Outdoor Furniture Plus' Blog

They make stiff, unforgiving furniture comfortable and brighten up a drab deck. Patio cushions help define outdoor furniture sets by offering vibrant colors and patterns, as well as giving shape and substance to slim aluminum, resin or wood frames. From simple seats to chaise lounges, gliders and ultra plush deep seating, there are cushions for every need and preference. Mix and match prints, or pick out a new set of cushions each season to achieve a fresh look without having to buy all new furniture.

Most cushions are detachable, outfitted with ribbon ties, Velcro or snap closures. This is because they are designed to be easily removed for storage, cleaning and in inclement weather. Many cushions also come with detachable covers that can be unzipped and thrown right into the washing machine.

The main difference between indoor and patio cushions is obviously that patio cushions need to be waterproof. Although it’s not recommended you leave your cushions outside in torrential downpours or in the throes of winter, some moisture and exposure to the sun and wind won’t do nearly the damage it would on an indoor cushion, usually made from much more delicate fabrics. Outdoor cushions are also resistant to color fade, tears, spills and even mildew.

In addition to the cover, the cushion itself is also waterproof, made from a lightweight blend of foam and polyester. This synthetic filling also helps cushions keep their shape, rather than becoming flattened over time. When it comes to the outer layer of cushions, there are a variety of materials that manufacturers employ.

Two of the main categories of cushion are those with woven fibers and those without. This is a broad term under which made materials fall. The thing that differentiates a woven shell from other cushions is that it is, like the name implies, made from a series of woven threads rather than one solid piece of fabric. The benefit of this is that a cushion is more malleable and breathes, which not only keeps you cooler as you sit on it, but also helps damp cushions to dry more quickly.

One type of woven cushion is made with a polyester core and PVC shell, where the material is actually woven into a pliable, breathable fabric. This is one durable material, made for the outdoors and highly resistant to damages, but by the same token it’s also relatively coarse and stiff in comparison to some other cushions.

Olefin is another cushion shell that utilizes waterproof, woven fibers. Olefin is especially popular because it retains its bright color for years, but is also much softer than PVC or plastic feeling materials. Its feel is closer to canvas or a dense cloth, but it is just as stain-resistant and durable as rougher fabrics.

Depending on what type of cushion and covers you own, their maintenance varies slightly. Most cushions can be lightly hosed down or cleaned using a damp cloth and mild detergent. Avoid contact with sunscreen and other oily materials that can break down cushions over time. For the longevity of cushions, store them inside or in a ventilated storage chest when it is raining and during the winter. For optimal results, make sure cushions are completely dry before storing them for long periods of time.

Do yourself a favor and invest in a quality patio umbrella this season. They will keep you cooler on sunny days, drier on rainy ones, and just make being outdoors all the much more enjoyable. In part one, we discussed the materials that make up patio umbrellas, along with the various types of opening mechanisms. In this installment, we’ll look at the types of patio umbrella bases, various accessories to take your umbrella to the next level, and a little bit about why patio umbrellas should be part of a healthy regimen.

Bases
There are a few different ways a patio umbrella can stand up, and this can mean all the difference in the world insofar as the spatial requirements of your deck or patio, as well as personal preference. The first type of base is freestanding, in which the umbrella is attached to a weighted floor base that is either fixed or rolling. The second type of umbrella stand also attaches to a floor base, but is meant to be used with patio tables that have pre-made holes in the center. These are great for enjoying meals outdoors.

There are also deck-mounted umbrellas that are more or less permanently affixed to the floors of decks and patios. What you lose in mobility you make up for by the fact that these are the most stable bases, and the least likely to topple over due to strong winds. The last group of bases is offset bases, which consequently can be freestanding, table-mounted or deck-mounted. Offset bases bend at an angle so that the umbrella does not need to be centrally located in the area in which shade is desired. They allow for greater control of shade and are an advantage where space is an issue.

