Patio Cushions

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.

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.

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)

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.

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.

How to Measure for Replacement Patio Cushions

When you measure for replacement patio cushions you can either measure the old cushions that you will be replacing or the furniture itself. Remember in all cases to use a proper measuring tape rather than try and struggle with an old ruler – that is bound to lead to mistakes.

Measuring from Existing Outdoor Patio Cushions

For patio chair cushions, measure the width and length of the back rest part of the cushion taking measurements from edge to edge (rather than seam to seam) for the width and from the top edge to the break or fold in the cushion (where the seat part of the cushion starts) for the length. This gives you the seat back measurement. Then take the length and width of the seat part of the cushion separately.

For a patio bench, chaise lounge or lounger cushion, measure the whole length and width from edge to edge.

For a seat pad cushion, measure the length and width edge to edge (or the diameter of a round cushion).

Finally measure the thickness of your cushion and note that measurement too. Thicknesses may not match if cushions have received uneven wear – just get a rough idea of a suitable thickness for your patio furniture cushions.

If your cushions have been well used, remember that they may have “spread out” a little and take this into account with all your measurements.

Measuring for Patio Cushions Using Your Outdoor Furniture

measuring for patio cushions

measuring for patio cushions

If you do not have the old patio cushions to measure, you can take measurements from your furniture itself. If existing cushions are well squashed out of shape this may also give more accurate measurements.

To measure for a patio chair cushion, measure across the seat of the chair – this will give you the width of the cushion. (If there are armrests in the way measure the width across the seat inside the armrests.) Then measure from the back of the chair where you would like the top edge of the cushion to finish, to the start of the seat (where the break or fold in the cushion would come) to give the back length. (Cushions may be the whole length of the back or stop a little short of it) Measure from the back of the seat (the fold area) to the front edge to give the seat depth.

To measure a garden bench or lounge chair you just need the width of the seat (take measurements as for the patio chair) and then the whole length of the chair.

To measure for a seat pad take the width and length of the seat (or the diameter in the case of a round seat).

To estimate the thickness of cushions for a patio chair, visualize how your cushion will look as various thicknesses. What would look too thin/too thick/just about right?

When looking at ready made cushions you are looking for the nearest match for your chairs. You should be able to find something not too different which will be suitable.

If there is nothing available however don’t despair, you can always try custom replacement patio cushions.

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