When I think of January, I think of hibernation. I grew up in northern Minnesota and it was always the hardest month to get through. It was brutally cold, dark and “closed up”. Hibernation, a period of rest and sleep, isn’t a bad idea considering we just went through an extremely busy holiday season. Our body and minds need this period of decompression and reset. And then just like that we wake up (usually around the third week of January) and feel renewed and ready to tackle whatever the new year brings.
Now that the cold dark days of January are behind us, the days are getting a little longer, and more importantly, Punxsutawney Phil hinted at an early spring, our minds turn to “springing” up our homes. But it is also the perfect time to access your outdoor furniture and cushions. Stores have replaced their seasonal spaces once filled with Christmas decorations with outdoor living. If your cushions are sun bleached, worn or you are just over the color or pattern you might want to consider recovering your cushions. Sure, you can purchase new cushions, but there are a couple of things to consider before you do.
FIT. Have you ever visited one of the bigger retail stores and walked down the aisles lined with colors and shapes of all sizes and thought, “surely this one is perfect” only to get home and find it is to narrow, too wide, too deep, too whatever?
I have. It can be frustrating almost to point of wanting to get new furniture. Some outdoor furniture have cushions shaped to fit your unique piece as you can see in the pictures above.
FABRIC. Not all outdoor fabric is equal. One option is a less expensive outdoor polyester fabric that comes in all kinds of prints and colors. Since the UV rating is lower this fabric would not be ideal for cushions that would be in direct sunlight but would be a good option for accent pillows. But even in this category of polyester fabric, there are exceptions and new brands are coming out with better UV ratings and construction processes that make them better for outdoor cushions.
The color and print are stamped on the fabric after the fabric is made therefore making it more prone to wear and fading a lot faster so in time the color will fade and look dull.
If your cushions will be in direct sunlight, you should consider upgrading to a Sunbrella or Outdura type of fabric in a solution-dyed acrylic fabric.
The color and pattern are actually woven into the fibers as the fabric is made making it a perfect long wearing fabric for outdoor cushions. You can tell it is a solution-dyed acrylic as the print and color are actually visible on both sides of the fabric.
The take away is that every brand has its own manufacturing process and the warranty, UV rating and fabric rub rating should be considered in your unique situation and use. In the long run, the little extra money you spend will be worth it. So now when you look at the store-bought cushions tags, you will know the difference between polyester and acrylic.
If you have cushions that need updating and purchasing new cushions isn’t an option that will work for your furniture, you might want to consider having custom cushions made in the exact fabric, fit and style that you want. Now is the perfect time to start the process so they are ready when you are to get outside.
Beside the squirrel damage her cushions weren’t in bad shape considering how long she has had them. The original Sunbrella fabric in a darker golden brown color held up well in the elements under her gorgeous covered outdoor patio. The metal frames of the furniture were still in excellent shape so it made perfect sense to replace the cushions. 
And then you see the cushions. (add sound affects….”brakes screech“).