Accessories
Want to really enjoy your umbrella? Try out some simple patio umbrella accessories. For starters, look for umbrellas with overlapping fabric and wind vents, much like you would see on a golf umbrella. The idea is much the same for these oversized portable umbrellas: in a strong wind, the vents allow air to pass through instead of being caught underneath the umbrella, where it would normally tip over or invert itself.

Another idea, great if you live in humid or swampy regions, is a detachable mosquito net. For total comfort, try a mounted fan, designed specifically to attach to umbrellas. Finally, an ambient touch is the addition of lights. Whether large bulbs or small, Christmas light style bulbs, a little mood lighting goes a long way.

To Your Health
A final word on the benefit of patio umbrella stems from the idea that they’re not just a luxury item. Patio umbrellas can be good for you. In the heat of summer, the shaded area beneath an umbrella is significantly cooler than sunny areas, drastically reducing dehydration and the symptoms from maladies like sunstroke. They’re also a natural version of sunscreen, blocking out harmful UV rays and keeping you and your family safe and sound.

April showers may soon be upon us, but it’s not too early to start thinking about the sunny days ahead. Patio umbrellas are a great addition to patio furniture sets; they look nice, provide shade and are good for your health and overall well being. Find out why the best times are made in the shade. Here are some quick specs on the types of umbrella out on the market today.

In general, most umbrellas have a diameter of six to 11 feet wide when open. The smaller models are better suited to tabletops, while the larger ones can more easily cover wider areas. The standard height for umbrella poles is somewhere between seven and nine feet high, high enough to be out of head range, but also within arm’s reach for ease of opening, closing and cleaning purposes.

Poles are usually made from a weatherproof wood or lightweight aluminum, while the umbrella tops can be made from vinyl, nylon or a poly blend. These materials are not only waterproof, but they are also easy to clean and resistant to ripping from the wind, fading in the sun, and even mold and stains. It also allows for umbrellas to come in an endless array of colors, prints and patterns.

There are three main lifting mechanisms used to open umbrellas. The first is a manual open, much like what you would see on a portable umbrella. To open this type of umbrella, the user pushes the gathered spokes at the base in an upward motion, whereupon they spread out as they open and lock into place around a central point.

The pulley style is very commonly seen at pools, beaches and in use with other commercial umbrellas. The simple physics of this lift uses a rope that’s pulled to open the umbrella spokes. To keep in place, a peg is fitted into a notch on the pole, or else the rope is simply tied into place.

The most recent type of lift mechanism is the crank. The easiest and least resistant method, opening the umbrella requires the user to simply turn a crank in one direction, and the opposite direction to close. While the first two mechanisms are typical of traditional wooden umbrellas, the crank is exclusive to metal (typically aluminum) umbrella poles.

Once open, many umbrellas also feature a convenient auto tilt mechanism that allows the umbrella to be tilted at an angle, thereby providing controlled shade at more than just a straight downward position. There are three types of tilt action. In one method, the umbrella can continue to be cranked past an open position to achieve a greater angle. Another method utilizes a collar that fits over the crank and can be manually repositioned. A final method uses a simple push-button.

In the next installment, we’ll discuss the types of umbrella bases and variety of accessories to spiff up your umbrella, as well as why umbrellas are more than just something nice to look at.

You’ve most likely seen them around. They look like oversized Christmas ornaments sitting atop pedestals and displayed proudly in the yard. So what exactly is a gazing ball, and how did this weird object come to rest as a regular fixture of gardens across America?

The first recorded history of the gazing ball dates back to the 13^th century in Venice, Italy. Back then, expert artisans would hand or mouth blow these spheres of colorful glass, a tradition that continues to this day. Throughout the next few centuries, these globes became popular decorations in the gardens of upper class European homes. It was especially popular among royalty. In the 1800s, “Mad” King Ludwig II of Bavaria displayed garden globes outside his Herrenchiemsee palace, a replica of Versailles.

