Outdoor Cushions

Which fabric is best for outdoor cushions?

Polyester makes up most of our outdoor cushions, and it suits a garden well: the fibre takes up very little water, so a cover dries quickly in a breeze. We stock a few acrylic and a few polyolefin designs; both fibres absorb little moisture too, and their outdoor grades are usually coloured before the fibre is spun, which helps them hold colour in daylight. Vinyl wipes clean but turns warm and sticky in direct sun. Cotton feels softer, but it soaks up rain and dries slowly, so bring cotton cushions in after use.

How outdoor cushions cope with rain and dew

No cushion stays dry in a downpour: water finds its way in at the seams, and what matters is how fast it leaves. After rain, stand cushions on edge so water drains out instead of pooling in the middle, and give them a few hours in moving air before anyone sits down. Dew wets cushions left out overnight just as surely. The routine that keeps them in good order is simple: out when you use the garden, in or under cover when you do not.

Choosing outdoor cushion colours for strong daylight

Daylight is far brighter than any room, so a pink, orange or yellow that would seem loud on a sofa can look exactly right against planting, while very pale shades wash out. Most of our outdoor cushions come in green, which sits easily beside lawn and borders, though a contrasting blue or pink gives a seat more presence. Fading shows first on strong colour, so bold cushions on a south-facing seat keep their depth longest if they are brought in between uses. Cream and white show pollen and sap soonest; multicoloured designs hide marks best.

Sizing outdoor cushions for garden seats

Most of our outdoor cushions are small, which suits a garden: a small cushion is quick to gather up when a shower comes over, dries sooner afterwards and packs away without a box the size of a sofa. We also stock a medium cushion and a large cushion. Measure the seat and back of the furniture rather than an old cushion, which spreads with use, and on a dining chair remember that a thick cushion lifts you while the table stays put.

Matching outdoor cushions to garden furniture

Let the furniture lead when choosing between our modern, classic, rustic and traditional outdoor cushions and the few coastal designs: weathered timber and rattan carry rustic and traditional looks, slim metal frames suit clean modern colour, and painted wood suits a classic design. Picking up a colour already in the garden (a pot, a door, a border) ties cushions to their setting better than matching the furniture exactly. Where an old cushion cannot be matched, a clear contrast looks more deliberate than a near miss.

Outdoor cushions that work indoors too

Many of our outdoor cushions are just as suited to a living room, which makes them a practical choice for a conservatory or garden room where seating is half in and half out, and for homes where cushions follow you from patio to sofa in the evening. The reverse rarely works: an indoor cushion left on a garden chair soaks up dew, and a feather pad can stay damp inside for days.

Cleaning and storing outdoor cushions

Brush off dry dirt, pollen and mould spots outdoors first, then sponge the cover with mild soap in lukewarm water and rinse well, since soap left in the weave attracts grime. Check the care label before anything goes in a machine, skip strong bleach, which strips colour along with the mould, and keep polyolefin and vinyl away from heat.

For months out of use, dry cushions thoroughly and keep them aired and off the floor: a ventilated storage box, a breathable bag or an indoor cupboard will do, while a sealed bag in a cold shed shuts the damp in. Store them standing on edge rather than stacked flat.