So as we are in August, a lot has slown down.  People are not in a rush for their patio cushions or patio umbrellas, and can take more of a leisurely perusal of our products.  This is really an awesome time to purchase your patio gear.  Sales are abundant all over the internet, and you can get awesome deals on patio furniture.

We are making sure that the “snowbird” season is as rewarding to our customers as the regular season.   Called “snowbird” for all the people traveling south for the winter, it’s also a great time to look at how your cushions and umbrellas faired during the summer.  For alot of people, this was the last season for their trusted patio decor.  Cushions that have lasted for years are showing their age, and patio umbrellas are getting a little long in the tooth.  Now is the perfect time to measure up and look at replacing old cushions and getting brand new umbrellas so that you can store them all nice and safe for next summer.

Many parts of the country don’t experience “winter” the same way.  Down here in South Florida, winter usually means the 4 days of cold temperatures we get around the middle of December.  It can still get pretty hot!  Same goes for most southern states.  We have friends in Georgia and Texas that feel the same affects, so I can imagine that most southern states experience the same.

Even if you’re not in a snowbird state, take the time to look over your patio decor.  Was this summer it’s last?  Get excited about redecorating your outdoor room!  Autumn can be a wonderful time for outdoor casual life.

A satisfied customer sent us this letter.

Dear Kathie,

We just received our wrought iron cushions and fiberglass rib umbrella, and I have to say that I’m delighted!  When we started shopping online for our patio decor, we found a lot of online shops, but very little options.  The “other” stores offered what seemed to be good deals, and in today’s economy, we where hard pressed take advantage, but then we found CushionsAndUmbrellas.com.  Wow!  I didn’t know there where so many choices!  And really great prices!  No other shop offered different Wind Vents.  No other shop offered so many fabrics!  No other shop told us the benefits of each kind of cushion or umbrella.  Thank you so much!

Susan Herzog

Folly Beach, South Carolina.

Well, we do what we can.

Many of our patio shoppers call us for some help with their fabric selection. With so many fabrics to choose from, it can be a little daunting to match existing patio furniture frame colors to an outdoor fabric. A lot of times, some shoppers decide to go with a neutral color, knowing that it won’t interrupt the flow of their patio decor, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. But with just the right color of fabric, and maybe some coordinating fabrics, you can create that perfect look that brings out what you’re really looking for.

Matching your patio furniture frames with fabrics is more personal preference than anything else. There are no set “rules” per say, however, there are some basic frame and fabric guides to help with your decision. We’ll start by looking at some of the most popular patio furniture frames, and give you some fabrics that tend to work best with them.

Green Frames:

Basic Textured Green Frame

Green patio furniture frames come in a variety of shades, but probably the most popular are the textured greens, with a hunter, or forest, color shade. For a subtle euro look (using a matching fabric) you can always go with a Hunter Green fabric. Hunter Green has been especially popular for the past couple of years, and matching it to the frame makes for a subtle, elegant look. Or, you can set up a contrast with a lighter Green color like Citron, or ad a multi-colored stripe like Midler Basil. However, you can definitely create some pop, when using hunter green, by adding some pillows of a nice coordinate stripe or pattern. Subtle reds make for a nice contrast against the green, but they also make for a great main fabric as well. Try not to pick out a stripe pattern who’s colors are way off the mark, Consistency adds peace.

Hunter Green Fabric

Matches well with the frame, and adds a clean look to the furniture.

Citron

A beautiful Citrus color that can bring a tropical feel to a Green frame color.

Midler Stripe Basil

One of the most classic stripes available, the coordinating natural color selection will add the pop without the pillows.

Bonaire Crimson

This patten has been available for almost 20 years, but still one of the most popular patterns.

Sandona Kiwi

I have to admit, I like this modern floral mix with the natural plant and citrus colors making a playful look that’s great for darker green fabrics.

Antique Beige

There’s no doubting it, Antique Beige has been one of the most popular neutral colors on the market for many years, with no sign of slowing down. This is a contrasting look that can be very exciting. In fact, we can probably place this color with all frames, because of it’s neutral nature.

*Note: Try to stay away from yellows and oranges. They tend to make your patio furniture look like a very big squash.

Bronze Frames:

Basic Aged Bronze Frame

Bronze is a great frame color when putting together an outdoor dining area. Bronze lends itself to more ornate type patio furniture, and can be played against with some exciting colors. Terracota, Cardinal Red and Burgundy goes great with Bronze, but you can also create a elegant contrasts with Natural (White) or the beautiful Bravada Salsa.

Terracotta

Plays off the bronze frame giving your overall look an earthy, rustic color that’s reminiscent of Moroccan looks.

Cardinal Red

The deep red of this fabric can create a striking combination with a Bronze frame, creating a fire and hearth warmth.

Burgundy

Again, another warm color to really set a rustic mood.

Natural (White)

This goes fantastic when you pair it with Cast Patio Furniture in a bronze frame. The contrast between the deep reds and bronze and the white make for sharp looks.

