A good set of garden furniture needs the right cushions and importantly, the right fabrics. With the right furniture frame and the wrong cushions, the whole set could look and feel like a bad purchase. A good set of garden furniture needs the right fabrics and the right furniture, and that’s why we have this guide.
Olefin is a great choice in fabric. It’s one of the most common fabrics for garden cushions and for good reason. When used for garden cushions, olefin holds its color better than cheap cotton blends and resist fading when exposed to the sun. Olefin cushions also dry faster after rain compared to other garden furniture courtyard cushions. Olefin is the most commonly used fabric in mid-range garden cushions. Though, it is not the softest fabric, it has great longevity.
At times olefin is compared to acrylic fabric. Acrylic cushions are woven fabric compared to olefin’s coated fabric. Because acrylic is woven fabric, fading of acrylic fabric occurs less and is of significantly better quality compared to cushions of olefin fabric. For cushions used outdoors, acrylic is well worth the higher cost.
Polyester is cheaper than Olefins and Acrylic, but it is the fabric most likely to fade first. For cushions used frequently throughout summer, polyester will likely wear out faster than the furniture itself.
Look for cushions described as water-repellent, instead of fully waterproof, when considering water resistance. A water-repellent cover allows moisture to bead and run off without soaking in, and still allows the cushion to breathe, preventing mildew growth. Fully waterproof covers trap moisture inside, and can be worse for the cushion over time.
Considering mildew is the biggest complaint with outdoor cushions, storage is more important than fabric choice. Bringing cushions in at night is unreasonable for most, but a cushion storage box or bag is very effective for long wet periods. Water is more likely to run off and not pool if cushions are stood on their edges.
Cleaning outdoor cushions is a pretty simple process. Most dirt and pollen can be removed with a soft brush and some soapy water. To clean cushions, be careful to avoid bleach based cleaners, especially on colored fabrics. These can strip color and leave ugly patches. After all cushions are cleaned, leave them to air dry. This is especially important because packed away damp cushions are a leading cause of mildew growth.
They’re less visible, but foam fillings are as important as the fabric on the outside. The filling in standard foam cushions traps water and becomes damp for days, resulting in a musty cushion even if the cover is fine. You don’t want that if you’re leaving cushions outside all summer. Quick-dry foam is a better investment over the summer. It has channels cut out of it that allow the water to pass through and not soak the filling. Water won’t sit in the cushion to become musty.
A lot of people ignore how color choice plays a part in how long fabric lasts. It’s extremely common for darker shades to be sun-bleached. UV rays cause fast fading and sun-bleaching in darker red and blue shades, in particular. In the same conditions, lighter shades of fabric tend to remain intact. While darker colors don’t have to be avoided, they may be in need of replacement sooner.
The investment of a good fabric may save you costs in the long run. You should also look for removable covers. It’s easy to wash them and they allow you to update a cover without ditching a whole cushion. Summer’s worth using a cushion, and winter’s reserved for storage. Cheaper options for cushions are just so disappointing. Good fabric and a good care routine for summer cushions allows you to avoid that.
