Design
On The Hunt: Outdoor Furniture You Can Leave Outside Without A Cover In The Rain
We all know you can’t have “fast,” “cheap,” and “good,” and apparently it’s also impossible to find outdoor furniture that is “really cool,” that “can last outside uncovered for years in the elements,” and “isn’t a million dollars”. Now, almost all outdoor furniture will fare better with a cover. That’s just common sense, and most companies will suggest a matching cover for each piece (which is never what I want to spend money on). And yet covers really ruin the vibe of a pretty view for the other six-eight months of the year (and who has the space to actually store huge pieces of furniture?!). So I’ve been researching to better understand what we can buy to put in our garden that can handle the rain and sun (we don’t have much snow here, if at all) year-round. I don’t mind staring at nice-looking frames, uncovered, knowing that I’ll for sure store the cushions in the winter. I know there are going to be compromises and sacrifices needed, but furniture that needs to be covered with a big dark cover in the middle of our yard won’t do for me.
I actually love the look of our picnic tables, and they are faring GREAT outside (pressure-treated wood), but they aren’t what people actually want to sit on, apparently (everyone just stands around them – not wanting to be locked in, I think). So I’m looking to move those along the back fence line for kids and put two seating areas out there instead. But I stare outside all day long from my sunroom, and I fear that covers will ruin the vibe. Surely I can find something that would be fine to leave outside and look OK year-round??? Here’s what I’ve come up with after researching…
Resin Wicker – AKA “All Weather Wicker”
What a genius product that looks organic and natural, but is actually extremely durable. Introducing “resin wicker” or “all-weather wicker” that is indeed NOT wicker at all, but a wicker-like plastic. I’ve had a few pieces made out of this from various brands that hold up year-round, looking brand new. That S-shaped chair actually lives on our property outside, and it’s in perfect condition (from AllModern). I also have this outdoor set, which floats around our yard and is in perfect condition.
1. Huntington Wicker Curved Outdoor Sofa | 2. Ipanema Wicker Outdoor Loveseat | 3. Westerland Oversized All-Weather Slope Arm Outdoor Loveseat
We are looking for two seating areas, and I want them to coordinate and not look eclectic (inside, I don’t need things to match, but outdoors, I actually like it when things feel part of a set). For our space, we need smaller furniture (not big sectionals or even large furniture), so I want either two small sofas and a chair, or a sofa and two chairs, but the point is you aren’t going to see huge sofas or sofas with weird backs here, as everything is floating.
Shea Wide Straight Loveseat with Cushions
I’m very into this one as it looks so pretty on its own, even without the pad. I love that it feels more garden party and casual.
1. Huntington Wicker Swivel Curved Outdoor Lounge Chair | 2. Montane Oversized All Weather Wicker Outdoor Swivel Chair | 3. Sonrisa All Weather Curved Open Back Outdoor Swivel Chair | 4. Westport Wicker Outdoor Slim Profile Swivel Chair
I think that since all these resin wicker sets can look different, it’s best to buy matching sets rather than mix/match wickers that have different tones or looks. Of all of those, I’m leaning towards the Pottery Barn one, but the shape of the Crate and Barrel one is a nice soft sculptural shape that will still be pleasing to the eye without the cushion.
1. Ipanema Wicker Outdoor Lounge Chair with Cushion | 2. Baycrest Outdoor Teak Lounge Chair | 3. Aliza Wicker Outdoor Lounge Chair
The OG natural wicker is best in sunrooms and covered porches, but never outside in the rain, btw. Again, I’ve had three pieces of resin wicker sitting outside all year for years, and they are in perfect condition, still. Big Fan. Is this the vibe that I want? Sure. I think it picks up the nice tones of the pickleball back fence.
1. Baycrest Outdoor Teak Sofa | 2. Malibu Teak & Rope Outdoor Sofa
These are a nice mix of materials that I like a lot. The Pottery Barn sofa could be left out without even a cushion on it, which is nice, but likely less comfortable.
Powder-Coated Aluminum
1. Terra Loveseat | 2. Camber Loveseat | 3. Aden Aluminum Outdoor Sofa | 4. Sarek Outdoor Sofa
Now I can’t vouch for all metal outdoor furniture, but what I’ve had has lasted years with piles of snow or rain. I’m talking about our black dining table from Pottery Barn that is still on our lower patio at the Mountain House. Technically, it’s covered by a deck, but it gets a foot of snow on it every year, and the rain falls through the deck, so it is very much exposed to the weather. For this house, I think that teak or resin wicker is more the vibe I want (just easier to integrate into the natural surroundings), so I didn’t spend too much time shopping for metal. We just used this set for a makeover earlier this week, and it was extremely high quality.
