---
title: "California Outdoor Cushions: Sun, Fog, Pools and Smoke"
url: "https://cushionguide.com/places/california-cushions/"
section: "Across the Map"
author: "Élodie Marchand, The Colorist of New Orleans"
author_url: "https://cushionguide.com/masters/elodie/"
published: "2026-07-27"
updated: "2026-07-27"
keywords: "california outdoor cushions, california patio cushions, pool lounger cushions, eichler window seat cushion, outdoor cushion covers for existing foam, fire pit bench cushions"
---

# Cushions for California homes, patios and pools

*California asks two different things of a cushion. On the coast it is fog and marine damp; inland it is a sun that works on anything left out from April to October. This is how I read the light, the patio and the glass wall before I choose a single color.*

> **The quick answer:** California outdoor cushions should be cut in UV-resistant, water-repellent outdoor fabric with zippered covers that come off for washing. On the foggy coast, plan for damp; in hot inland valleys, plan for fading. By glass walls, choose color with sunlight in mind even indoors, and bring cushions inside whenever wildfire smoke or ash is forecast.

![Pastel multi-stripe seat and back cushions with white branch lines on a black wrought-iron armchair with trailing ivy](https://cushionguide.com/media/dining-chair-cushions/pastel-stripe-cushions-black-wrought-iron-armchair-1600.webp "Pastel stripes crossed with white branch lines cushion a scrolled black iron armchair on a sunny balcony.")

## Two climates in one state: marine fog and valley sun

San Francisco sees about 2 days a year at 90°F (32°C) or above. Sacramento sees about 75. That gap is the whole story of California cushions.

On the coast, marine air keeps things damp: San Francisco mornings average about 87% humidity. Inland the air is dry and the light is hard; Sacramento afternoons in July fall to about 29% humidity, and the sun shines about 77% of the possible hours.

Summer rain barely registers. Los Angeles gets about 14 in (36 cm) a year and only about a quarter of an inch from June through September, so outdoor cushions live outside most of the year. The UV clock runs April to October, with a July noon UV Index near 10.7 in Los Angeles.

Then there is smoke. Fire season runs from late spring to late fall and peaks July to October.

## Stucco reveals, Eichler glass and backyard ADUs

Spanish Revival houses set windows deep into thick stucco walls, so the reveal becomes a seat. Mid-century Eichlers, most of them in the Bay Area, open whole walls of glass onto atriums, which puts an indoor bench in direct sun. Craftsman bungalows keep their built-ins, and ranch houses open onto long patios.

Out back come patio sectionals, [fire-pit benches](https://cushionguide.com/concepts/fire-pit-bench-cushions/), pool loungers that want [chaise and sunbed cushions](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/chaise-and-sunbed-cushions/), and mid-century lounge chairs. Inside, ADUs and studios lean on floor sofas and daybeds that sleep a guest one night and seat four the next.

Start with [outdoor cushions](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/outdoor-cushions/) for anything under open sky and [living room cushions](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/living-room-cushions/) for the rooms that open onto it. Sketch a patio bench in the [bench cushion builder](https://cushionguide.com/studio/bench-cushion-builder/) and a lounge seat in the [chair cushion builder](https://cushionguide.com/studio/chair-cushion-builder/) before you write in.

## Coast, valley and pool deck: fabric and foam by setting

Outdoor fabric here means a UV-resistant, water-repellent woven polyester that feels like cloth, not vinyl. The foam inside is not quick-dry, so a covered spot and a dry closet in the rainy months still matter.

| Setting | Fabric | Build | The reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foggy coastal deck | Outdoor fabric | 4 in (10 cm), zippered cover | Water-repellent cloth handles marine damp; store indoors over long idle stretches |
| Inland patio in full sun | Outdoor fabric | 4 in (10 cm), self-piping | UV- and fade-resistant; self-piping reinforces the edges |
| Pool lounger | Outdoor fabric | Non-tufted, zipper at the back | A plain top by the water, zipper out of sight |
| Covered patio, no rain or direct sun | Linen or soft performance weave | 4 in (10 cm) | Fine under a closed roof; not waterproof |
| Window seat by Eichler glass | Linen | 3 in (7.5 cm) | Limited UV resistance, so pick color with fading in mind |

## New covers for good foam on an oatmeal outdoor sofa

A buyer in the US had an outdoor sofa whose foam was still sound and asked for new covers only: a boxed, zippered seat cover of 64.75 x 31 x 4 in (164 x 79 x 10 cm) and three back covers, in off-white, ivory or oatmeal. She had a branded acrylic in mind.

