How to Make Cushions for Patio Furniture

Your patio furniture looked great the first few years, but now it is beginning to look a little ratty. Is it time to buy new furniture? Not necessarily. You can spruce up your deck and give your outdoor living space a whole new look simply by learning how to make cushions for patio furniture. It is amazing what a difference some fresh new cushions can make.

Not sure how to make cushions for patio furniture? Here are some simple steps to follow:

Begin by measuring the exact length and width of your patio chairs.

Decide how thick you want your cushion foam to be. Remember, you don’t want your cushions to soft and saggy; they should offer firm support for both comfort and longevity.

Buy the foam from your local craft or sewing store – be sure to take along those measurements!

Measure your cushions for buying fabric. Sometimes premade cushions are off an inch or so.
Purchase some good heavy all-weather fabric and enough long zippers so you have one for each cushion.

Cut out a paper pattern for the top, bottom and sides of your cushions. Then cut the pieces form your fabric.

Sew the pieces together inside out.

Sew the zipper into the back side.

Turn the cushion fabric right side up and stuff the cushion inside.

Set your new cushions on your chairs and enjoy you’re the new look of your patio.

Even people who are not familiar with sewing will find it relatively easy to learn how to make cushions for patio furniture.

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How to Build Outdoor Furniture

Want learn how to build outdoor furniture that will accentuate your deck and last a lifetime? Here are a few great books to give you the building techniques you will need to learn how to build outdoor furniture you will be proud to show off:

• Shop Tested Outdoor Furniture You Can Make – a handy step-by-step guide that can teach you how to make everything from a backyard swing for two to a deck box, patio chairs and even a birdhouse! Published by WOOD, this basic guide doesn’t just offer directions; it gives you the plans you need to learn how to build outdoor furniture you can use.
• How to Build Outdoor Furniture by Donald Brann, takes the guesswork out of some of the easiest and most difficult furniture projects. This 130-page guide will give you the tips and knowledge you need to make a basic deck bench or the most intricate backyard swing.
• How to Build Outdoor Furniture by Sunset Publishing, is very complete manual outdoor furniture making offer tips, step-by-step instructions and building plans.
• How to Build Classic Garden Furniture, by Danny Proulx contains instructions for almost two dozen projects. Offering beautifully detailed photographs, it is an easy guide to follow for learning how to build outdoor furniture.

One of the best ways to learn how to make outdoor furniture is find a good step-by-step guide like the ones listed above, to give you the tips and instructions you need to get eh project finished.

How to Clean Outdoor Furniture

When it comes to learning how to clean outdoor furniture safely, the most important thing to keep in mind is what type of furniture you have. Wood furniture will require different types of cleaning solutions than, let’s say wicker. Here are a few basic tips for how to clean outdoor furniture made from all types of material:

Wooden Furniture: wooden outdoor furniture is the easiest to clean, only requiring some water, mild soap and a clean rag. Don’t use furniture polish or nay other type of sealant if you plan on staining or painting your furniture in the future.
Wicker Furniture: wicker furniture can be really hard to spruce up since it features a lot of little crevices for dirt, dust and grime to get into. The best way to clean outdoor wicker is to vacuum the dust off first using the small crevice hoses on your vacuum to get into those smaller areas your fingers can not reach. Next, take a light brush to scrub the main part of the wicker with either clear water or a specialized cleaning solution. You can use a smaller toothbrush to get into the crevices. Although it is not recommended to use a solution of bleach and water on real wicker, the new plastic wicker can be brightened up with this type of cleaning solution. Let the wicker dry in the sun a day or two before using it.
Patio Seat Cover Fabric. If your patio furniture features fabric cushions, you can either hose them off and use a slight scrub brush to clean off marks and stains, or you can try washing them in your clothes washer. Be sure the cushions are thoroughly dried before placing them back on your seats.
Whether you use your patio furniture a lot or a little, it still will need to be cleaned from time to time to keep it looking great and lasting longer. Hopefully these basic how to clean outdoor furniture tips will inspire you to tackle this outdoor cleaning job.

How to Paint Outdoor Furniture

When it comes to how to paint outdoor furniture, there are three important components to keep in mind: prep; prime; and paint. Ready to learn more? Great!

Preparation is an important key to a lasting paint job, especially when it comes to how to paint outdoor furniture to last. Some of things that need to be done to get your furniture ready for its new coat of paint is to clean it thoroughly, getting rid of any mildew; peeling off any loose paint; fixing cracks and chips; sanding rough areas and letting it dry before continuing
Priming your outdoor furniture will ensure that you do not have to redo the job in a few months. There are several different types of primer to consider using, depending on the surface you will be covering and how much sunlight it gets: latex stain blocking primer; alcohol based primer (shellac); or oil based primer. Note: do not use wall primer for outdoor jobs.
The last step is of course, painting your furniture. Use the highest quality latex or oil based paint that you can afford. While cheaper versions can look nice, they tend not to offer the same long lasting durability as more expensive varieties.
A little paint can go a long way to making your outdoor patio furniture look new and inviting. Lucky for you that learning how to paint outdoor furniture is as simple as the three P’s: prepare; prime and paint.