First and foremost, patio cushions are for comfort.  If you miss the mark on this aspect, the rest is all a mute point.  But, you would be surprised how often people will sacrifice comfort over looks.  They must just think that all patio chair cushions are the same or that they will overlook the feel if they look great.

These wrought iron chairs really need chair cushions to be comfortable.

This is definitely a step in the wrong direction.  Don’t be fooled by price alone, however, because you can find good cushions at a fair price. Often, you can find discounted versions of older models that are just as contemporary and will look great for years.  Quality fabrics and craftsmanship are the true mark of a durable cushion, sure to last you many seasons.

There are so many styles from which to choose, and these depend on the type of furniture you have.  Under the broad category of patio furniture, you can find things like chaise lounge chairs and garden benches.  Both of these are much more enjoyable and comfortable with the right padding between you and the furniture.  In the case of bench cushions, don’t be surprised if you notice that you spend more time laying out there.  Because most benches are either wood or metal, a padded seat is crucial.

Other types of patio furniture cushions are helpful but not necessarily essential for comfort.  For example, you can get cushions for plastic and those rubberized pool furniture pieces, but these will likely be comfortable as is.  You will notice as you shop that there are more and more types of waterproof materials that drain quickly and are rot, mildew and insect resistant.  This is a far cry from the older patio chair cushions – simple pads really – that would deteriorate after only a few seasons in the elements.

Again, the truth is that outdoor chair cushions are more for comfort than anything else.  In addition to this, if you plan on entertaining, you will want to make sure that you get the right type of outdoor chairs, capable of receiving a cushion.  Now, most chairs can have a cushion placed on the seat part, but they may feel unstable or cause the back to hit you in the wrong spot, making the chair actually less comfortable.  This is definitely not what you are shopping for, so be certain of what you are looking for when you surf or drive for the perfect chair cushions for your patio space.

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Isn’t that what it’s all about, comfort?  Of course it is, so no matter what you might read or hear about the beauty and material about this bench cushion or that one, remember that you need to give it a ‘seating test run’ to know for sure.  This may take a bit of patience on your part, but it will greatly pay off in the end – no pun intended.

Having said that, we are adamant about quality.  Like most things, a quality product is easily recognizable and will cost you much less over the life of the product because of its craftsmanship.  This relates to not only the materials used but the way they are put together.  With reputable companies, you will be given the choice of fabrics, padding thickness and other variable features.  These may fall into their custom cushions category, but not necessarily if they are truly customer oriented.  Your outdoor bench cushion should fit perfectly and that measurement is up to you.  So, unless you have a standard size bench and you can find that exact size online or in your local home improvement or patio furniture store, then you’ll probably need a custom bench cushion.

Shapes, Sizes and Materials of Bench Cushions

Definitely in need of a bench cushion.

There isn’t a whole lot of complexity with these, but there are some nuances you should be aware of if you are shopping around.  The main thing to note is the shape you are looking for.  Aside from the obvious rectangular shape

of a standard bench, there are ones that have rounded corners – either on the front edge or back.  Also, there are trapezoid shaped cushions that have both sharp corners or rounded corners.  As far as the size of the cushion, like mentioned above, you should really look into getting it measured properly.  There is nothing worse than having a cushion that slides around because of a poor fit.

Like patio awnings and outdoor curtains, you can get a bench seat cushion made with Sunbrella fabric as well.  This fabric is known for its UV resistance.  This property is due to the fact that the fabric is dyed while the acrylic fibers that make it up are still wet.  Then, when the fibers dry, the dye is part of the permanent structure of the material itself, making it resistant to stains and other fading due to the sun.  These cushions definitely last.

Another great feature of good patio bench cushions are their ability to shed water.  We’re not talking about shedding water like a good waxing job on your car or boat.  In this case, we are referring to the ability of your bench cushions to allow water to essentially pass through them and not keep them soaked for long periods of time.  Pooling or sitting water like this leads to mildew and rot of your cushions themselves.  Good acrylic and poly-fiber materials make the cushion padding durable and truly made to be outdoors.  So, feel free to use that wooden bench for an elegant dinner party, your guests will never know it could be so good.

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