Why We Use Sunbrella

When we started Brush Valley Cushion Co., there were plenty of places we could have compromised.

Fabric wasn't one of them.

Outdoor cushions live a demanding life. They're exposed to sunlight, humidity, pollen, dirt, food, pets, children, sunscreen, rain, and everything else that comes with actually living outside.

So when we chose the fabrics for our cushion collections, we weren't simply looking for beautiful colors.

We wanted fabric specifically engineered for outdoor performance.

That's why every Brush Valley cushion is made with genuine Sunbrella® performance fabric.

Sunbrella has been a trusted name in performance textiles for decades, and there's a reason it has become so closely associated with premium outdoor furniture. Its fabrics combine durability, cleanability, fade resistance, and comfort in a way that makes them particularly well suited to outdoor cushions.

For us, it was an easy choice.

Here's why.

Outdoor Fabric Has a Hard Job

Think about what you expect from an outdoor cushion.

You want it to feel comfortable enough for an afternoon nap.

You want it to look beautiful enough to become part of your outdoor living space.

But you also expect it to withstand conditions you would never subject your indoor sofa to.

Direct sunlight.

Temperature changes.

Humidity.

Pollen.

Dirt.

Wet bathing suits.

Food and drinks.

And, occasionally, rain.

That's a demanding combination.

A fabric can look beautiful in a showroom and still be poorly suited for outdoor use. That's why we think it's important to know more than simply whether a product is described as having "outdoor fabric."

What fabric? Who makes it? And how was it made?

Those questions matter.

What Is Sunbrella Fabric?

Sunbrella is a performance fabric designed for demanding environments, including outdoor living spaces.

One of the things that makes Sunbrella particularly well suited for outdoor cushions is the way its fibers are colored.

Sunbrella upholstery fabrics are made using solution-dyed acrylic fibers.

That sounds technical, but the concept is fairly simple.

With solution-dyed fibers, color is added during the creation of the fiber rather than simply being applied to the surface afterward.

Think of the difference between a radish and a carrot.

Slice open a radish and you'll see that most of its color is concentrated near the surface.

Slice open a carrot and the color continues all the way through.

Solution-dyed fibers work more like the carrot.

The color is an integral part of the fiber.

That characteristic contributes to one of Sunbrella's biggest advantages outdoors: exceptional resistance to fading from sunlight.

Why Fade Resistance Matters

Sunlight is relentless.

Even on a covered porch, outdoor furnishings can receive hours of reflected or indirect sunlight each day. In more exposed locations, cushions may experience direct sunlight for extended periods.

Over time, UV exposure can dramatically alter ordinary textiles.

Colors become dull.

Dark shades lighten.

Patterns lose their definition.

And because cushions don't always receive equal exposure, fading can happen unevenly.

Imagine removing a throw pillow after several months only to discover that the fabric underneath it is noticeably darker than the surrounding cushion.

Quality outdoor fabric is designed to reduce that problem.

Sunbrella's solution-dyed construction provides excellent colorfastness, helping the fabric maintain its appearance even with substantial exposure to sunlight.

For something you hope to use for years, that's important.

Because Your Porch Should Be Lived On

Performance is important to us, but so is comfort.

We don't want our outdoor cushions to feel like equipment.

We want them to feel like an extension of your home.

Your porch might be where you drink your coffee in the morning.

Where you read.

Where your kids curl up.

Where friends stay talking long after dinner.

Where the dog decides the most expensive seat in the house clearly belongs to him.

Your cushions need to accommodate real life.

That's one reason Sunbrella works so well for Brush Valley. It gives us the performance characteristics we want without requiring us to sacrifice the comfortable, residential feel we're trying to create.

Durability shouldn't come at the expense of comfort.

Sunbrella Is Designed to Be Cleaned

Sooner or later, something is going to spill.

We consider that a sign that you're actually using your outdoor space.

One of the advantages of Sunbrella performance fabric is that it's designed with cleaning in mind.

Many everyday spills and messes can be addressed with straightforward cleaning methods, often beginning with mild soap and water.

That matters because stains become far less intimidating when you know the fabric was designed for real-world use.

The key is to address messes appropriately and follow Sunbrella's recommended cleaning instructions for the particular stain you're dealing with.

And as with any outdoor cushion, allow everything to dry thoroughly after cleaning.

What About Mold and Mildew?

This is an important topic because there's a common misconception that an outdoor fabric can somehow make mold and mildew impossible.

It can't.

Sunbrella fabric is resistant to mold and mildew, but organic material can still accumulate on the surface of any outdoor textile.

Pollen, dirt, food, oils, plant debris, and other substances can provide a food source for mold and mildew when combined with moisture.

That's why good outdoor cushion care still matters.

Keep cushions reasonably clean.

Allow wet cushions to dry thoroughly.

Avoid storing cushions while they're damp.

Provide good airflow.

Protect them during prolonged periods of severe weather.

Choosing a high-performance fabric gives you a major advantage.

Proper care helps you preserve it.

Why We Don't Call Our Cushions "Waterproof"

Because that wouldn't be accurate.

Sunbrella fabric is engineered for outdoor performance, but an upholstered cushion is a complete product made from more than just its outer fabric.

