What can I use to cover outdoor furniture?

Using high quality covers is the best way to protect your outdoor furniture. This is because with time, elements such as sun, wind, rain, leaf fall, dirt splashes and bird poo will ruin even premium outdoor furniture. Protecting your outdoor investment is crucial to being able to continue enjoying it, and sharing many more happy gatherings with family and friends.  

Ensuring a proper fit and having weather-resistant material, are important aspects to consider when choosing covers for your garden furniture. In this blog, we'll look at your options and address some common questions:

Types of cover for outdoor furniture

In our experience, there are just 3 options for premium outdoor furniture covers.

1. Custom-fit covers: these covers are tailored to fit your specific furniture pieces. Sold by the furniture manufacturer, these covers will be a good fit and offer comprehensive protection. Custom-fit garden furniture covers are an excellent investment for uniquely shaped furniture, including sofa sets, and grouping your dining table and chairs together.

2. Premium general furniture covers: whilst not custom-made, you can buy generic ‘cover-alls’ for different-sized chairs, recliners and tables, etc. Just make sure you get the right size (eg a snug fit with room for air to circulate),  and that the material offers good protection (see below).

3. DIY covers: if you're feeling creative, you can make your own covers using materials like outdoor fabric and waterproofing solutions. This option allows you to customise the covers to suit your furniture. (Hard work though.)

Premium outdoor furniture covers: what to look for

Premium outdoor furniture covers have some very specific features that ensure they give the very best protection from the elements:

-  Wipe clean, water-repellent coated surface

-  UV resistant material

-  Mesh air vents and breathable membranes to prevent mould and mildew, especially important with wooden furniture

-  Woven nylon fabric, using thick reinforcement yarns which are interwoven at regular intervals in a crosshatch pattern for maximum strength. This material is weighty enough to reduce billowing during windy weather.

-  Heavy duty fastenings, such as drawstring cords to withstand strong winds

-  Waterproof seams and zippers

-  Handy drawstring storage bags

Should patio furniture covers touch the ground?

The issue of whether patio furniture covers should touch the ground or hover above it boils down to finding the right balance between protection and ventilation:

Furniture covers that touch the ground

Basically, your covers should act as a barrier. So, if just touching the ground they can protect your furniture from dirt, moisture and insects damaging your furniture. However, there's a trade-off: prolonged contact with the damp ground can lead to mould or mildew growth building up on your furniture, especially in humid environments. To counter this, ensure your covers are made from breathable, waterproof materials that minimise condensation build-up. Also, choose covers with tight closures such as zippers or drawstrings. Finally, covers that touch and rub along a hard surface, such as decking or paving, will wear so the more robust the material, the better it will wear.

Furniture covers that hover above the ground

Furniture covers that hover above the ground will encourage air circulation, preventing mould and mildew from forming. This is particularly important for wooden furniture, which is susceptible to moisture-related damage. By allowing air to circulate, you reduce the chances of trapped humidity causing damage. However, this method might provide slightly less protection against insects and debris getting underneath.

In all likelihood, the better the quality of cover you buy for your furniture, the better you’ll be able to strike the right balance between protection and breathability.

Should I cover my garden furniture every night?

If possible, yes, cover your garden furniture every night to be on the safe side. Consistent coverage at night can significantly reduce the risk of long-term damage. Even in the summer, rain can have a detrimental effect on furniture, as it will seep into crevices and joints over time.

However, in more temperate and stable climates, covering your furniture every single night might not be necessary. Just keep an eye on the weather forecast.

Can you leave garden furniture cushions outside if covered?

Best not do this, unless you can be sure the weather is going to be warm and dry, especially overnight. Cushions are the most vulnerable part of your outdoor furniture – sat on, leaned on, often near food, they already have a hard time. So if they aren’t even protected from moisture, mildew and fading, they really won’t last long.

Our first bit of advice is to Invest in cushion covers made from water-resistant or waterproof materials. These covers act as a reasonable shield against rain and accidental spills, helping to keep your cushions dry and clean. Also, opt for covers with UV protection to safeguard against fading caused by prolonged sun exposure.

However, even the best cushion covers will not withstand torrential downpours. So, if you cover your furniture when not in use or overnight, just make sure your cushions are tucked underneath. Or, store them under cover of a shed, garden box or even indoors.

Premium covers will extend the life of your garden furniture

Protecting your outdoor furniture and cushions with premium covers is a sensible step toward both ensuring its longevity and maintaining an excellent appearance. What kind of covers you choose and how often you use them, will depend upon your personal preferences, storage space and the weather.

The key lies in finding the right balance between protection and practicality, ensuring that your outdoor haven remains a beautiful and welcoming space for years to come. Oh, and always keep an eye on the weather forecast.

Our recommended garden furniture cover brands

We’ve already highlighted the importance of investing in a cover for your patio furniture. Another key aspect is choosing the right brand. Many of the garden furniture sets available can be purchased with matching garden furniture covers from the brand selling the item of garden furniture. However, if this is not available we recommend Aerocover. Aerocover includes breathable membrane, this stops build up of mould and mildew. The covers include stoppers to keep the furniture nicely secure and are made from lightweight ripstop polyester, ideal for easy storage and handling. In addition to all of this they are available in many variations to cover most sets available on the market today.

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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 in Wakefield or Newcastle.