Having great patio furniture can really enhance your outdoor space and make your summers more enjoyable but when you are shopping for furniture don’t forget about the accessories.

It’s not enough just to buy great patio furniture. In order to get the full enjoyment you need to make sure you have all the things that go with it. If you are buying a table and chair set, you’ll need a good umbrella in addition to making sure you have enough room to seat the whole family. If you are getting some chairs and a settee, you’ll need some end tables and maybe even a coffee table. Either way all your furniture will need great cushions and protective coverings.

Patio Umbrellas

No matter what type of patio furniture you have, an umbrella is a must to keep you out of the hot rays of the sun. You can invest in a wide variety of umbrellas and materials to create the cool place in the shade you have always wanted. Be sure to pick an umbrella that is sturdy to hold up against winds and that has a durable fabric. Sunbrella is the ultimate in out door fabric because of its breathable as well as durability against the harshest weather.

If your patio furniture doesn’t have a mechanism to hold a patio umbrella, an offset pole patio umbrella is a great way to move with the sun. You can place it over your patio furniture set while you dine on your morning brunch or have it over your chaise while you sip a cool drink in the afternoon.

Patio Cushions

When buying cushions for your patio furniture it is important to get materials that are comfortable, long lasting, weather resistant and beautiful. You should make sure your cushions have the right density per size to maximize it’s drainability and let water pass through it easily. If you go for cushions that are dacron wrapped, you’ll be sure to get almost the same comfort you get in your living room. Your patio furniture cushions shouldn’t feel like a flat box but should create an element of comfort and support for your back, dry out quickly when the get wet and last for years.

Patio Furniture Covers

When bad weather is on the horizon or at the end of the season, you’ll want to protect your patio furniture with covers. Most outdoor covers are designed to be durable and withstand harsh weather. Since you want your covers to stay on, you should buy only furniture covers that have a Velcro fastening system. For durable covers, purchase UV treated fabric so you never have to worry about deteriorating due to the strength of the sun.

Your cushions need special protection from unwanted dust and heaven forbid the nesting of insects or other small rodents. Your best bet is to store them inside in the off season, but if you must leave them out be sure the are protected in a sealed cover.

Lee Dobbins writes for Backyard Garden And Pation where you can learn more about furniture and accessories for your patio.

Patio Furniture FAQ:

Question: What to use to treat and protect new wood patio furniture?
Not sure of exactly what type of wood it is. Should we use Teak Oil? Or Thompson’s Water Seal? Or a simple varnish?

Answer: Find out what kind of wood it is, & you could get a better answer to your question.
Teak oil is kind of a light coating for an oily wood like teak, similar to Australian Timber oil, they both work great for what they were designed for, & like Thompson’s if you’re leaving the furniture out in the elements as opposed to beneath a covered porch mostly out of the sun you should think of it as a kind of yearly maintainence chore, to be done at the beginning/end of the season.
Even a semi-transparent stain’s not a bad way to go for most wood, just don’t put anything on them that’ll leave enough of a film to require scraping/sanding off to re-do when the time comes, as that increases your job time by a factor of anywhere from 2-4.

Question: What is the best type of cleaner to use on patio furniture?
I have a swing on my porch that has brown cushions. I want to clean it without ruining color. Any suggestions?

Answer: I use Simple Green cleaner mixed in a bucket with water on all my outdoor furniture then spray it with a hose and dry it with an old towel. It also comes in a spray bottle. It cleans better than 409 or anything else I have tried and it is a safe product to use. The mildew and dirt comes off easily without a lot of scrubbing. I don’t know if your cushions are plastic, vinyl or cloth. I would spray or wipe a small area on the underneath side with a sponge to see if it works on the cushion. If they have a cloth cover and you can remove them, I would wash them in cold water on the gentle cycle of your washing machine or soak them in the sink or bathtub and wash by hand then hang them to dry to prevent shrinking. I use Cheer Free liquid detergent because it has no color or perfume added and it works great on everything I wash in the machine or by hand.

Question: What type of paint should i use to paint wicker patio furniture?

Answer: I would go with a gloss exterior paint. There are no types just for wicker – my mom has used exterior gloss and it looks great and holds up really well.

Question: How do I get rid of green mildew stains on patio furniture?
I have a porch swing with a top on it. It is getting worse each year with green mildew all over it…..any suggestions on how to get rid of it?

Answer: I spray mine down twice a year (spring and fall) with bleach and water. A little heavier on the bleach than water. Then scrub them clean. It works like a charm.

Question: How can I get pine sap off my patio furniture?
It has left white stains everywhere. Is there a quick way to dissolve?

Answer: You can get pine sap off of anything with peanut butter. Even kid’s hair.

Question: What is the best [safest/gentlest] product for cleaning patio furniture cushions?
Are there household products that are good? Do you lay them out on the lawn to dry?

Answer: I have always used baking soda, it cleans everything off, and for any tough stains on them, pour vinegar on them after the baking soda is on, don’t have to use much force then. And yes, I would just stand them in an upright position outside in the sun to dry, the vinegar will also set any colors so they don’t fade as easily…also cheap!

Question: Where can I find the best patio furniture?
We’re looking for weather-proof high quality lounge chairs in white and/or blue.

Answer: Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware have good quality patio furniture. If you wanted something more trendy West Elm also has patio furniture (West Elm has the same parent company as Pottery Barn)

Question: Why is my gray composite decking turned tan where patio furniture sets?
Under the umbrella stand and under the table legs have left tan looking spots.

Answer: Maybe it is slightly damp there, making it appear more tan; or it may be sun faded where the furniture hasn’t been covering it.

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