The workshop does not carry that brand and said so plainly. Its outdoor fabrics are polyester with water-repellent, UV-resistant finishes, built with double-stitched seams, hidden zippers and self-piping to reinforce the edges. It offered ties rather than hook-and-loop, and asked for photos of the sofa and each back cushion's size before a final quote.

When you order [covers for existing foam](https://cushionguide.com/guides/cushion-covers-for-existing-foam/), give the foam's exact size and ask what the fabric is made of, not only whose name is on it.

## Choosing color for a room with a wall of glass

A room with a glass wall is half outdoors, and the cushion knows it. Indoor fabrics have limited UV resistance and can fade in strong, prolonged sun, so by Eichler glass or a west-facing slider I choose colors that age with grace: oatmeal, sand, warm cream, a soft sage. Save jewel tones for walls that see only reflected light. More in [window seat fading](https://cushionguide.com/guides/window-seat-cushion-fading-sun/) and [sunroom colors that last](https://cushionguide.com/concepts/sunroom-cushions-colors-that-last/).

Know your creams, my friends. On the linen chart, L-01 is the whiter option and L-02 a warm natural cream.

Let one color speak and the others listen. On a pool deck that might be a single coral stripe across three loungers, with sand and gray around it. For natural fibers indoors, start in [linen and cotton-linen](https://cushionguide.com/fabrics/linen-and-cotton-linen/); for the patio, [outdoor fabrics](https://cushionguide.com/fabrics/outdoor-acrylic/).

## A California cushion calendar, coast to valley

- ✓ March: before patio season, unzip the covers, wash them and let them dry fully before the foam goes back in.
- ✓ April to October: the UV clock is running. Rotate cushions so one face does not take all the sun.
- ✓ Coastal summer: when fog rolls in overnight, stand cushions on edge under cover.
- ✓ July to October: bring cushions in whenever smoke or ash is forecast.
- ✓ After ash falls: hose furniture down gently and wash removable covers instead of brushing ash into the air.
- ✓ Rainy months, roughly December to March: store cushions dry and off concrete, never in a damp sealed bag.

> On a California patio the UV clock runs April to October. Outdoor-rated fabric with a zippered cover takes that sun; indoor linen behind a sunny glass wall can still fade.
>
> — Élodie

> **Tailor's margin:** When wildfire ash is forecast, bring cushions in first. Afterward, hose the frames down gently and wash the zippered covers rather than brushing the ash off.

## Buyer questions: questions from California patios

**A common question:** Is the floor sofa treated with flame retardants, and does it carry a California Prop 65 warning?

**The workshop's answer:** The workshop's answer: its fabrics come from a mill certified to OEKO-TEX Standard 100 (03.T.3239), and it shares the certificate on request. It has also told US buyers its fabrics are not treated with flame retardants. For what a Prop 65 warning actually says, see our [Prop 65 notes](https://cushionguide.com/guides/prop-65-warning-cushions/), and read the label on whatever you buy.

**A common question:** Can you make a 4 in seat for my mid-century lounge chair? It's a little wider at the front than the back.

**The workshop's answer:** Yes. A 4 in (10 cm) non-tufted trapezoid seat, 23 in (58 cm) at the front, 22 in (56 cm) at the back and 24 in (61 cm) deep, with the zipper at the back, goes through the trapezoid listing; a 22 x 19 x 3 in back cushion goes through the rectangle listing. Write 'reversible' so no non-slip base is added.

