year and if you look after your cushions well (especially by taking them indoors over winter) you will help their longevity. However, above all else, it is the quality of the construction which well help your patio cushion to last and last. Make sure that the seams are strong and fasteners sturdy and that ties are well stitched within the seams.
Replacement Patio Cushion Covers
If the inner foam of your patio cushions seems to be in good condition you might be thinking about buying replacement patio cushion covers rather than a whole new set of outdoor cushions. A few people have asked me about this and it certainly makes sense in my mind (especially in these days when we are all so aware of global warming and the economic crisis) not to throw everything away and start again.
You do need to check the viability of such a purchase however and here are a few things to think about.
First of all check that your foam inner cushion is truly in good condition (and not ready to fall to pieces as soon as you get your replacement covers).
How do you tell?
Basically if the foam still feels soft to the touch, is comfortable to sit on and springs back after use then it is fine. But do check that the foam is not starting to degrade with bits chipping and flaking off as this is a sign that it will need replacing soon.
Navy Blue Chaise Lounge Cushion (Click Image for Details)
Maybe there is not enough demand for them because customers worry that if they buy covers their existing pads will not fit. (If the new covers do not fit the old pads precisely then your cushions will never look good.) Or perhaps most buyers leave it too long to replace their patio cushions and the foam inner part needs to replaced too in more cases than not.
If you can’t find ready made patio chair cushion covers by searching around, there is one route that you might take and that is to have custom cushion covers made either via a web site or get a local seamstress to make some cushions for you. In this way you can choose whatever outdoor fabric you like and have cushions made to your own specification.
If you do this, be careful that you don’t end up spending more on your replacement patio seat cushion covers than you would have done on whole cushions complete with foam inner pad.
If you are handy with a needle then you can make your own replacement covers, of course, but be aware that outdoor fabric is not easy to sew and that you need to ensure that you match the precise shape and size of your cushions, fortifying all seams well enough that the cushions hold together with constant use. A project to make patio cushion covers is really not for a beginner.
Outdoor Patio Cushions In Every Color
With a patio being the focal point of most gardens and the place where you will probably spend most time relaxing outside, it makes sense to take care when choosing the most visible element there : the outdoor patio cushions which will add comfort and color to your garden furniture.
The color choice for your patio cushions is one of the most important criteria in your selection and the one thing which you will have most choice in. Outdoor cushions may be piped or not, with buttons or not but for the most part they don’t vary much in basic design. However, the color and pattern of the fabric does vary and, in fact, you might find so much variation that you might feel a bit lost.
Natural Patio Cushions
Having said that color is most important in your choice of an outdoor patio cushion does not mean that it has to be loud or over the top. If you would like a classic or colonial type garden with lots of natural wood furniture and leafy green plants then your patio will suit subtle coloring in cushions too. But there are plenty of cream, natural green, beige and rust colors available to provide the look you need.
Bright Patio Cushions
If you are planning a tropical or poolside patio then seek out bright outdoor patio chair cushions. Nothing suits the bright turquoise blue of a swimming pool more than a tropical print. Look for beautiful designs in lime green, fuchsia pink and bright blue. If palm tree and parrot designs are not your thing, you will get many bright striped and plaid cushions or even bright plain shades which will probably suit your taste better.
Pastel Patio Cushions
If you have a patio furniture set in white painted wicker or wrought iron reminsent of Victorian gardens where the butler served tea on the lawn, then you will find pale pastel colored cushions will be an excellent match for your garden style. You will find outdoor patio furniture cushions in plain ice cream shades as well as subtle patterns in pale colors.
Black and White Patio Cushions (Click Image for Details)
If none of these styles apply, don’t worry, you can still have a wonderful patio. Most garden furniture is traditional in style and therefore will suit cushions in classic fabrics : think spotty, striped, plaid or paisley designs to name just four examples. The main thing when buying outdoor patio replacement cushions for classic furniture is to think how you can pull the look together using the fabric to give your patio a unique edge. Will you be able to pick out colors in the fabric and use them for other accessories such as a throw or scatter cushions? And is the color classic enough that you will be able to find it in other items? With a color like black, red or navy blue this will be easy but it may not be the case with a particular shade of mustard yellow or sage green. Definitely something to consider when picking out colors for your outdoor patio cushions.
