Patio Cushions

5 Steps to Choosing Patio Cushions

Once you have selected outdoor furniture, you’ll need to think about choosing patio cushions to add style and comfort to your furniture to make the perfect garden seating area. Here are the 5 steps to making the right choice for your outdoor patio furniture.

1. Decide on a budget

Patio chair cushions vary greatly in price as well as quality. The cheapest outdoor cushions will probably not do much to enhance your patio furniture – they will cheapen it, no matter how much the furniture cost. But you don’t have to go overboard either. It’s unnecessary to spend a small fortune to have your sitting area looking good. Do a little browsing and then set a budget based on the typical prices you have seen for quality patio cushions.

2. Measure Your Furniture

Cushions come in all shapes and sizes. For a typical chair you need to measure the width and height of the back as well as the width and depth of the seat. For a lounge chair, you would just need the full length and width. And for a cushion pad, the size of the seat – diameter if round, width and length if rectangular. Also, think about what type of cushions will work with your furniture – a deep seat can take very thick cushions but they may not look right with your furniture.

Outdoor Cushions add comfort and color

Outdoor OCushions add comfort and color

3. Decide on a Look

If you are looking for a place to relax in natural surroundings choose a design for your patio furniture cushions in simple neutral and natural colors with a restrained pattern (if any). If you are going for a tropical pool look, then choose an outdoor fabric with a bright patterned design. If you are decorating your patio for fall choose rustic red, brown or green colors to help set the stage. Whatever look you would like to create there will be a design for patio furniture cushions to match.

4. Consider Fabric Type and Features

Do you need your patio chair cushions to be weather resistant and waterproof? This will affect the type of fabric you choose. If you leave them out in the rain (or have a poolside patio) be sure and choose a waterproof fabric. If you take the cushions in after use you can choose a finer fabric.

5. Check Out the Quality of the Options Available

Take a look at some cushions online or in your local store. When you have found something suitable you like think about the quality of the patio cushion covers.

  • Check whether the fabric is machine washable. This will help it stay looking good.
  • A quality cushion designed to withstand a lot of use will have reinforced seams, zip closure and piping to help durability.
  • Check also how the cushions are secured – do they have tie tabs for example?
  • Do the fabrics have a Teflon coating to resist moisture and spills?
  • Are the outdoor cushions UV resistant coating to prevent fading if they will be left out in the sun for long periods?
  • Are they thick enough to be comfortable without being too thick for your patio furniture?
  • How firm is the foam filling?
  • Will it withstand as much use as you have in mind?

Once you have surveyed the options available in your budget you can make a wise choice when buying your patio cushions and then all you have to do is wait for a sunny day, sit back, relax and enjoy your garden.

Discount Patio Cushions : 5 Ways to Save Money

Garden furniture cushions can be quite pricey. Rather than saving money by buying poor quality outdoor cushions which will not last or make your garden furniture look as good, seek out top quality patio cushions on sale at reduced prices.

Where can you find these discount patio cushions?

1. Online

You will find many stores online selling quality cushions at great prices and you will find a huge selection too. A little work with your mouse and you will uncover many bargains and find just the right cushions for your patio furniture too. Online stores know that you are able to compare prices in this way so that they are always keen to offer a good deal.

2. Auction Sites like eBay

If you can’t find the discount outdoor cushions you’re looking for on standard e-commerce sites, go to eBay for the ultimate in online comparison shopping. There you will find a huge selection at great prices. Often you do not have to bother bidding and waiting to see if you have won, you will find “Buy it Now” prices and can buy instantly. Just remember to include shipping charges when calculating how much you will have to pay for your cushions.

3. Sales at Garden Centers

Many garden centers are feeling the pinch and are offering sale prices on patio chair cushions. The main sale period for these is July but you can sometimes find deals all year round if you look. Also if you have seen some cushions on display which you like, ask at the end of the season whether you can get a reduction on the display items. No one will know it is an end of range discount patio cushion once it is on your chair!

Discount Patio Cushions Required?

Discount Patio Cushions Required?

4. Mail Order

Look out for bargains in the back of newspapers, gardening magazines and weekend newspapers especially those which have a ton of leaflets and catalogs falling at your feet when you open them. You will sometimes find great deals on patio cushions here. Also look for opening offers which are supposed to persuade you to become a customer of a mail order company. You can use these to get a good reduction on a big purchase like a set of replacement cushions for your outdoor furniture.

5. Combined Purchase

If you are looking for new patio furniture too, look for patio sets which include cushions with the furniture. As long as you like the fabric design and the chair cushions are of good quality then this can often be the way to buy cheap patio cushions without compromising on quality. Some companies offer choice in design too so that you are not stuck with one color.

If you don’t get the discount patio furniture cushions you’re looking for in one of these five ways you could consider making your own. Do this only if you are very handy with a needle as outdoor furniture fabric is quite tough to sew. Alternatively, you could look for used cushions at garage sales. Although they may not be the bright shiny brand new set of discount patio chair cushions you had in mind, some items being sold from garages are as good as new.

Sunbrella Cushions

Sunbrella cushions are some of the best you can buy for your patio furniture. They have a great reputation and for good reason. The secret is in the fabric itself which makes the patio cushions withstand the rigors of constant use in your garden.

Sunbrella Fabric

The fabric used in Sunbrella seat cushions is particularly suited to outdoors. It is made from acrylic, which has been solution dyed. This means that the dye is added while the fabric is still in liquid form and it therefore permeates the fibers to a much greater degree. As a result, Sunbrella fabrics are so resistant to fading in the sun and rain that they are used for all kinds of tough jobs such as patio awnings and even convertible car tops. Although you can order Sunbrella outdoor fabric by the yard on a number of web sites, when you are looking for outdoor cushions you will probably buy these already covered in the fabric or you can choose to go the custom route and buy your seat cushions to order.

