Hey friends! Thank you so much for the kind comments on my refreshed side patio. It has been a long process—about three and a half years—to shape our outdoor spaces. If you feel like home projects move at a glacial pace sometimes, I totally understand.
I’ll be sharing a post soon that looks back through all the phases this space went through. Some of the situations were stressful at the time but are funny to remember now. I’ll also include an update on where we are with the gates and upcoming outdoor projects.
In the meantime, I’ve received a lot of questions about our outdoor cushions, rugs, furniture, and how we care for everything, so I put together a helpful FAQ.
Similar Wingback Chair Source
FAQ:
What do you do with all of your cushions and rugs when it rains?
We keep our cushions and outdoor rugs out roughly from mid-May through early November, about six months of the year. Living in Seattle, rain is always a consideration, but the past few seasons have been mild during those months, so cushions have been left out most of the time without issue.
For brief showers, I don’t worry—our cushions and rugs are made for outdoor use and dry quickly. For heavier weather or prolonged downpours, we stack the cushions on two outdoor sofas and cover them with tarps, securing the tarps with bungee cords so they don’t blow away. It isn’t pretty, but it works and saves the hassle of hauling everything inside.
We usually leave the outdoor rugs in place. A few rugs we had previously didn’t tolerate heavy rain well, so we rolled those up and stored them. Most of our current outdoor rugs hold up fine and are easy to clean when needed.
How do you get and keep your white outdoor cushions clean?
Believe it or not, we’ve used the same white outdoor cushions for about five years and they still look nearly new. You might expect stains from mud, dogs, dirt, dust, drinks, or food—but we manage those with spot cleaning.
Our dogs jump on the cushions and sometimes track mud or dust, and spills happen. When that occurs I use the same cleaner I use on our indoor white slipcovers and other fabrics and spot-clean as needed. It’s effective and keeps the cushions looking fresh.
I also shared a short video showing a quick cleaning on Instagram if you’d like to see the process.
For the cleaner I use regularly, search for the concentrated household cleaner referenced in my posts—it’s gentle, pet-safe, and works well on fabrics around the house and outdoors.
Where do you store your furniture all winter?
Most of our furniture stays outside year-round because we don’t have indoor space to store it. It has held up well to the elements. During winter, however, I do store the outdoor rugs and cushions in a small storage shed in the yard. It’s packed with seasonal items but keeps cushions safe until spring.
Where did you buy your outdoor furniture, rugs, umbrellas and accessories?
Many of our pieces came from retailers with good price points and solid quality. We have a sectional from one store in a different color and replacement cushions are available from the same source. Their cushions and furniture have lasted a long time, but I ordered a couple of replacement cushions to keep on hand just in case.
Other FAQ on my outdoor spaces:
Do you still like your Trex deck?
Yes—absolutely. We’re very happy with our Trex deck. I’ve shared details about the deck, the railing, and the installation process through Lowe’s, along with sources and before-and-after photos.
How did you paint your concrete?
I posted a step-by-step guide about painting concrete steps and patios that covers the products and process I used. It walks through surface prep, paint selection, and finishing tips.
Any other questions about caring for outdoor spaces, cushions, or rugs?
If you want to browse items I use or shop decor finds, see my curated list of house and decor favorites for outdoor and indoor spaces.