The first factor you’ll need to consider in choosing patio furniture cushions is their color. This entirely depends on your personal preference and the type of atmosphere you’d like to set up in your outdoor environment.
Other considerations include the style, design, and shape of your patio furniture cushions. Again, it’s a matter of personal taste. Regarding the right patio furniture cushion sizes, you should measure the units you’re covering before shopping to make sure they fit well.
You also have to consider the patio furniture fabric that you will use. An ideal fabric is durable, stain and color resistant, as well as easy to clean. Some patio furniture fabrics can be easily removed to facilitate maintenance.
Apart from the patio furniture fabric, you should also take the cushion filling into account. Fillings can either be foam or poly. Foam is more comfortable but it tends to retain more water when it rains; hence more difficult to dry. On the other hand, poly fill may be less comfortable; it becomes lumpy if used for prolonged periods but it dries more quickly when wet. It depends on your needs and preferences, whether you prioritize comfort over weather resistance, or vice versa.
Maintenance requirement is another important factor. Some patio furniture cushions are easy to clean and therefore can be accomplished in a do-it-yourself method; others need professional maintenance. Depending on your budget, the choice is left for you to make.
Tips for Longer-lasting Patio Furniture Cushions
A good maintenance method for patio furniture cushions makes your patio furniture more resistant to changes in 
weather and environmental conditions; making it more durable and longer-lasting. Make use of water and a mild detergent to clean them. It would be better if they are removable; you can just take them off the furniture, wash them thoroughly and leave to dry.
The foam inside the furniture units should not be washed because foam tends to retain water which then increases the risk for mildew growth; but in case you already got your foam wet, make sure to dry them completely before putting back the cover. You may also utilize a cushion sealant before replacing the covers that will protect your furniture cushions from adverse environmental elements.
Making old patio furniture cushions look good as brand new is not difficult at all; though there may be instances when you need to manually scrub the furniture covers, especially when they are stained. Chemically formulated cleaning solutions are made available over the market to get rid of stains, molds or mildews in your patio furniture cushions. With these cleaning products, you can maintain the structural and functional integrity of your patio furniture cushions. In the event that your cushions come in contact with harmful substances such as sunscreen lotions and the likes, immediately rinse the cushion to avoid further damage to the furniture.
During winter when you need to store your furniture units again, you should follow the same procedure: remove your furniture’s cover, launder them with the use of mild detergent, and leave them to dry completely before putting them back on. Also, make sure that the foams are no longer wet or moist before replacing the cover to prevent mildew formation.
In storing patio furniture cushions, instead of using a plastic bag or container, it’s recommended to use air-tight containers to avoid mildew growth (mildew can form if air is trapped in the storage container. To repel insects and prevent them from causing damage to your patio furniture cushions, it would also be wise to place cedar balls in the container with the cushion. Cedar balls maintain the fresh scent of your patio furniture cushions and are made available in local and online home improvement stores.
Definitely, proper and adequate maintenance is the key to having long-lasting patio furniture cushions.