Outdoor Cushion Seating and Covers

If there’s anything better than relaxing on your porch, patio or poolside during the outdoor living season, it’s relaxing on some comfortable outdoor cushions. With cozy outdoor cushions, your patio dining set can support hours of conversation as well as leisurely meals. Outdoor deep seating, including lounge chairs, sofas and sectionals, with quality cushions can rival indoor furnishings for comfort and style. And with all the options, from small chat sets to fire table sets, there’s something to suit everyone’s outdoor space and the way they intend to spend their time outdoors.

Read on to learn more about outdoor cushions, as well as care and maintenance instructions.

Types of Outdoor Seating and Quality

Customers should be looking at outside fabric as far as durability, as well as what’s inside the cushion to indicate how it will hold up over time. Here are some popular outdoor fabric types, and how long they are expected to last with average use and care:

· Outdoor olefin - 2 - 3 years in the direct sun

· 100 percent solution dyed polyester - 4 to 8 years; up to 10 years on the high end

· 100 percent solution dyed acrylics - 7-10 years

Typically, you get what you pay for with outdoor cushions. They are available at a variety of prices and designed to hold up differently. It’s important to consider the lifetime cost of your furniture. It might make sense for your budget to pay more now for a higher quality product, and not have to replace it in a few years.

Outdoor Seating Styles

Outdoor cushions aren’t just about comfort. With many colors and patterns available, outdoor cushions are also a medium for adding style to your patio, deck or other space. Recent improvements to fabric technology, such as the 100 percent solution dyed fabrics, allow brighter colors and bolder patterns than ever before; and these products are designed to hold up even after years of use. There’s also plenty of neutral options for those that want to match their sets with the exterior of their house, or let their beautiful natural surroundings do all the talking.

Some popular outdoor cushion colors in 2023, include:

· Burnt red tones are very strong throughout the Midwest

· Navy blue is a classic option that never goes out of style

· Jockey red is popular for bringing a bold look to your patio

· Grey tones (charcoal grey and grey with taupe tones are currently trending)

Another design element of note: texture! Texture variety is now a norm in the outdoor fabric industry. Slick faux leather, durable vinyl fabrics, textured and patterned textures in 100% solution dyed acrylics and some polyester or olefin are quite common. These options are allowing for more design and layering of fabrics for outdoor living space. It’s a drastic change from the days of print polyesters that faded quickly, solid vinyls that were sticky in the humidity, or the plain, flat weave canvas style fabrics.

When choosing outdoor cushions, you should consider the other furnishings and accents in your outdoor living space. However, that doesn’t mean that you need to match everything perfectly. In fact, matchy-matchy looks are out. Instead, designers are layering fabrics and accent colors in outdoor fabrics, similar to what has been done for years indoors. You can do this by choosing different accent pieces that complement each other, including outdoor seating, umbrellas, area rugs and décor. Don't forget outdoor toss pillows–same as indoor pillows–but made from outdoor fabrics and fill. Add a pop of color to a dining set or chaise lounge with a pillow in a few chairs. Add layers of pillow color on sofas and sectionals to create outdoor space with a sense of style.

Care and Maintenance

Quality outdoor cushions are an investment. In fact, replacement cushions can cost between a third to a half of the price of the furnishing itself, so it’s important to protect your cushions. You should follow care and maintenance guidelines to get the most out of your furniture. This includes regular cleaning for your cushions, performed seasonally or a couple of times during the season. Cushions should be cleaned according to the manufacturer’s recommendations to keep the clean good look and the longevity of the piece. This typically includes the use of mild soap and water.

By putting protective covers over outdoor fabrics, you extend the life of the fabric. Protective covers are important to use year-round. In the summer, covers can keep your cushions clean, dry and ready to use. They also protect against exposure to the sun, slowing fading and other wear.

Here are some “dos” and “don’ts” for choosing an outdoor cover for your cushioned furniture

• Do look for water resistance to help protect your furniture in an outdoor cover.

• Don’t choose anything that’s completely sealed. Protective covers that seal trap any moisture on the furniture in it.

• Don’t choose covers that extend all the way to the ground. Do choose covers that fall within a couple of inches to the ground, allowing for air circulation and easier install and removal.

• Don’t purchase a cover that is too big, since wind can then get underneath, pulling the cover off or causing rips. Too oversized covers have folds and pockets of water can form on the furniture in the cover.

In selecting high-quality cushions in a design you love, and protecting your investment with regular care and the use of outdoor covers, you can enjoy your seating and the gorgeous look of your furniture for years to come.