Cushions are a major component of seating furniture, whether a huge couch or a single-seat sofa. Especially when it comes to outdoor sofa cushions, you cannot just rely on the aesthetics as many other factors come into play. The type of material to complement the outdoor sofa cover and cushions, the weather in your region, light fastness, comfort, and the ability not to catch dust. All these things combined will greatly affect how well your outdoor sofas perform in the long run.
That said, if your outdoor sofa comes with cushions, you will also need to plan ahead about replacement cushions for outdoor wicker sectionals because an upholstered outdoor sofa might need rework every few years or so. If you are also planning to purchase replacement cushions for outdoor wicker couches, this article will cover the best options for outdoor sectionals.
Best Outdoor Replacement Cushions for Wicker Furniture?
The appearance of the deck or a patio depends on many factors, and along with the natural greenery factor, the outdoor furniture choice and sofa materials play a huge role too. This also includes the choice of outdoor sofa cushions, as you need to consider a fabric that is both comfortable, resistant to weather, and designed to withstand outdoor conditions.
Also, cheap cover or cushion options can invite mildew or fungus growth as they might not offer the proper weather-resistant properties; hence, only certain materials are cut when it boils down to the perfect fabrics for outdoor sofa cushions. Below are some common materials suitable for an outdoor sofa cover or cushion.
Vinyl
There are not many reasons to put this on our list, but vinyl has been a popular option for a wicker outdoor sofa. Partially because of the sleek, shiny appearance vinyl offer and partially because vinyl is so cheap compared to other options. But among the many drawbacks of vinyl as sofa cushions are that it conducts heat and will burn you up as soon as you decide to sit on it. This makes vinyl only suitable for shaded areas and cold regions. Also, vinyl is non-recyclable.
Cotton Canvas
Cotton fabric for cushions offers the benefit of being affordable and having the ability to be dyed in any color. Because of its classic style, it appears charming and gives your patio a traditional look. Since the cotton is not water resistant, you can have mildew and mold issues. Thus it needs to be treated once a year with a waterproofing treatment, so maintenance costs and work are high. Also, cotton is not a good choice for washable sofas, so it’s not ideal for regions with heavy showers.
Sunbrella Fabric
Named after something that suits the outdoor environment, the sunbrella fabric is specially blended and designed for the outdoors. This fabric has features like fade resistance, waterproofing, heat resistance, and remaining safe from mold and mildew. Sunbrella also tends to bear chlorine wash, so you can wash up your sofas at the end of every season or when needed. However, all these qualities of sunbrella make it one of the most expensive choices for an outdoor cushion.
What to Consider when Buying Wicker Sectional Replacement Cushions?
After you have your mind set on the best material for an outdoor cushion, whether initially or replacement, you need to look at the other factors that impact the outdoor cushion choice too, from comfort level to ease of maintenance, dyeability to textures and prints, below are some factors to consider while planning your next wicker sectional replacement.
Color Scheme
This factor depends on the patio to patio or person to person. The right color scheme is determined by what you consider important and appealing. Though selecting the right color scheme for a wicker outdoor sectional becomes much easier because of the natural and neutral color of the sofa. You can opt for vivid color options or brightly textured or printed designs for sofa cushions.
Comfort
Although it’s great if your outdoor cushions look incredible, you also want them to feel incredible. To ensure that you get the most use out of your cushions, it’s critical to prioritize comfort and usefulness in addition to appearance. Look for fill materials with a firm-yet-soft feel that keeps its form and creates a comfy cushion. You can opt for memory foams as the cushion’s core because they offer adequate support yet can retain their shape too.
Filling Material
When it comes to comfort, filling plays a vital role. Besides memory foam cushions that can get wet in the rain (the only big drawback), polyester and foam are the most often used fill materials. A foam-filled cushion offers stronger support than a loose polyester filling.
Mixing Up the Sizes
Mixing and matching forms and sizes of outdoor accessories, such as cushions, is great for properly finishing your outdoor area. This prevents your outside area from being excessively formal and might give your visitors a feeling of coziness and welcome.
Durability
Durability is a key factor, especially in an outdoor cushion, as the outdoor conditions are much harsher and unkind than the indoor weather changes. Make sure you look for a fabric and color that is resistant to stains, mold, bleach, water, UV radiation, and other things. As a piece of your outdoor furniture arrangement, they are made to last and have a long, fulfilling life.
Ease of Maintenance
What’s the point of an outdoor sofa set if you have to dust, wipe, clean, and wash it every other day? Not only is this impossible, but it defeats the purpose of outdoor spaces being relaxing. Consider waterproof and mold-proof cushion options that are easy to clean and don’t catch spills or dirt beyond the surface. It is best to opt for zip-off machine washable covers for cushions rather than sewn-on cushion covers.
Where To Buy Replacement Cushions For Wicker Furniture?
Most furniture stores also offer options for replacement cushions, along with the advantage of free (or paid) replacement services. Though it is important to hire only professionals for this task, maintaining and working on outdoor furniture is a tricky job with many factors involved. For the best quality outdoor cushion fabrics and replacement services, you can check out the SOL Backyard project, which is dedicated to making your outdoors as comfortable and functional as possible.
