How To Choose The Right Outdoor Fabric Garden Furniture

When it comes to furnishing your outdoor spaces, whether a garden, patio, or balcony, the materials you choose can make all the difference in comfort, durability, and style. While options such as wood, metal, and rattan are popular, fabric garden furniture offers a unique blend of aesthetics and functionality that might just make it the perfect choice for your garden. 

We love fabric outdoor furniture because all of the cushions can stay outdoors all year round. They are designed using all weather fabric which can withstand sun, rain and snow. 

Choosing the right fabric

When choosing all weather furniture it is important to choose good quality fabric and furniture as you want to know that it really can withstand the weather. Look out for fabrics such as La Vita or Sunbrella.

Another name for Sunbrella fabrics is AirTouch. This fabric is 100% solution-dyed acrylic fabric, when creating this fabric the focus is on creating something hardwearing yet soft to the touch. The AirTouch cushion is filled with QuickDry foam, this foam has antibacterial protection that reduces the risk of fungus and mould forming. QuickDry foam has been designed to allow for maximum drainage and air circulation.

La Vita is a high performance fabric made using solution-dyed acrylic which is then spun into a yarn. This process means that the fabric is durable and colourfast. Solution-dyed acrylic fabrics are unique in that a liquid acrylic solution is mixed with dye, formed into a fibre, and then spun into yarn. The process creates a rich, fade resistant colour that can withstand the harshest climates.

Fabric for all seasons

It might be hard to believe this but the fabric really is for all seasons. When speaking to customers many don’t believe that you can leave the furniture outside all year - even the cushions!

Regardless of whether it’s blinding sunshine or freezing snow storms, the cushions can withstand whatever nature throws at them.

The main concern we hear from customers is that they worry about the cushions being left out in the rain. This is understandable. However, rain is not an issue for all weather cushions. After a downpour your cushions will be dry within an hour. This is due to the quick dry foam within the cushions, the foam has a porous open-cell structure allowing water to drain rapidly whilst fresh air circulates throughout the foam. We advise you to leave your cushions in an upright position as this helps the water drain faster.

This is great as it means you don’t need to keep running indoors with all of your cushions every time it starts to rain!

All about convenience 

All-weather fabric outdoor furniture is all about making life easier. The main advantage of fabric furniture is that you do not have to bring your cushions in when you’re not using the set. Not only that but the La Vita fabric is resistant to stains. If you spill anything on the set you can use warm water and a clean sponge to remove the stain. 

When speaking to customers about garden furniture one of the things they look for is low maintenance. Outdoor fabric furniture is as low maintenance as it gets! As mentioned before you can leave all of your cushions outdoors, even during winter. This means you don’t need to look into extra storage options or worry about bringing your cushions indoors every night.

Cleaning couldn't be easier, you will need a clean cloth, a dry brush, mild detergent and warm water. Over time you will notice a build up of dirt and garden debris such as leaves. Use the dry brush to gently remove any dirt. If you have any tougher stains such as bird droppings use warm soapy water to clean the cushions. To give the cushions a light clean you could use a garden hose, we don’t recommend the use of a pressure washer as this could cause tears in the fabric.

For stubborn stains, you will need a suitable stain remover and a bucket of water or a garden hose. It’s a good idea to remove the filling from the cushion cover to wash the cover on its own. When choosing a stain remover please contact us as some harsh cleaners that contain bleach will damage the fabric.

Protecting your furniture

To protect your set we would recommend that you invest in a furniture cover. These are great for protecting against bird droppings, garden debris and bad weather. If you need help choosing a suitable cover please get in touch with your measurements and a picture of the set. 

When choosing a furniture cover we would normally advise against one big cover. This is because the cover will dip in the middle as the furniture and table will be of different heights. The dip will cause a build-up of water and pull on your cover.

Stylish choices

Fabric garden furniture comes in a variety of colours to suit any outdoor area. Choose from colours such as oatmeal, charcoal and light grey. The different colour fabrics can even have different textures. For example, our charcoal fabric is smooth whereas the oatmeal fabric is textured. If you’re interested in a particular colour let us know and we can send out a fabric sample.

If you’re looking to furnish a modern garden then we definitely recommend fabric furniture. We feel that it is perfectly on trend thanks to the modern aluminium frame and neutral tones. The minimalist design allows this material to look at home in any modern setting.

When choosing furniture for your garden you want to have flexibility and be able to consider multiple options. Various sets are available from all weather fabrics such as loungers, fire pit sets, dining sets and more. If you have quite a large space you want to furnish or want more than one set, you have the option to choose from sets all made from the same fabric and colour.

Comparing fabric to other materials

If you’re looking for something modern, low maintenance and long lasting then we would recommend fabric furniture. There are other materials available such as wood but this requires more upkeep.

Wooden garden furniture is incredibly durable and can last many years. The main thing with wooden furniture is keeping up with the appearance, over time wood will mellow into a silvery grey. If you want to keep up with the colour you do need to regularly treat the furniture. Whereas all weather fabric can be left alone throughout the year.

Another popular choice is rattan garden furniture, again this is a hardwearing product made from synthetic materials. It does not require much maintenance as it just needs to be cleaned like fabric outdoor furniture. However, rattan garden furniture is viewed as more traditional looking. If you have a new home or love the contemporary aesthetic, fabric furniture will be more suitable.

Fabric garden furniture combines comfort, style, and practicality, making it an excellent choice for any outdoor setting. With its advanced weather-resistant features, ease of maintenance, and stylish versatility, it invites relaxation and adds a touch of sophistication to your outdoor living spaces. 

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Have further questions about different types of garden tables we stock? Our friendly, knowledgeable team are always on hand to help, just give us a call or visit one of our showrooms displaying Garden Furniture in Wakefield & Newcastle Outdoor Furniture.