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To ensure the longevity of your coveted patio furniture, you should keep it covered. Egg Swing Chair Cover
So you finally got an excellent set of outdoor furniture. Now that you have it, how do you protect it? For outdoor furniture to be considered "outdoor furniture," it has to be made of weather-resistant materials. Outdoor furniture has to stand up against the sun, rain and wind — but you should also be buying a separate covering to make sure your outdoor furniture can last year after year. Here are the best outdoor furniture covers to buy for every possible scenario.
Outdoor furniture should be made of weather-resistant materials. Otherwise, they're just regular indoor furniture that you happen to place outside. But depending on the climate you live in — like one that gets a lot of rain — your outdoor furniture will be constantly pummeled by the elements, drastically reducing how long your outdoor furniture will last. To ensure the longevity of your coveted patio furniture, you should absolutely be buying a cover for them.
You'll obviously need to buy outdoor furniture covers that can actually fit over your existing outdoor furniture. First, measure all of the pieces you'll want to be covering up, and let that inform what size coverings you'll want to buy. Then, determine whether or not you want to cover each piece on its own or find an extra-large covering to drape over everything at once. It'll be cheaper to buy one super-sized covering than to buy a few smaller ones, too. One tip for using a furniture cover is to put support underneath it to raise up the covering so it doesn't droop or sag in the middle, which will lead to pools of water. And in the summer, that means mold, mildew and mosquitoes.
Two of the most common outdoor furniture coverings are polyester and vinyl. Each will offer protection against the elements, but the best waterproof material will be vinyl. On one hand, while vinyl is the best to keep furniture safe from water, it can trap moisture inside and lead to mildew and mold. Polyester can be waterproof and in some cases, might be more durable than its vinyl counterparts.
Let's start with the most important use case for outdoor furniture: rain. If you know a storm is coming, then you should be covering your patio pieces or bringing them inside if you can. Not only will this protect your furniture from wear, tear and possible mildew, but it will also mean that your furniture is ready to be used post-storm, whereas without a cover you may have to wait a day or two for things to dry. Even a really humid climate can cause similar effects as rain, so you may want to consider covering up more often than just when your weather app tells you to. Additionally, covers can help slow fading on your furniture and keep leaves and pollen off your seating as the seasons change.
Although your best bet is definitely to just store them inside, there are weatherproof covers you can buy to make your outdoor cushions a little more hardy, like these cushion covers from Wayfair. If you're worried about sun damage, you'll want to make sure that you get cushion covers made with material that is UV-resistant, and if you're more concerned about inclement weather, then you'll probably want covers that zip up to enclose the whole cushion versus an option that just stretches around the cushion. But again, the best place for your cushions when your patio furniture is not in use is in your home — or at the very least, under one of the outdoor furniture cover options below.
Ultcover makes a variety of sizes of its outdoor furniture covers to protect your patio dining sets ranging from small squares to extra-long rectangles — and they encapsulate the accompanying chairs. The cover is made of thick and durable 600D polyster with a waterproof backing. The cover is completely waterproof, backed by a three-year warranty, and guaranteed to protect your precious patio furniture from UV rays, snow, rain and wind. A side air vent offers breathability, while the cover is designed to stay put with the addition of buckles that clip around table and chair legs and an elastic hem cord.
One of our favorite outdoor furniture brands, Outer, offers a host of covers made specifically to fit the brand's line of furniture, from sectionals to ottomans in teak, aluminum and wicker. This specific cover is designed for Outer's Wicker Loveseat, which goes for $2,900. While the covers and the furniture they go with are on the expensive side, you won't find a sleeker fit or higher quality. The brand's seating also comes with built-in cushion covers that roll out to cover the cushions to protect against quick weather changes and everyday wear.
OK, from afar it looks like you're covering your outdoor furniture with an oversized trash bag. Alas, it is not a trash bag, but the best $30 you can spend to protect your patio furniture. It has a universal design so that you can cover your patio dining set or lounge seating without the need to find a specific shape. The material is resistant to water and UV rays, and its durable construction will hold its own against inclement weather.
One of the most important jobs of an outdoor furniture cover is to keep water out — particularly if you're protecting furniture that can be damaged by water. And Modern Leisure's Garrison line of waterproof covers does a great job of that. These covers, seen here in a patio table and chairs setup, are the only true waterproof furniture covers on the market according to the brand, which is owed to the combination of the heavy-duty PVC-backed polyester material and the proprietary seam binding process that incorporates 100-percent waterproof taped seams throughout the entire cover.
If you're looking for protection for your outdoor furniture, you're going to want the protection to withstand the elements as best as possible too. That's where F&J's heavy-duty patio covers come in. They're made of a tightly woven 600D polyurethane that brings dustproof and waterproof protection plus UV resistance while being durable and lightweight. According to the brand, it will hold up against fading, snow damage, extreme heat and won't tear — plus it has an elasticized base and tie-down hooks to keep it locked in place.
It features handles on the side to make it easier to put on and off your dining set, with additional side vents that keep your furniture fresh by preventing condensation. And when it's not in use, you can throw the cover into the accompanying storage bag.
With its oversized dimensions, this cover can protect a full set of furniture without the need for smaller protective coverings. By combining a durable 500D Oxford cloth with a silicone interior, the cover is waterproof, which is bolstered by the sealed tape design. Additional features like handles, air vents and a drawstring make this a worthwhile purchase for those looking to protect a bunch of pieces of outdoor furniture at once.
If you're going to invest in nice furniture covers to care for your outdoor furniture, you want to make sure that your cover itself is easy to care for too. That's one of the main reasons we like this simple cover from Article: it's completely machine washable. Also, as long as your sofa is not too large for the cover (be sure to check the dimensions), the drawstring closure practically makes this a one-size-fits-all solution to covering your patio seating. Of course, the cover is waterproof and even has covered holes for ventilation — allowing air in but keeping water out.
For single chair protection, Duck Covers makes covers that wrap securely around each chair's legs, while an elastic hem with a drawstring brings a tailored fit. The nylon material is waterproof, with the brand guaranteeing protection against rain, dirt, wind and snow. There's also something to be said about the "mocha cappuccino" colorway that doesn't make this look like some repurposed Glad bag.
Just have an outdoor sofa? It's hard to beat the sofa cover from Amazon Basics. The cover — available for a three-seater or two-seater — is made of durable polyester with a PVC undercoating to add water resistance. The cover is double stitched to aid in its longevity, while buckles keep the cover in place even against heavy gusts of wind.
If you leave your patio furniture out year-round instead of storing it during the colder months, then you're at least going to want to cover it for the winter to protect it from the elements. And to do so, you'll need a heavy-duty furniture cover that's built for the cold. Khomo Gear's range of covers, which come in a number of sizes, are made from 500x300D high-density polyester that's made to stretch and won't crack in the cold like weaker materials. It's also wind-resistant thanks to rugged click-in leg straps, and its multi-layer material resists damage from water, mildew and the sun's rays.
Beach Swing Chair Cover Although spending $250 for one furniture cover — and especially one that's not a custom fit — may seem out of the question, but this fade-resistant, machine-washable cover may just change your mind. From upkeep to storage, the cover is convenient and practical; it even comes with its own storage pouch for the off season. It's surprisingly lightweight and very easy to secure, whether you're putting it on for the night or a whole season. Plus, if the dimensions don't work for your sofa, then you can snag it in a smaller size.