Design outdoor textiles – how to find the right ones for your home
- Material and filling – how they differ from indoor textiles
- Care tips
- Outdoor rugs
- Special outdoor textiles and their extras
- Summary
1. Material and filling – what sets them apart from indoor textiles
Terrace, balcony or garden – outdoor cushions, seat pads and rugs are just as essential as garden furniture. It's especially important to use dedicated outdoor textiles rather than ordinary seat cushions. Indoor cushions are made of fabrics and fillings that feel particularly pleasant but also absorb water and moisture. If you leave an indoor cushion outside overnight, it will absorb moisture even if it doesn't rain, as humidity always rises at night. Depending on the filling, this can lead to mould, so the cushions – and especially the filling – would have to be aired and dried every morning. As this is very impractical, only outdoor cushions should stay outside overnight.
These textile categories make your outdoor space more inviting and cosy in no time:
- Rugs
- Seat cushions / seat pads
- Cushions
- Beach mats
- Picnic blankets
- Beach towels
- Hammocks
Because of changing weather conditions, they need to be not only robust and weatherproof but also water-repellent or waterproof, as well as UV-resistant or lightfast so they don't fade. As outdoor seat cushions and the like are quickly exposed to dirt, it's also important that they are easy to care for and quick-drying. Outdoor rugs also need a non-slip backing. That's why the outer material is mainly polyacrylic, coated cotton (e.g. Teflon), polyester, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polypropylene. For the filling of outdoor cushions, foam is the usual material.
2. How to care for garden furniture cushions, outdoor rugs and more
To clean outdoor textiles, lukewarm water and a brush are usually all you need. For stains, you can also use a little mild soap. It's important to vacuum or beat your garden chair pads and seat cushions regularly. If they are very dirty, you can also wash them in the washing machine – but only on a gentle cycle at a maximum of 30 °C. Never use a tumble dryer; instead, hang the textiles up somewhere well ventilated.
"You don't necessarily have to bring outdoor textiles in every time there's a summer drizzle. But to enjoy them for longer, I recommend protecting them from showers, snow and hail and storing them indoors or in the garden shed." – Viktoria, interior expert
3. Outdoor rugs – how to find the right size
The larger your furniture, the larger your outdoor rug should be – that's the first rule of thumb for finding the right size. For large seating areas, a large rectangular rug (1) is just right. With deep garden lounge furniture, the rug doesn't have to sit completely under the furniture (2). With smaller seating such as chairs, on the other hand, this matters more for a harmonious overall look (3). If your seating is arranged in a circle, round rugs (4) work particularly well.
4. Special outdoor textiles and their extras
Some of the design outdoor textiles you'll find at Connox have useful extras: Fatboy rugs, for example, can be joined together with buttons, so there's no limit to the size and you can keep recombining the designs.
The Terra Nation Tehe Moe beach mat is particularly practical, with elastic straps attached directly to the mat for compact storage. The Fatboy Picnic Lounge is also very easy to carry thanks to its extra shoulder strap and bag. It also has a hole for a parasol and a brush for sweeping away sand and other dirt. That means you can use your outdoor textiles not just in your own garden or on your balcony, but anywhere – from the park to your holiday destination.
5. Summary – what to look for when buying outdoor textiles
- Outdoors, garden chair pads, cushions and rugs are exposed to dirt, rain, moisture and UV radiation. That's why it's important to use dedicated outdoor textiles that are robust, weatherproof and easy to care for. Their outer material is usually polyacrylic, coated cotton, polyester, PVC or similar, while the inside is made of foam.
- Besides seat cushions, garden chair pads and rugs, the right material is also very important for bean bags, beach mats, picnic blankets, hammocks and beach towels.
- To keep your outdoor textiles in good condition, vacuum or beat them regularly. They can go in the washing machine at a maximum of 30 °C, but should always be air-dried and never put in a tumble dryer.
- The best way to determine the right size and shape of your outdoor rug is to look at the seating that will stand on it. Above all, pay attention to proportions.
- Some products you'll find at Connox have practical extras, such as integrated straps for compact storage, a parasol hole or the option of extending them with buttons.
Buy design outdoor textiles online at Connox – your benefits at a glance
- high-quality outdoor textiles – originals from top design brands
- personal support from our customer service team
- fair delivery costs
- secure payment thanks to SSL encryption
Shopping advice at Connox
Would you like to buy design outdoor textiles online but need some help? Our customer service team is always happy to help. We'll support you with advice while you shop, make recommendations and answer your questions quickly. Then simply sit back and have your chosen items delivered straight to your door.
