Patio Cushions

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)

Reversible Patio Cushions (Click Image for Details)

2. A Cushion which Fits Your Patio Furniture Exactly

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.

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)

Bold Striped Patio Cushions (Click Image for Details)

Workmanship

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.