As the weather warms up, many are looking to make their garden furnitureeven more comfy by finding the best outdoor cushions that suit their style. Decorating garden chairs, benches, and furniture with comfy cushions will help to elevate your space and make it much more inviting.
Choose from cushions that simply tie to the backs of your metal chairs to make dinnertime more comfortable or gorgeous printed waterproof sofa cushions that will endure water and drink spills with ease. Loads of outdoor cushions are made from thicker and water-resistant fabrics such as polyester and are much more hardy than indoor cushions. A must if you're after the perfect pairing of style and functionality.
Best outdoor cushions at a glance:
• Best floor cushion for style: Round Jute Floor Cushion
• Best monochrome cushion: Black Leaf Outdoor Cushion
• Best outdoor pouffe: Salsa Stripe Outdoor Pouffe
• Best chair cushions: Habitat Ink Print Pack of 2 Seat Cushions
• Best overall: Streetwize Flamingo Print Outdoor Cushion
So whether you're dining al fresco, kicking back on a sun lounger, laying in a hammock or enjoying a chat alongside a lovely summery gin cocktail, there are loads of options for outdoor cushions to help your guests to relax in comfort and style, from tropical prints to more muted monochrome styles.
Best outdoor cushions
Best overall
www.argos.co.uk
These funky cushions from Argos are made from water-resistant and durable polyester, so you don't have to worry about them if you have accidentally left them outside. The covers are removable and will easily be washed in the washing machine.
Customer review: "Large outdoor cushions. I have bought for indoor and they are great. They are slightly coated so wipe clean. Great vibrant colours."
Pros
- Vibrant colours
- Durable
- Water-resistant
Cons
- We can't find any
Best floor cushion for style
www.dunelm.com
Floor cushions have soared in popularity, especially if you're looking for a cheaper alternative to garden furniture. Rattan is a huge trend, and this round jute cushion is crafted from plaited jute fibre, a fast-growing natural fibre. The jute is undyed, so every cushion is different and may change a little with time.
Customer review: "Well made floor cushion, v comfortable, lightweight and perfect for my boho style conservatory!"
Pros
- Great for small gardens
- On trend
- Made from natural materials
Cons
- Not overly comfy
Best monochrome outdoor cushions
www.matalan.co.uk
If you're a fan of simple monochrome styling, these black leaf outdoor cushions from Matalan will fit in any garden, whatever your taste or design. Crafted from durable waterproof fabric, the outdoor cushion features a contrasting black and white leaf design that's perfect for popping on all sorts of different garden furniture.
Pros
- Simple design
- Waterproof
Cons
- No customer reviews yet
Best outdoor pouffe
www.johnlewis.com
This hardwearing and bold pouffe from John Lewis is hardwearing and can be used as both a seat and a footstool. We love the striped fabric that is made from 100 per cent polyester and filled with polystyrene beads.
Customer review: "This is a beautiful pouffe I have the salsa chairs and table and this fits in perfectly it is sturdy, comfortable and really really good value for money in my opinion this will stand the test of time."
Pros
- Comfortable
- Easy to clean
- Can be used as a footstool, seat and even a table.
Cons
- Can't find any
Best chair cushions
www.argos.co.uk
You can make any chair comfortable with a great set of chair cushions, and we love these Ink Print Pack of 2 Seat Cushions from Habitat that can be secured onto a chair with handy ties. Made from linen, this set of cushion covers are robust and easy to wash.
Customer review: "These are nice and thick and very comfortable cushions."
Pros
- Great quality for the price
- Covers are easy to wash
Cons
- You will have to measure your chairs to see if they will fit
Best bench cushions
www.etsy.com
Make your bench a lot more comfortable with this pretty Botanical Leaf Print Garden Bench Cushion from Etsy, made from 100 per cent organic cotton with a water-repellent finish that is filled with hypoallergenic and anti-microbial recycled polyester fibres.
Customer review: "Lovely cushion and pretty colours. Looking forward to enjoying it this summer on our new garden seat :)."
Pros
- Cushions made from recycled polyester fibres
- Well made
Cons
- Need to bring in in bad weather
For more, check out our pick of the best cushions for garden benches.