It has seams.

It has a zipper.

It has an insert.

Water can eventually make its way inside a cushion, particularly during prolonged or heavy rain.

That's why we prefer to describe quality outdoor cushions as weather-resistant, rather than creating the expectation that they can sit indefinitely in pouring rain without becoming wet.

If your cushions get caught in a shower, don't panic.

Simply give them the opportunity to dry thoroughly.

Stand seat cushions on their edge.

Separate cushions.

Increase airflow.

And don't place wet cushions into enclosed storage.

Good outdoor fabrics make living outside easier.

They don't make weather disappear.

Sunbrella Is More Than a Fabric Name

There's an important distinction between a recognized performance textile and a generic fabric described simply as "outdoor."

The phrase outdoor fabric tells you very little on its own.

Different fabrics can vary substantially in fiber composition, manufacturing method, UV resistance, cleanability, feel, and long-term performance.

That's why we prefer knowing exactly what we're using.

When we say Sunbrella, we're identifying the actual fabric manufacturer—not simply applying a vague performance label.

For customers comparing outdoor cushions, that's something we encourage you to look for.

Ask what fabric is being used.

If a company simply says "premium outdoor fabric," ask who makes it.

You deserve to know what's covering the cushions you're buying.

Why We Offer a Curated Sunbrella Collection

Sunbrella produces an enormous range of colors, textures, and patterns.

We don't offer all of them.

That's intentional.

Brush Valley was created to make purchasing premium swing bed cushions simpler, not more complicated.

Anyone who has gone through the custom upholstery process knows how quickly hundreds of fabric choices can become overwhelming.

White or off-white?

Warm gray or cool gray?

Texture or solid?

Greige or beige?

Twenty-seven samples later, you've forgotten what you were buying in the first place.

We wanted to remove some of that friction.

So rather than presenting customers with an enormous fabric library, we select a smaller collection of Sunbrella colors that work beautifully in outdoor spaces and coordinate easily with different woods, stains, paint colors, and architectural styles.

Fewer choices.

Better choices.

Why Neutral Outdoor Fabrics Work So Well

You'll notice that many of the fabrics in the Brush Valley collection are neutral.

That's also intentional.

A quality cushion set is an investment, and we think the foundational pieces should have staying power.

Neutral seat and back cushions allow you to change the personality of your outdoor space without replacing the expensive pieces.

Add patterned throws in summer.

Introduce warmer colors in fall.

Change your rug.

Swap planters.

Add a blanket.

The entire space can evolve around the cushions.

A timeless base gives you flexibility.

And because Sunbrella is known for producing sophisticated textures and nuanced neutrals, we don't have to choose between practical and beautiful.

Sunbrella Makes Sense for Swing Beds

A swing bed isn't ordinary outdoor furniture.

It's deeper.

It's larger.

And people tend to use it differently.

You don't simply sit upright on a swing bed for twenty minutes.

You curl up.

Stretch out.

Nap.

Read.

Lean against the cushions.

Bring your coffee.

Bring your kids.

Bring the dog.

That means the cushions receive a lot of contact.

It also means replacing an entire swing bed cushion set isn't something you want to do frequently.

Using a proven performance fabric makes particular sense for this kind of furniture.

When you're purchasing a substantial seat cushion, large back cushions, and coordinating bolsters, the fabric covering those pieces matters.

The Fabric Is Only Half the Story

We love Sunbrella.

But even exceptional fabric can't turn a poorly constructed cushion into a great one.

The insert matters.

The stitching matters.

The zipper matters.

The proportions matter.

The craftsmanship matters.

That's why we pair Sunbrella performance fabrics with substantial cushion inserts and American craftsmanship.

Our seat cushions use a densified fiber core with polyester batting, designed to provide both structure and comfort.

The goal is to bring the pieces together:

Performance fabric on the outside.
Comfort and support on the inside.
Quality construction holding everything together.

That's what creates a cushion rather than simply a fabric-covered pad.

A Fabric We're Comfortable Putting Our Name Behind

When you're building a product, every material choice says something about what you value.

You can choose the least expensive option.

You can choose the option that photographs well.

Or you can choose materials based on how you want the finished product to perform in someone's home.

We chose Sunbrella because we know what we're asking our cushions to do.

We want them outside.

We want people sitting on them.

We want kids climbing onto them.

We want coffee being consumed near them.

We want them exposed to sunlight.

We want them used.

And we want them to continue looking beautiful while all of that life happens around them.

That's a demanding job for a piece of fabric.

It's why we use Sunbrella.

Beautiful Enough for Your Home. Tough Enough for Outside.

At Brush Valley Cushion Co., we believe outdoor spaces should feel every bit as comfortable and considered as the rooms inside your home.

That starts with good materials.

Our cushions are made in America using genuine Sunbrella performance fabrics, thoughtfully selected cushion materials, and construction designed for the way people actually use their outdoor spaces.

Because the best outdoor furniture isn't the furniture you worry about.

It's the furniture you use.

And the best outdoor cushions aren't simply beautiful on the day they arrive.

They're the ones still inviting you outside season after season.