**A common question:** Would your 39 x 78 in sofa fit on a king-size tatami platform in my studio?

**The workshop's answer:** The sofa measures 39 x 78 in (99 x 198 cm), and its seat cushions laid side by side make roughly a king-size bed. Measure the room with your furniture in place before you commit; this buyer waited until moving in to check.

**A common question:** Are your outdoor cushions waterproof, or only water resistant?

**The workshop's answer:** They come from a separate water-repellent outdoor range. In practice it is water-resistant rather than a sealed, coated material: it handles showers and spills well. Store the cushions indoors during long off-season stretches.

## Questions buyers ask next

### Do California patio cushions need to come in for winter?

Not for frost on the coast: Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco average 0 freezing days a year. The reason to store them is rain, most of which falls December to March in Los Angeles. Keep them dry and off concrete.

### Will a cushion fade behind Eichler-style glass walls?

It can. Indoor fabrics have limited UV resistance and can fade in strong, prolonged sun. Choose softer colors there, or use the outdoor range, which is UV- and fade-resistant and works indoors too.

### What should I do with patio cushions during a wildfire smoke event?

Bring them inside when smoke or ash is forecast. Afterward, public-health guidance is to hose patio furniture down gently so ash does not go airborne, wearing gloves and an N95. Then wash the zippered covers.

### How do I measure a curved fire-pit bench for cushions?

Give both curves, the depth at several points and the straight distance end to end at the front and back. One US bench with a 245 in (622 cm) outer curve was cut into 4 symmetrical segments, 3 in (7.5 cm) thick.

## Related at the atelier

- [Outdoor Cushions for Hosting: Ivory Pinstripe Teak Pool Chair](https://cushionguide.com/readings/ivory-pinstripe-deep-seat-cushions-teak-pool-chair/): To seat guests well outdoors, pair deep lounge cushions with an outdoor bench cushion and a few chair pads, all in one light outdoor fabric with matching piping.
- [Outdoor Bench Cushion Stripes for Small Balconies and Nooks](https://cushionguide.com/readings/three-stripe-colorway-cushions-polished-concrete-studio/): To make a narrow outdoor bench feel generous, run the stripes along its length, fit the cushion flush with no overhang, and choose the colorway on a neutral gray surface in daylight rather than…
- [Outdoor Bench Cushions in Sage Geometric on a Teak Three-Seater](https://cushionguide.com/readings/sage-geometric-cushions-teak-three-seat-outdoor-sofa/): To mix patterns on a long outdoor bench cushion set, use one printed fabric on every seat, back and pillow, and let the surroundings supply plain and texture.
- [Around the fire pit: cushions for curved and L-shaped patio benches](https://cushionguide.com/concepts/fire-pit-bench-cushions/): Fire pit bench cushions should be plain foam cushions in water-repellent outdoor fabric, cut in segments you can carry.
- [Custom cushions for Portuguese terraces, balconies and townhouses](https://cushionguide.com/places/custom-cushions-portugal/): Custom cushions in Portugal have to handle two climates: sunny, nearly rainless summers in the Algarve and the hot interior, and wet Atlantic winters in Lisbon and, above all, Porto.
- [Cushions for Texas porches, patios and pools](https://cushionguide.com/places/texas-cushions/): Texas patio cushions should be made in UV-resistant, water-repellent outdoor fabric, built without tufts and tied down where the wind blows.
- [Measuring a chaise lounge or sunbed cushion, hinge point included](https://cushionguide.com/guides/chaise-lounge-sunbed-cushion-size/)
- [Measuring wicker and patio furniture for replacement cushions](https://cushionguide.com/guides/patio-furniture-replacement-cushions/)

*With color and care — Élodie*

---

Written by Élodie Marchand (https://cushionguide.com/masters/elodie/) for CushionGuide (https://cushionguide.com/about/). The site explains made-to-measure cushions and the partner workshop makes them; measurements are in inches first. This Markdown mirrors the page at https://cushionguide.com/places/california-cushions/