I've never had them last more than one season. And they are so expensive...I've given up on cushions in exposed areas.

We have cushions on our patio couches and furniture and live in a very harsh climate in the Winter. I bring them from the basement about this time of year.

I do give them a light wash and light spray to fabric which is outdoor fabric and it has worked well... do this on a day when I know it is suppose to be sunny and leave them out turning them before returning them to the basement which is finished and climatized in early October which can still be very warm.

They are still unfaded and in great condition for 3 seasons (4 1/2 months or so). I love the color combination or I'd have gone another direction.... however, they have a season or 2 left for sure.

I'm interested in this topic as well.

I do not use cushions on my dining furniture (teak), but we use them on our lounge furniture. I am never lounging absent cushions because I would just stay inside. Honestly, we work all the time, so we bring the cushions out only when we will use the furniture. After 3 years, they look brand new.

Porter Edun it sounds like you might have more temperate summers than we do. Here it averages well above 90° from June-August, and almost never rains. That sun rots fabric so fast. I wish I had time and inclination to carry them in and out but alas, it's not so.

Now I have two covered porches though, so I've been contemplating giving upholstery another shot!

Lindsey, I think that's it. I'm in So Cal also and the never ending dry heat and relentless sun on the cushions all day just ruins them. If They are on a covered patio or under an awning I would give cushions another shot.
I guess it depends on the climate and what part of the country you are in.

I love relaxing outside on my comfy cushioned furniture. Where I live, summers are hot and dry. I buy good quality fabric, Sunbrella if available, and leave them out in full sun from May through October. We use them every day. They usually last five seasons. I do cover for occasional heavy rainstorms. Lighter colored fabrics look better longer.

I live half time in Arizona where the Sunbrella cushions on my covered patio get morning sun and a lot of use. I try to keep them from getting wet when it storms, and after four years, they still look almost new. The cushions on my poolside dining set up north get stored when not in use, which has kept them looking pretty good, too, and I've had them for twenty one summers.

I'm in the rainy Pacific Northwest where it rains until 4th of July, then is bone dry for a few months, then rain, rain, rain. I store my outdoor cushions and pillows in the basement, and put them outside when the weather warms up. If they get wet they get wet -- they dry quickly. They inevitably get dirty from critters and creatures that pass through the backyard. I put the smaller cushions in the washer/dryer at the end of the season. The larger cushions get a scrub with soapy water and dry on the lawn. I've learned to buy dark colored cushions for longer life. I look for bargains at places like Tuesday Morning and Pier 1. They usually last a two or three years. Nothing like a little snooze outside on a warm summer afternoon.

Will you put it in a covered patio where it won't get hit by the rain as much? we have cushions from target that lasted all last summer, but they're on our balcony so they don't get wet as often. I also brought them in for winter.

Lindsey, yes we do get very hot summers yet there is humidity to be sure!

Since we practically live on our patio year around ( beach, So California) after experiencing both, I prefer "sling" fabrics , They clean easily, dry very quickly & & my current ones still look like new after 7 years. I ditched dealing with cushions years ago.

They look fabulous on photo shoots but if you live with them and you need to put them away everyday that's a bit much, plus the sun will make them fade regardless on how much you will pay for them . Get something that requires very little care instead.

I agree with the sling type furniture. It's comfortable and dries fast. My furniture stays out all year. I don't have the time or the inclination to lug stuff in and out of my house.

I would to see examples of patio furniture without cushions that is comfortable and looks attractive.

I'm more interested in lounge sets than dining.

The sling style furniture is a great low maintenance option. You can get a similar look to cushions by pairing a dark frame with a light sling. They even make some sling fabrics now with subtle patterns that look a lot like fabric. I like the options from Telescope Casual - they look good and are made in America!

I keep mine inside in the winter and have a cover for the rest of the time when I'm not sitting on it.

I keep my Sunbrella cushions out from April 30th- October. They have held up for the last two years and haven't faded at all.

Hey Jenn Gerrs! Are you Glen's wife?

Ha ha! Yamara, yup, it's me!

Hiiiiiiii!!!!!!!!!

Cushions! They add color and comfort to the space. With that said, get the right cushions so you are not dragging soggy cushions inside all the time. Sunbrella RAIN would be your best bet due to water/mildew resistance and no UV fading.

Have you heard of reticulated foam? It's a specialised foam made for outdoor use. Because of its open cellular structure its sieves water making it suitable for outdoor use and around water. We stock it in a foam sheet here.

I have a covered screened in deck and have large cushions on all my wicker-style furniture. They don't get much rain unless it is very stormy. We do get lots of humidity though living on the east coast of Canada. We leave them out all spring, summer and fall. The fabric has lasted well for five years now. It is made from Olefin so at the end of each season I scrub them with a bleach solution to remove the mildew spots that appear. They still look like new but the foam needs replacement. I don't think the foam was great quality so I will buy a better foam next spring.

Cushions with Sunbrella fabric!! I live in Northern CA. Mine are 6 years old and still looking fine. I take them in my shed for winters from the patio. They add colors and after a while I always want to change them out for a change. I treat them like consumable! But again 6 years is pretty good for me. I’m changing them out next year for fun.