Does your patio furniture need to be covered?

An outdoor patio is the perfect space to rest, recharge, and reconnect. To create your perfect patio, you need the right outdoor furniture: made with durable materials to endure cold winter months, rainy afternoons, and sunny summer days. As with any outdoor furniture, your patio furniture requires regular maintenance to keep it as beautiful and comfortable as it was on day one. But when you select high-quality outdoor furniture pieces that are designed to withstand the elements, you can expect easy maintenance, easy cleaning, and long lasting durability. Quality outdoor furniture is the secret to creating and enjoying your backyard for years to come.

Do you need to cover your patio furniture?

Covering your outdoor furniture is the easiest way to maintain your patio year-round with minimal effort. If you live in an area with a harsh climate, it’s a good idea to protect your outdoor furniture with a cover. Protecting your furniture from intense weather can help prevent the need for deeper cleanings and prolong the life of your outdoor sofa and chair set, dining table, and patio accessories.

Can you leave patio furniture outside in the rain?

The level of rain-resistance in your patio furniture depends on the durability of the materials. Outdoor furniture that isn’t designed to repel water, resist rot, or prevent mold or mildew growth should probably be covered or moved inside before each rain.

How do certain patio furniture materials fare in the rain?

Plastic

Plastic furniture can withstand mild rains and sunny days, but if there’s a chance of rain freezing on your furniture or strong winds reaching your patio, plastic is not the best choice. Light-weight plastic furniture is prone to blow away in wind and crack in freezing temperatures.

Teak

Teak wood is naturally weather resistant; it can handle wind, rain, humidity, heat and cold. This durable material has natural oils that prevent wood rot and resist mold, mildew and cracking. With the proper care and protection, teak can last outdoors for a lifetime. Neighbor is proud to have furniture pieces crafted with sustainably-sourced, FSC-certified solid teak wood.

Aluminum

Aluminum will not rust in the rain, but it will corrode over time. As winter comes and goes, aluminum furniture is prone to damage from freezing water, which gradually weakens the material. If you live in an area that experiences all four seasons, aluminum furniture may not provide the longevity you’re seeking, even with furniture coverings.

Wrought iron

Wrought iron will rust in the rain. Even with furniture coverings on your wrought iron pieces, any outdoor furniture (chairs, sofa frames, or tables) made of this material will oxidize and likely leave you with a crunchy, rust-brown seat that isn’t necessarily ‘welcoming’.

Wicker

Wicker is a thin wood material woven together with rattan to create natural wood furniture pieces. Because wicker material is thin, it’s highly susceptible to weather damage. Rain can quickly lead to wood rot, and mold and mildew can grow within the rattan if furniture is left in the rain.

Can I leave patio furniture outside in the winter?

Winter in Florida is a lot different than winter in Michigan. If you live in an area of the world where snow and ice are frequent visitors, it’s best to cover your patio furniture when not in use, or with less durable materials, bring the furniture indoors.

Here’s what you should do with your furniture during winter months, based on its material:

Plastic

Plastic will crack in freezing temperatures, as water contracts and expands on the surface. Plastic furniture should be covered completely or brought indoors during winter.

Teak

Because the natural oils in teak wood are water-repellant, teak furniture can live on your patio throughout the winter. Unfinished teak wood naturally ages to a beautiful patina gray shade. To prolong its original appearance, your teak furniture can be covered with a teak patio furniture cover during months with harsher climates.

Aluminum

Aluminum furniture can endure winter months without much damage. Ice does not cause aluminum materials to contract and expand. However, aluminum furniture typically has holes for rain drainage, which can fill with water and cause these areas to expand. Plus, sitting on an aluminum seat in winter isn’t your coziest option.

Wrought iron

Wrought iron should not be left outside in the winter. This material will rust, corrode and weaken relatively quickly. Covering wrought iron furniture will not be sufficient through rainy, cold months.

Wicker

Wicker rattan patterns will fill with water, then freeze, expand and break in colder, wetter months, even with a furniture covering. Wicker furniture should be brought inside for the winter. With any type of furniture material you choose, it’s best to use an outdoor furniture cover for extra protection in the winter. All furniture requires some care and maintenance if you want to keep your patio in great shape year-round.

