How to Keep Outdoor Pillows From Blowing Away
This is the most common complaint about outdoor pillows and it has almost nothing to do with the pillow. It is about where you put it.
The single change that fixes most of it
Stop perching pillows on top of the seat cushion and start tucking them behind it, into the angle where the seat meets the back. A pillow sitting on a flat cushion has nothing holding it and catches wind from underneath. The same pillow wedged into the seat back is held on three sides and stays put through weather that would otherwise move it.
Size makes a real difference
A 20" square is noticeably harder to move than a 16". If you have an exposed balcony, a roof terrace, or a garden that catches the wind, buy the larger sizes rather than fighting the smaller ones. The 20" x 14" lumbar is also stable, because its shape sits low against the chair back rather than standing proud of it.
Other things that work
- Turn the furniture. Chairs facing away from the prevailing wind lose far fewer pillows than chairs facing into it.
- Group them. Three pillows leaning against each other on a sofa brace one another. A single pillow alone on a wide seat has nothing to lean on.
- Use the corners. The corner of an L-shaped sectional is the most sheltered spot on any outdoor sofa.
- Hook-and-loop tape. A small strip on the seat cushion and a matching one on the pillow holds it firmly and comes off without marking the fabric. This is the reliable fix for a genuinely exposed spot.
What not to do
Do not sew weights into a pillow or add anything heavy inside it. It stresses the seam, it makes the pillow uncomfortable to lean on, and a heavy pillow that does blow off does more damage when it lands.
And do not rely on the pillow staying out in a storm. Nothing short of a fixing does, and a pillow retrieved from a hedge is in worse condition than one carried inside for an evening.
Frequently asked questions
How do I keep outdoor pillows from blowing away?
Tuck them behind the seat cushion rather than on top of it, choose the larger sizes for exposed spots, and group several together so they brace one another.
Are heavier pillows better in wind?
Larger ones are, because there is more of them wedged into the seat. Adding weight inside a pillow is not a good idea — it stresses the seam and makes it unpleasant to lean on.
Should I bring pillows in every night?
Not necessary. They are weather-resistant. Bring them in before a real storm, and otherwise leave them out.