Patio Cushions Info

You’ve found the site that is dedicated to comfortable seating for your outdoor pleasure.  Whether you own patio cushions now or are considering new ones to buy, you can find many – hopefully all – of your answers here.  What you should consider are the many different styles and patterns that are available for your seating needs.

There are considerable new changes that have made patio furniture more comfortable than ever.  What has happened – like all things that evolve and improve over time – is that the materials have changed that allow for better wear time, fabrics that resist UV and patterns that represent a more modern appearance.  Actually, it is possible to find patterns and styles from almost any era.  What you will see as you search online is that many of those patterns from the 1950s are coming back.

How Long Have Patio Cushions Been Available?

Well, I couldn’t tell you the date that they were introduced, but it would be fair to say that as long as patio furniture has been around, so have the cushions that go on them.  For obvious reasons, we have created the furniture to be able to get outside and enjoy the weather and peace that goes along with that fresh air environment.  You could argue that the first patio cushion was an animal fur that was put on a flat stone in the days of the cavemen.  Luckily, times have changed.  At least, they have changed if you get good ones.

How you know that you have found some good ones?  For one thing, at first, many may seem to be comfortable and plush.  Then, over a very short period of time during those great patio season days, those once plush cushions become flattened and useless.  They actually become more like simple, flat pads at that point.  This was common at one point with older versions of what were called “patio cushions”, but were really only some type of cheap plastic cover over a thin piece of foam padding.  These lasted only temporarily, maybe a couple seasons and then you needed to buy new ones.  So, unless you are looking for replacement patio cushions for patio furniture every season or two, the recommendation is to avoid these chair cushions.

Getting The Right Chair Cushions

Here is an example of a more contemporary cushioned patio set.

As mentioned, there are some new styles that have allowed seating to be more comfortable than ever.  So, the style refers to more or less the shape and size of the cushions themselves.  With this, we are referring to the fact that there are both bottom and back pieces to the set.  This is what creates that comfortable seat that people just want to sink into for a while.  Unless you want your guests to get the hint and not wear out their welcome, get comfortable ones like these.  Will you pay more for them, yes.  But, after all, if you don’t spend some money now on better quality ones, you will end up spending more in the long run as you keep replacing every other season.

What you will find with these new chaise lounge feeling chair cushions are the very way that they lead to you spending more time outdoors.  Not only that, you will end up spending more time enjoying your patio and less time spent getting massages to work out the kinks caused by your hard patio furniture.  You’ve probably had the experience yourself where you have sat on a wicker patio chair and got poked with one of those sticks – ouch! Not a pleasant memory.  Or have you ever tried to sit on a piece of wrought iron patio furniture without a cushion?  Well, I wouldn’t recommend it.

With these new styles comes a retro-look ability.  You can order your patio cushions in a variety of colors and patterns.  If you are waxing nostalgic about those fifties style floral patterns and colors, then you are in for a great surprise.  Maybe you are not surprised as that era has been popular for some time again now.  It must have something to do with that whole time when the family would be out back enjoying a BBQ with friends and neighbors.  While the patterns and old colors are back, now you can sit in comfort never having to use one of those thin little pad like cushions.

New Patio Cushion Styles And Fabrics

Over the last decade or so, manufacturers have realized that with the push in people demanding outdoor rooms or living spaces it has come to their attention that the traditional outdoor fabrics just are not cutting it.  So, what has changed?  Well, for one thing, I’m sure that you’ve heard of Sunbrella (TM).  This is just one name brand fabric that has taken center stage.  Its main claim to fame is the fact that it resists the damaging effects of UV rays on your cushions.  You can read that as less wear and tear, also translating into cost savings for not having to replace them as often.  There is no such thing as an invincible patio cushion, the fact is that they do wear out over time.  You can consider fabrics like Sunbrella (TM) more like sunblock for your cushions.

With this in mind, you should also know that proper care of your cushions is your best defense against replacement costs.  Proper washing with mild soap and water will go a long way in preventing damage from the elements.  Also, keeping your cushions stored away when not in use is an obvious way to prevent unnecessary damage from dear old mother nature.

Is there really a difference between chair cushions and chair pads?  Absolutely!  One is nothing more than some cheap polyester material or other foam padding sandwiched between some other polyester material that is made for a cover fabric.  I don’t have a problem with polyester, it is with the cheap padding.  Polyester or ‘poly-’ any material can be fine in and of itself.  It really just relates to the way they are manufactured.  By this, we understand that it is a man-made material.

There are other types of natural fabrics that are making a comeback as we move into more of an appreciation of the sustainability issues in design and living principles.  In addition to the environmental benefits, there are also more physical benefits to your patio chair cushions themselves.  The fact that you can get materials that are made for the outdoors at all is a big improvement.  There was a time when you couldn’t even get some of the green materials that you can find today.  Just look at materials and fabrics that are made of bamboo.  Yes, you can actually buy clothing and other fabrics that use bamboo fibers – a naturally renewable resource, a grass.  Outdoor chair cushions seem to be a perfect fit for this type of application.

You might not be able to find as many patterns and colors available with this material yet, but I’m sure it will not be long before it takes off in popularity.  As we mentioned, there are just so many products moving forward that work well with the whole Green Revolution that is and has been growing over the last decade or so.

This will surely change and when it does, there will be another great leap forward in designs.  This is not too unfamiliar to another design innovation I came across recently that I’ll share with you here.  It doesn’t relate specifically to patio cushions, per se, but does involve a beverage holder.  It is a unique looking cup holder that attaches to most any type of chair – specifically a wheelchair.  This cup holder is nothing short of amazing.  If you like, you can learn more about it there.  It is basically the last one you’ll probably ever need.  Now, if only someone could develop one of those to be built into some sort of patio furniture cushion.  I guess we shouldn’t complain, we do have the furniture itself for that.  Besides, once you get a cup holder mounted to a chaise lounge, you may never be able to get up again!