The Best Patio Chair Cushions
What makes a great patio chair cushion? Is it the color and design? Is it the way the cushion is made? Or is it the choice of fabric? Actually it is a combination of all three which makes one set of patio chair cushions stand head and shoulders above the rest of the pack.
Color And Design
The color and design of the cushions is the first thing we see as a rule when we come across an arrangement of garden furniture unless the furniture itself is exceptionally good (or exceptionally bad!) So when you are looking for outdoor patio chair cushions always take your time to choose a color and design that will portray the look you want for your patio. Too many of us choose a color that “will do” and not one which has an obvious look to it. For example, you could decide to give your patio a bold look with lime green patio cushions, a nautical look with navy blue stripes or a retro look with orange and pink swirls. Why make do with a dull pattern when you can make a statement by just being a bit different in the choice of design or color. Down with boring patio chair replacement cushions!
Bold Striped Patio Cushions (Click Image for Details)
If you have cushions which fall apart with a little heavy use then your patio is not going to look good for long no matter what choice you have made with the design. The thing is patio chair seat cushions in particular take a lot of punishment in use. The inner foam material needs to be soft enough that it feels comfortable, yet firm enough that it springs back into shape when you get out of your chair. The seams need to be so well constructed that the foam stays firmly encased in the cushion cover and they do not burst. This usually means that they need to be reinforced in some way with extra stitching and/or piping around the edges. Zip fasteners used should be strong rather than flimsy.
Fabric
The fabric for patio furniture chair cushions needs to be equally strong and robust, able to withstand wear and tear as well as sitting in the hot sun and getting damp at times when caught in a shower. For this reasons special outdoor fabric should always be used in cushions for patio chairs. You simply cannot use normal fabric and expect your patio cushions to last any length of time. Outdoor fabric such as Sunbrella often used for outdoor cushions is fade resistant as well as waterproof and the best patio chair cushions are specially coated so that the fabric feels soft to the skin as well as being waterproof.
Patio Furniture Cushions : A Great Selection
If you’re looking for patio furniture cushions you’ll find them in all shapes and sizes to suit a wide variety of outdoor furniture. You may only have difficulty in choosing from the wide selection of outdoor fabric designs to create your ideal garden retreat. Every color and design can be the basis for a beautiful patio especially if you coordinate your cushions with other items such as a table cloth, throw or brightly painted pots of flowers.
In the picture below you’ll see a wonderful array of 18″ patio furniture seat cushions for sale and from this one picture alone you’ll understand just how much choice you have. Just imagine each set of patio cushions gracing your furniture and you’ll see that you can get very different effects depending on the design you select.
A variety of 18" Patio Furniture Cushions (Click Image for Details)
Wicker Patio Furniture Cushions
If you need replacement cushions for outdoor wicker furniture then you will generally find that your furniture will look good with any of the designs however traditional wicker in natural shades is particularly suited to certain types of garden. If you have natural honey colored wicker the natural shades in patio furniture chair cushions will give you a colonial classic look whereas the brighter shades a more tropical look to your patio or poolside. If you have painted wicker furniture, on the other hand, you will do better to choose cushions which coordinate with the color of the chairs. For example navy blue painted wicker chairs and a navy striped cushion would give a very smart look.
Modern Outdoor Patio Furniture Cushions
If you have contemporary garden furniture, perhaps in wicker, aluminum or high grade PVC then be bold in your cushion choice. A modern chair design requires a striking pattern or color in a patio furniture cushion to avoid descending into the ordinary. Bold stripes would look particularly good in this instance.
Coordinating Different Types of Outdoor Seating
If you have an outdoor bench, folding lounge chair or chaise lounge don’t worry. You should not have any trouble finding cushions for patio furniture of any type. If you are lucky you might find cushions from the same manufacturer or outlet for all your furniture. On the other hand you may find that you struggle a little getting matching items if you are trying to coordinate your whole garden. In that case look for custom patio furniture replacement cushions so that you can coordinate your look.
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