Outdoor Cushion Buying Guide

Outdoor cushions not only enhance the style of your patio, they provide support so that you can enjoy sitting and lounging in the open air for long hours. The addition of outdoor cushions to seating makes your outdoor space a true extension of your indoor home, adding coziness to outdoor spaces. It is advised to use the same cushions manufactured by the manufacturer of your outdoor seating, however PatioLiving offers what to look for in cushions construction, size, features, and maintenance when selecting outdoor cushions.

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How To Determine The Correct Size Cushion For Outdoor Furniture

PatioLiving recommends purchasing the cushions that have been specially made by the manufacturer of your seating. This ensures the perfect fit cushions that will best suit the designs of specific furniture. As a general guide to sizing outdoor cushions, measurements will estimate the correct size cushions for outdoor seating furniture.

Guidelines For Measuring

Width: Use the widest measurement when measuring left-to-right (or arm-to-arm) to find the correct width. This measures left-to-right distance across the seating surface.

Depth: Measure from the front edge of seat to the rear of the seat. This measures front-to-back distance across seating surface.

Back: Measures from the base of the seat to the top of the back.

Height: The height refers to the relative thickness of the cushion. You can estimate the ideal height of your cushions by measuring from the the base of the seat, to the ideal height of where you’d like the cushion to land.

How Outdoor Cushions Are Constructed

Outdoor cushions are specially constructed to endure in outdoor settings, including exposure to moisture, wind, and sun. Outdoor cushions that are constructed from high-quality materials are resistant to mold, mildew, and fading due to fabric that is quick-drying. The type of upholstery fabric and filling used in outdoor cushions will help to determine its comfort and durability.

Different Types Of Upholstery Fabric Options

The upholstery fabric is the exterior material that surrounds and protects the interior cushion fill. Because upholstery fabric is exposed to the elements, as well as the component of the cushion that provides aesthetic value, look for fabric that is both fade-resistant and waterproof. Read through for a breakdown on the most common upholstery fabrics used for outdoor cushion construction:

Different Types Of Fill Options

Batting (Foam and Dacron)

Batting is used to bring a smooth appearance to cushions. Foam is used as the center core and is then wrapped with batting made from Dacron. These types of cushions carry a medium to firm density.

Foam

Avaialable in a variety of densities, foam is the most common filling material applied to fill outdoor cushions. Density is the most important property to consider when choosing foam. Different applications will require different densities of foam. There are 4 important factors that determine the quality of foam used for cushions:

Density: Typically, the higher density the foam, the firmer the cushions will be. Density measures how much air is in the foam. A very high density is considered excessive for outdoor applications. The industry standard for outdoor cushions is between 1.5-1.8 lbs./cu. ft. for seats. Indoor applications require a much higher density for longevity.

Indentation Force Deflection (IFD): IFD is a measurement of a foam’s softness. Indentation force deflection tests how many pounds foam takes to compress. 70 IFD is considered firm, 40-45 IFD is medium, and 33-35 IFD is rated as medium soft.

High Resilience (HR): High resilience foam refers to properties in foam that allow it to quickly regain its shape, or “bounce back” after pressures has been applied. HR foam is better suited for indoor applications, as moisture and exposure from an outdoor setting may compromise the properties of high resilience foam.

Biocide: A biocide treatment is recommended for foams used in outdoor cushions. Biocide is an additive that reduces fungus growth in foam.

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The most common types of outdoor cushion foam include:

What Features to Look For In Outdoor Cushions

Ties

Ties allow outdoor cushions to be attached directly to outdoor seating and keeps them in place even after use

Slip Cover

Slip covers work like ties, but bring a unique aesthetic quality to outdoor furniture. A matching slip cover which covers the frames of outdoor furniture, bringing an all-over fabric covering to frames. This brings a cohesive, aesthetic appeal where the cushion is fastened in place with a pocket flap and industrial grade Velcro for a well-tailored outdoor look.

Foldable

Foldable cushions are single cushions that feature seaming which attach the back and seat cushions together. This single-piece cushion is well suited for storage.

Reversible

Quick aesthetic changes are possible with reversible cushions. They allow customers a simple and versatile style change in a flash by offering different patterns and colors in the same cushion.

How To Maintain And Care For Your Outdoor Cushions

• To maintain your outdoor cushions, regularly brush off dirt and debris.
• To reach debris that may have fallen in between seams and corners, vacuuming outdoor cushions is appropriate and will not damage the quality of cushions.
• When removing stains from outdoor cushions, blot, never rub.
• To retain the vibrancy of upholstery fabric used for outdoor cushions, limit exposure in direct sunlight.
• Sunscreens and lotions may cause oil-based stains which prove difficult to remove if not properly and quickly cleaned. If oil-based stains occur, use an absorbant such as cornstarch. This will prevent any excess oil from seeping into the fabric. Next, use a mild soapy solution to clean and rinse with water. Allow to air dry before using.
• To remove mildew from cushions upholstered in solution dyed acrylic fabrics (like Sunbrella), mix one gallon of distilled water with one cup of bleach and one fourth cup of mild soap. Spray this entire solution on the fabric, rinse with water, and air dry.
• Place saturated cushions seam side down to thoroughly drain cushions.
• Added features (such as zippers) allow cushions and uphosltery fabric to dry separately for easy drying.
• Properly store cushions by cleaning and drying them thoroughly.

Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Outdoor