Cushions for outdoor furniture: 5 aspects to keep in mind.

When decorating our terrace or garden we find infinite possibilities: from sun loungers and hammocks, through dining tables, sofas and armchairs, corners or parasols. When choosing a model or another we take into account different factors: style, colors, measures, comfort or even price. 

However, have you ever stopped to value the quality of the outdoor furniture cushions you’re buying? The garden sofa or the terrace recliners can be spotless after a couple of seasons, but if the cushions are unusable little you will serve that piece.

Are all cushions suitable for outdoor living?

In PATIO you can always find spare cushions for your furniture. Unfortunately, this does not happen in most outdoor furniture shops on the Costa del Sol. That is why it is essential that you take into account certain aspects of the cushions of your future garden furniture.

Read on if you want to know 5 essential aspects to finding good textiles for your outdoor space.

We can find cushions for outdoor furniture in a variety of sizes, colours, fabrics and shapes. Whether you have a beachfront apartment in Marbella, a patio in a villa in Sotogrande or an urban penthouse in Málaga, your cushions will last much longer if they meet these requirements.

1. Easy to clean.

The cushions of our sofas, armchairs and pouffes for the garden are going to be outdoors so you can be sure that they will get dirtier than the furniture at home. Even if you have a glazed or covered terrace, it is highly recommended that the cushions can be washed frequently without deteriorating.

Cushions for outdoor use.

Porotex cushions can be washed directly with a jet of water, while those of acrylic fabrics must be machine washable. Pay attention to the quality of the zippers and that the inside of the cushion has no loose fibres. This way you will avoid more than one upset when you have to re-wrap them.

2. Resistance to the sun.

BAHAMAS armchairs with PATIO cushions

In Andalusia we have a privileged environment with a lot of sunlight throughout the year. It is a pleasure to enjoy the outdoors, but in summer the sun can become suffocating.
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Just as we have to protect our skin with a good parasol, the cushions of our garden furniture also suffer if we leave them long in the sun. That is why it is very important that we choose colors that are resistant to solar action and that do not lose their tonality easily.

3. Quality of the filling.

The interior of the cushions of your armchairs, deckchairs and sofas is a fundamental component for the enjoyment of your outdoor furniture. It’s something you don’t see, but you can tell ( and quite a lot).

Regardless of whether you like the more or less hard cushions, we recommend that the interiors are formed by high density compact fiber, at least 32 kg./m3. Otherwise you can find deformed cushions in a short time and therefore unusable. 

Garden cushions filled with high density fiber.

4. Tension of tissue.

DELTA armchairs with water resistant cushions

I’m sure you’ve wondered why in cheap garden furniture stores all the cushions are sheathed in plastics. Usually it is because the fabric is very irregular and forms "bags" of air different areas.  
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Quality clothing must have the right point of tension of the fabric so that the aesthetic effect is optimal and does not deteriorate with use.

5. Quick Dry.

In summer, you want a dip in the sea or in the pool, so it is very likely that we will end up with wet bathing clothes on our deckchairs, hammocks and other outdoor furniture. For this reason it is advisable that both the filling and the covers of the cushions are quick drying. 

Cushions that drain water without pressing are highly recommended. They are very practical and also keep the freshness in summer with a very pleasant touch.

SEAGULL pool loungers with quick dry cushions.

Types of fabrics recommended for your outdoor furniture:

• ​​Dralon.  Very resistant to UV rays and easy to preserve and clean. Widely used in parasols and umbrellas.
• Olefín. Kind of tissue of extreme solidity before the sunlight, with a very pleasant touch. Widely used in ship furniture for its resistance to atmospheric agents.
• Porotex. It can be wet and washed without any problem, and can be outdoors all year. Highly recommended for sun loungers and hammocks due to their high water tolerance and quick drying.
• Porophin. Combines the characteristics of olefin and porotex. Soft-touch with great tolerance to water. The latest trend for quality outdoor furniture.

Fernando Bueno.

Patio Top Garden Furniture Estepona/Marbella