The gazing ball also goes by a number of other names including the following: gazing globe, garden globe, witch ball, butler globe, globe of happiness, yard globe, lawn ball, mirror ball, chrome ball and Victorian globe. Globes had a functional use in southern antebellum gardens. Placed strategically by the path from the front gate to the front door, a gazing ball would alert a homeowner as to the arrival of a guest, thereby giving him or her ample time to have freshen up and have refreshments ready before the visitors even come inside. In America, globes also symbolized wealth.

In Victorian times, the gazing ball had quite another use. The “butler ball” was placed in areas where the servants could look at guests indirectly and see when they required any attention, rather than staring directly at them during a meal.

Today, globes have a more aesthetic role than anything. Placed among the flowers or bushes, a globe allows one to see the entire garden and sky in a glance. It still holds an air of elegance and mysteriousness, and the many colors offered can add a vibrant burst of color to the yard.

As the globe became a commonplace object, it also grew to acquire a kind of symbolism and mythology. To many, gazing balls were said to bring happiness, good luck and prosperity to its owners. It was also known for warding off misfortune, illness, evil spirits and witches. There are a few conflicting legends when it comes to its exact usage. According to some accounts, if a gazing ball is kept near the entrance of one’s home, any witch trying to get inside will see her reflection and not be able to tear herself away from her own image. In another story, a witch cannot stand her own reflection, and so will stay far away from gazing balls. At the same time, witches are said to not be able to sneak up on people from behind, as that person will see them approaching in the ball’s reflection. In yet another version, the ball is claimed to actually be able to attract and trap evil spirits inside.

Most globes are still made from traditional blown glass, but today there are also globes made from stainless steel, ceramic and stained glass. They are made in a variety of sizes and come with an array of creative and elegant matching pedestals.

The trick to keeping a gazing ball in good shape is to protect the seal at the neck of the ball, and never loosening or removing it. That’s because the ball’s color is actually on the inside of the glass, and if any moisture were to get inside it would cause the color to peel off. Another good tip is to take gazing balls inside during winter to prevent any chance of them cracking or freezing.

Cypress is one type of wood that has enjoyed a fascinating ride through history. In addition to other woods, such as teak, which have been used for millennia as a building material, cypress has also carved a unique niche for itself in mythology. And in recent times, it’s one of the most popular choices for patio furniture and other outdoor building projects.

Its ties to mythology originate in ancient Greek and Roman legend. In Greek mythology, the cypress tree was associated with the underworld, and held references to grief and mourning. In ancient Rome, the cypress tree was associated with funerary rites. Today, cypresses are still common fixtures in many Western and Muslim cemeteries, but their negative connotations no longer hold much weight symbolically.

The oldest cypress tree can be found in the Soma, Lombardy region of Italy and is said to date back to 40 years before the birth of Christ. In addition, it towers at 120’ in height, making it also the tallest known cypress. In a close second, a cypress tree in Monza, Italy ranks at 90’ high and is some 150 years old. In general, though, most trees grow only to about 50-60 feet tall, though all possess the defining characteristic cone-shaped branches and short stem.

The name cypress is derived from the island of Cyprus, where the tree is native. However, Cupressus sempervirens (its scientific name) can also be found in areas of the near East and Mediterranean.

What is interesting when comparing cypress to other woods such as teak and cedar is that cypress is in fact a softwood. Though initially one would assume that it makes cypress less than a suitable candidate for patio furniture, the truth is that cypress exhibits many of the same characteristics as hardwoods, and thus is often considered one by merit. Because of having to adapt to a variant climate, the lightweight wood from the cypress tree evolved to be hard and durable, with a straight and close grain containing few knots. It’s also resistant to fungus, insects and damages caused by the weather. A naturally produced oil, cypressine, helps to preserve the wood from the heartwood out to the surface, reducing the risk of cracking and warping. In addition to being durable enough for the outdoors, people tend to like cypress because it shares a similar reddish-brown coloration as another popular hardwood, cedar.

View our wide selection of Cypress Furniture.