Outdoor Patio Dining Chair Cushion Pad Sunbrella (CLICK IMAGE FOR DETAILS)

Outdoor Patio Dining Chair Cushion Pad Sunbrella (CLICK IMAGE FOR DETAILS)

Other Reasons to Choose

Apart from being resistant to fading, Sunbrella fabric cushions are also treated with a fluorocarbon finish which is water repellent. This means that it does not matter if your cushions get soaked in a sudden down pour and you can also leave them outside all summer if you prefer, although all cushions benefit from being stored away from the elements when not in use. This finish gives them a certain degree of stain and mildew resistance too, although any spills and spots should be cleaned as soon as they occur to keep your cushions looking good.

Care of Sunbrella Patio Cushions

A little maintenance can keep your Sunbrella chair cushions looking great throughout the season. All you need to do is hose them down with clean water ever month or so and make sure any stains and spots are taken care of. Use the gentlest treatment you can to remove each stain.

A Selection of Sunbrella Patio Cushions (CLICK IMAGE FOR DETAILS)

A Selection of Sunbrella Patio Cushions (CLICK IMAGE FOR DETAILS)

There is help on this on the Sunbrella website. When more thorough cleaning is necessary, check the label of your cushions. Many Sunbrella cushion covers can be removed for washing in the washing machine but you should wash on a cool or lukewarm cycle and use soap flakes rather than detergent. If you prefer you can clean your cushions while still on your furniture with a soap solution and a soft bristle brush. This is how you can clean sun umbrellas and awnings too. Make sure to rinse the fabric thoroughly and to air dry it as Sunbrella fabric should never be subjected to the extreme heat of a tumble dryer. After any thorough cleaning (as opposed to hosing down) Sunbrella outdoor cushions should be treated with two applications of a water repellent spray such as 303 High Tech Fabric Guard to keep them water resistant.

All Types of Furniture Cushions

You can get every type of cushion with this fabric from Sunbrella chaise cushions to throw pillows to decorate your outdoor furniture. Consider Sunbrella for indoor furniture too. They are especially appropriate in a conservatory or sun room where fabrics may be subject to a lot of fading.

Where to Buy

You can buy Sunbrella cushions at garden centers, which sell patio furniture or look for them online. You will find a good selection of Sunbrella cushions for sale HERE, everything from bench cushions, steamer chair cushions to decorative outdoor pillows. Many of the cushions here have good discounts and often free shipping (which can mount up on items which are big and bulky like patio cushions, so watch out for that).

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)

Black and White Patio Cushions (Click Image for Details)

Classic Patterned Patio Cushions

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.

Where to Buy the Best Patio Cushions

There is a wide range of patio cushions to choose from these days – all types of shapes, sizes, fabrics and designs. You can find some cushions for your patio furniture in department stores as well as in specialist garden furniture outlets and budget ranges in general purpose stores. Rather than trooping around the local stores however I think it’s a great idea for many reasons to shop for patio cushions online these days. Here’s why…

1. Great Selection

Patio cushions take up a lot of shelf space in a store so you are unlikely to get a huge selection locally. It can be annoying to make the trip and then find they don’t have quite what you were looking for. Online you will find hundreds of patio furniture cushion suppliers and 1000s of designs in different sizes, styles and colors. Not even the largest outdoor furniture store can compete with that.

2. Convenience

You can browse online stores at any time of the day or year and they will always be open. You can shop for patio cushions whenever it is convenient and find just what you are looking for in a few minutes. There’s no hassle getting to the store and no expense, waiting or lines either. Ordering is secure these days from online stores – look for the secure ordering symbols to be sure and they also offer hassle-free returns services so you can try out your patio cushions at home. Online shopping makes the experience of buying patio cushions quick and easy.

Patio cushions for comfort

Patio cushions for comfort

3. Lower Prices and Discount Codes

Often you’ll find cheaper prices and discounts on patio cushions from online stores. That’s because they have lower overheads – just think of the costs involved in running a physical store. It’s easier to compare prices on similar patio furniture cushions online too so you can be sure of getting a good deal – you don’t need to go from store to store you can shop around from the comfort of your own sofa.

4. Help in making Your Choice

A few sites (like this one) offer helpful guides to making the right choice and measuring up when buying patio chair cushions – you are unlikely to find as much information in a local store.

5. Pressure Free

You can browse as much as you like without irritating the store assistant keen to make a commission. Make your choice without pressure. Spend several days if need be. Bookmark sites and go back to them after you think about it. No one will get upset.

6. Free Shipping

Many online stores offer free shipping for orders over a certain amount. Check the terms when ordering your outdoor cushions but in general, your new cushions can be delivered to your door completely free of charge!

7. Something Different

Online you’ll find many beautiful outdoor patio cushions which will lift the look of your garden furniture and patio and make your “outdoor room” the envy of your friends. These unique designs are just not available locally when it comes to patio cushion covers.

8. Easily Find What You are Looking For

Most sites have a search facility which allows you to hone in on exactly what you are looking for as well as a facility to browse their selection of patio cushions if you are still looking for ideas. You can quickly find the patio chair cushion which meet your needs for size, price, color etc and then spend your time considering the selection you are interested in.

9. Money back Guarantees

Online stores take the risk out of your purchasing online by offering no-hassle money back guarantees. Some local stores are more difficult about returns and even if they offer a full refund you still have to make the trip back to the store.

10. Custom Cushions

A number of online stores specialize in creating custom cushions which exactly met your requirements for size, material, shape, color etc. This is a useful service when you can’t find exactly what you are looking for among the ready-made patio cushions available.