How can I winterize my patio furniture?

As the temperatures drop and the days get shorter, your outdoor furniture will require some seasonal TLC. If your furniture material resides on the winter-approved list, it’s time to winterize your patio. If your patio furniture is made of wicker, wrought iron, plastic, or another vulnerable material, it’s best to bring your outdoor living space indoors, or at least in storage.

Here are 3 tops tips to winterize your patio:

Bring outdoor cushions inside when you’re not using them

Although outdoor cushions can be made of high-quality, durable fabric that repels water and prevents mold growth like Neighbor’s Sunbrella outdoor cushions, leaving cushions fully exposed to the elements can reduce their lifespan.

Cover or move furniture indoors during the off-season

Cover your furniture as often as possible. Even the most durable materials can start to lose their original vibrance when consistently soaked with rain, snow or ice. A fitted waterproof cover like Neighbor’s waterproof furniture covers will provide the extra protection your furniture needs to maintain its brilliance for 5, 10, or even 15 years.

Consider storing pieces inside during severe storms.

If an ice storm or other severe winter storm is on the forecast, play it safe by temporarily storing your furniture inside.

How do I choose the right patio furniture cover?

Stay one step ahead of the weather by purchasing a patio furniture cover before the colder seasons come around.

Here’s what to assess when shopping for high quality furniture covers:

Dimensions

Your furniture cover can only do its job if it fits your furniture. Determine the dimensions of the piece, then search for a cover that fits its size. Neighbor makes this part easy. We provide furniture covers tailored to fit each piece of furniture with buckles to secure the cover to the frame.

Weight

You’ll want a furniture cover that doesn’t require two people to pull out each time. A heavy cover can be cumbersome and difficult to manage on the fly. Weather: If you live in one of the wetter regions of the country, you need a waterproof cover that won’t leave your furniture soaked after each rain.

Cover ties

A furniture cover that doesn’t tie down is likely to go airborne when the wind picks up. How helpful is a furniture cover that abandons your precious furniture when the going gets rough? Neighbor furniture covers are secure with buckle straps and cinching drawcords to protect against wind and extreme weather.

Durability

Like your furniture selections, your furniture covering should be highly durable, weather proof, tear proof, and strong enough to keep your pieces as beautiful as they’re designed to be.

Breathability

A furniture covering that isn’t designed for breathability will trap moisture, promoting mold and mildew growth on your furniture. You want a covering with breathable vents that allow airflow to your outdoor sofa, chair, or yard table set. Neighbor’s tailored furniture coverings feature mesh vents that support airflow and prevent mold growth.

Additional Pros of Patio Furniture Coverings

The benefits of investing in a long lasting furniture covering for your quality outdoor furniture are truly endless. You won’t have to move your outdoor set inside during storms. You won’t have to worry about your furniture drying out and fading when the sun comes back out.

You won’t have to store your cushions indoors to prevent stains. You won’t have to worry about animals snacking on your furniture, or twigs, branches and leaves dropping on your sofa or table set. While outdoor furniture is engineered to endure the elements, weather can be unpredictable and harsh on all kinds of materials. A quality furniture cover provides a barrier between your outdoor living space and the sun, rain and wind. Covering your outdoor furniture is how you extend its lifespan and prolong its beautiful, natural appearance for years to come.

Neighbor designs outdoor furniture for the modern home

Our furniture is thoughtfully-designed, and our furniture covers are made to weather the heaviest storms. The covers are made of ripstop material that won’t tear or fade and will keep your outdoor furniture protected, dry, and in stunning condition. Neighbor pieces are made with durable, FSC-certified teak and fade-proof Sunbrella fabric cushion covers. Teak wood’s natural oils repel water, making it resistant to most forms of wood rot, fungi, and pests. Sunbrella fabric is of the highest quality fabric in outdoor furniture. This material uses a resilient solution-dyed acrylic that allows color to seep through the entire thread, making it resistant to fading and mildew.We also use Quick Drying foam for our outdoor cushions. It’s porous and allows water to flow through the cushion without becoming trapped. This makes our outdoor cushions less susceptible to rot or mildew while maintaining extreme comfort.

Shop our modular outdoor furniture collection with indoor sophistication or check out our showroom in Phoenix, Arizona.