Best tropical print cushion covers
If bold prints are your thing, these tropical print cushions are completely water-resistant and the covers are really simple to remove and wash. There are loads of different patterns available, all with a plant theme.
Customer review: "These cushion covers are absolutely stunning. The colours are vibrant and the quality of the material is great for the price. Overall really happy and will definitely be ordering different varieties."
Pros
- Zips are easily hidden
- Great value
Cons
- Pattern not on both sides
Best large floor cushion
www.etsy.com
Move over traditional garden furniture, floor cushions are here to make a statement. These versatile large cushions can be used on the floor, on a large lounger chair, on a wooden bench and even indoors. Made from water-repellent fabric and are available to order in a range of different sizes.
Customer review: "Perfect! Excellent quality, SO comfortable and fast shipping. Could not be happier."
Pros
- Different colours and sizes available
- Water-repellant fabric
- Versatile
Cons
- None
Best floral chair cushions
These Amazon chair cushions look super comfy and are made of thick polyester material and the filling is naturally anti-microbial and hypoallergenic. We love the vintage floral design that is reversible with a pastel design underneath.
Customer review: "Much nicer even than I expected - soft fabric and vibrant colours. Very comfortable to sit on. Very fast delivery too. Would definitely recommend."
Pros
- Machine washable
- Thick, comfy material
Cons
- Ties are a little flimsy
Best value outdoor cushion
These simple wave-patterned waterproof cushions are a steal at under £15. Not only is the material strong and durable, but the cushions are available in loads of different colours. Covers can be machine-washed or hand-washed at a low temperature and allowed to dry naturally.
Customer review: "I bought these cushion covers to replace ones that had faded they were for out door use. I was so pleased with these lovely material striking design and they look perfect on my outdoor furniture . I would recommend these covers."
Pros
- Great quality for the price
- Waterproof
Cons
- Some reviews say material felt a little like plastic
Best printed outdoor cushion
www.marksandspencer.com
Get zesty with this bright, fruity cushion from M&S. Made from water-resistant polyester, this Mediterranean-style design should withstand any minor spills when you’re entertaining guests outside. Even better, you can even buy matching seat pads for a coordinated look across all your garden seating.
Customer review: "Lovely outdoor cushions, dry out quickly, will buy more."
Pros
- Water-resistant
- Stylish and charming design
Cons
- Can't be washed
FAQs
How do you clean outdoor cushions?
Many outdoor cushions on this list can all be washed in your washing machine, preferably on a cooler setting so the design doesn't fade.
Can outdoor cushions be left outside?
Yes, they can. Unlike indoor soft furnishings, outdoor versions are mostly water-resistant, though brands generally advise bringing them in after mealtimes and they probably wouldn't recover from being outside in a thunderstorm.
Quick and easy ways to give your garden a makeover
As well as buying the best accessories to bring some fun and colour to your garden, there are some other things you can do to help refresh any tired items you already own and make them look good as new.
• A lick of paint can make all the difference! If you've got some old terracotta plant pots, you can paint them with bright colours, repaint your existing furniture to make it feel brand new.
• Upcycle some old pieces into something new. We love these rustic rope shelves that you can make from an old pallet, or try making your own garden wall bar using old wood from past DIY projects.
• Get to work on your garden borders or patio, removing any weeds or unwanted moss. If you have a pressure washer too, a quick blitz of this will be so rewarding.
• If you want to invite wildlife into your garden and hear those bird songs loud and clear, we'd recommend getting a bird feeder to feel that bit closer to nature.
• Got a full house and plenty of kids' toys lying around in the garden to prove it? You can easily make your garden more appealing to lounge in by simply buying or building a storage unit to store it neatly away. If it's built sturdy enough, you could even paint it and put some cushion on top to make for a cute garden ottoman and extra seating.
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Hannah Mellin is a Homes & Garden Product Writer for Modern Gardens, A Modern Kitchen, Yours and Take A Break. She has been working in the Journalism industry for over a decade and has written for an array of brands including John Lewis, Daily Mirror and Grazia. When she's not writing, researching or testing products, she's renovating her Victorian terrace and chilling in the garden with her sausage dog Waffle.