Bravada Salsa

This stripe is just exciting and modern, and worked with a lighter bronze frame, will really set up your patio set.

Black Frames:

Black

Your basic black is as classic as you can get. Pretty much works with any color you want, depending on your overall look. However, there is something about using strong primary colors and black that can set this apart. Also, patterns work wonderfully off black frames, so you can really brighten the look of your patio furniture, with a centering black undertone that’s sharp. With black, I can give you a myriad of colors, but I have these particular suggestions that might get your creative juices flowing. One word about black frames and white fabric cushions, be careful. If done incorrectly, you can have a very contrasting look that’s difficult to tie in with the rest of your patio decor. If your going to use white, choose a coordinating fabric for your patio umbrella or outdoor pillow.

Zeba Nutmeg

A beautiful and classic pattern with beiges and reds and natural greens that just plays nice with black.

Kona Chocolate

Who doesn’t love chocolate? Set against a black frame, the soft and relaxing chocolate color can be a beautiful combination.

Steel Blue

Feeling a little chic? The deep slate, natural flavor of Steel Blue works off the black to create a modern, cozy urban feel.

Stone Frames:

Stone

Stone frames are a great neutral frame that you can build a light and airy springtime feel with the right fabrics. The subtle pattern of the stone is great pallet to begin with. Look at the colors in the texture of your stone or textures frame, and you can come up with a wide range of patio decors.

Passion Cocoa

With deep cocoa color and the beautiful tropical elements, you can create your perfect tropic getaway, complete with sand and sky.

Stone

Well, of course. With a nice solid like Stone over your stone frame (I really wrote that twice, didn’t I?)

Vanilla Sandstone

Another one of my favorites. Add a solid red colored fabric, and you’ve got an lovely homey look.

So, there are some basic color combinations to get you started. Remember that ultimately you make the desicion as to was is right and wrong for you, but I hope that I gave you some more ideas to use for your patio furniture and you outdoor cushion buying.

It’s such a satisfying feeling when you get to help someone get what they really want out of their patio decorating. With so many choices of cushion styles, umbrella styles and covers, frame colors and outdoor fabrics, it’s sometimes hard to put it all together. At Cushions And Umbrellas, we try our best to guide our customer’s through this decision making process, by giving them tips on these various elements that go into a satisfying outdoor decor project.

For instance, Mrs. Laurie Metsner from Colorado (thank you for the permission Laurie) had a particular problem with a small lounging area in her garden. The lounging area basically consisted of stone, plants and flowers, and beautiful wooden posts that she used as separators for walkways and viewing areas. She had decided on beautiful teak furniture to play off the subtle grays of the stone, and to stand out and compliment with the greens and colors of her garden, but wasn’t exactly sure how she wanted to finalize the look. She liked standard neutrals, but was open to different colors.

So we suggested that she look into a combination of stripes and solids that would best match her personal style, and really add some happiness and excitement to her lounging area.

We started with a base color of Cardinal Red, which is a great fabric for wood furniture cushions. Cardinal Red adds bright but organic look that really set off against the grey of the stone and the green of her plants, and really brought out the beauty in her teak furniture.

She chose traditional Wood Furniture Chaise Cushion, two Wood Chair Cushions, and a 5 foot Bench Cushion to finalize her furniture set.

Laurie also wanted to accessorize her new cushions, but not to overpower them. We showed her our great line of outdoor pillows, and suggested that she consider the very comfortable 22″ Floor Pillow. It adds a slight traditional coastal look to her garden, but was unobtrusive enough not to get in the way of her teak look. She decided on a great printed fabric which would compliment it all, Bonaire Crimson.

Laurie wanted an outdoor umbrella to tie this look up in a very special way. But she didn’t want just any umbrella. She wanted a patio umbrella that would make this area comfortable and beautiful and really pull together her garden as a showplace. There was really only one choice. We showed her the 9 Foot Deluxe Wood Market Umbrella, a deluxe model umbrella with metal couplings that would really make a complete outdoor area showplace.

Laurie is incredibly excited with her choices. When she put it all together, she immediately called us to tell us how wonderful it all looked. She promises to send a picture.

It makes us happy to know that we can help people who need that little extra push in the right direction. But there are some things that you can do to keep your patio decor design looking beautiful in your mind and then in your patio.

1. Make sure to take your surrounding area into consideration. Although patio furniture may look beautiful in the store, it might not look good in your patio. What is your major defining element? Is it grass or wood or stone? What is the seating area near? A wall? A pool?
2. Use colors that compliment your area, not contrast. Contrasting colors is very difficult to achieve in a satisfying way. A sharp contrast can literally tear your outdoor area apart. Use a complimentary color scheme to blend your look to your patio. Use contrasting colors for decorative accents.
3. Patio Umbrellas are not accessories. Consider them furniture when placing your outdoor furniture. Use your patio umbrella for it’s size and features, but remember to place it in conjunction with your patio furniture.
4. Only order from Cushions And Umbrellas.

Well, that’s not a rule, but something to definitely remember.