If you are planning on making some outdoor projects yourself this summer, here are a few tips:

1.  Buy the best quality fabric you can afford.  Sunbrella and similar fabrics cost more because they are solution dyed.  This means the colors won’t fade and the fabric won’t deteriorate from the sun.  Cheaper outdoor fabrics will not last more than a few years if left outdoors alot.

2. Choose simple designs – you’ll be less frustrated and outdoor fabrics are fairly stiff, so they fewer details, the better.

3. Have fun with colours and patterns!  You can be far more adventurous when decorating for the outdoors, so go for it! 

4. Look for remnants and end-of-season sales on fabrics.  Check marine suppliers or awning suppliers – they often have bins of end cuts that are large enough for pillows.

Here are a few outdoor cushions I have made:

I made these lounger cushions last summer for a client who has a beautiful house in Yellowpoint, Vancouver Island.  The little pillows are attached with velcro.

These chair cushions are also for the same client.

 I bought these loungers at a garage sale – they originally came from a cruise ship.  They are super well-built, and with these 3″ thick cushions I made from sunbrella fabric, they are also super comfy!

I inherited this wicker chair from my mother-in-law – gave it a fresh coat of paint and made some bright cushions to liven up my front porch.

A fun print in a sunbrella fabric, this cushion was also made for a client who needed to replace her old ones.