Polywood
1. POLYWOOD x AllModern Chair 7-Piece Parsons Dining Table Set | 2. Low Chair – Polywood
Polywood is a brand of outdoor furniture that is made out of recycled plastic, molded to look like wood, and guaranteed to last for over 20 years. It’s extremely solid and durable, and you can leave it out in snow, rain, or sun. It’s incredible. This is why we chose them for our outdoor stools that, again, we didn’t want to cover or store. Now they absolutely make sofas, too, as well as Adirondack chairs, and I’m extremely tempted to make them work (I’m also tempted to pitch a collaboration as I want their construction/durability/quality but in more styles!).
Pros: Extreme durability and will last at least 20 years (that’s a big pro!). You are paying for so much peace of mind with zero maintenance or care. We could also match the lounge area with the Adirondack firepit area, as they have great Adirondack chairs.
Cons: An investment for sure, but again, most high-quality outdoor furniture is expensive. To make them this strong, they end up looking chunky and boxy, which is fine for the right look. The colors of the fabric could work (and are all Sunbrella), but there isn’t one combination of wood tone/color and fabric that screams “this is it”. I prefer the white and black over the wood tones, but both those options feel really harsh in our garden, which has a lot of soft, natural tones and elements. But our gazebo and barn are bright white, so maybe it’s ok? And they have “sand,” which is an off-white/light tan that I’m interested in, that could be the softer version we need?
1. EDGE 4-Piece Modular Deep Seating Set with Ottoman | 2. Riviera Modern Lounge Loveseat | 3. POLYWOOD Modern Adirondack Chair
These are the two that I’ve been debating from Polywood. I’d then dress them up with cute pillows and remember that they are on flagstone and surrounded by a ton of pretty greens/pinks, so maybe they wouldn’t be the showpieces, but the garden as a whole would look really pretty and classic.
High-Quality Teak
ALLLLL my research says that teak can stay outside year-round, and yet it’s organic and porous, so it’s still hard to believe. Last year, I popped into LoveTeak in Portland (a high-end teak company) and asked if their furniture could stay outside without being covered, and he said, “Absolutely, for years”. He mentioned that it would gray out, of course, but that it wouldn’t hold the moisture, doesn’t mold, is super hard, and therefore will last. The construction still matters, of course. I didn’t necessarily fall in love with anything they had in store, but it did give me more confidence that if I found grade A teak, the high-quality stuff, that we could leave it outside. Acacia and Eucalyptus are also fine outdoors on covered patios/porches, but to leave out in the rain, teak will last four times longer, so I didn’t include any other wood species (FYI, Article has fantastic outdoor furniture that lasts a long time covered, but since they had very little teak, they aren’t included here).
I have a teak sectional and the Neighbor teak chaise lounges, and they are both grayed out, and the frames feel really sturdy still. This will be the third summer that we’ve left them out year-round (which neither company advises to do, FYI). Here are some others I love:
1. Monterey Outdoor Teak Sofa | 2. Malibu Teak Outdoor Sofa | 3. Sonoma Teak Outdoor Sofa with Sunbrella® Cushions | 4. Calero Natural Teak Outdoor Loveseat
I really love that first sofa from West Elm. The curved back is so pretty and would be nice to view from the back, which we will see a lot. Most of these teak sofas are sold with light fabric, which admittedly looks good, but I’m worried about Oregon dirt/mud, so I’m tempted to get slipcovers upholstered in my Irish chain outdoor Sunbrella fabric (their collaboration with Max Humphrey) that I still have a huge roll of.
1. Malibu Teak Outdoor Adirondack Lounge Chair | 2. Bogota Teak Patio Chair with Sunbrella Cushions | 3. Malibu Teak Outdoor Lounge Chair | 4. Zymae Teak Wood Upholstered Adirondack Chair
1. Haven Teak Adirondack Chair | 2. Low Bench
Neighbor certainly has the design-forward part down – those silhouettes are so pretty, classic, and simple (and yet feel design-forward). I’m so tempted to get a collection of the above and buy or make seat cushions for them.
1. Felloe Loveseat | 2. Felloe Chair | 3. Felloe Ottoman
I’m incredibly tempted by this set, knowing that the green would work so well out there. The back of this sofa is really nice, too (versus their other sofa, which I love but has black fabric from the back).
1. Felloe Dining Set | 2. Kiva Teak Wood and All-Weather Wicker 3 Piece Outdoor Dining Set | 3. Teaka Outdoor Dining Table
If anyone has a suggestion of a brand or a piece of furniture that has lasted over 10+ years, please let us know! I know that I’m missing fiberglass/plastic as well as ceramic/tiled/mosaic table tops and wrought iron sets – both great, but just not what I was looking for, so I didn’t include them here. But I’d love any anecdotal recommendations from you all if you have any 🙂
Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: River House Kitchen Patio Reveal
We have a mix of marble, wrought iron and teak. Teak holds up really well. Have you considered buying a park bench? I really want one of those:D
Heartily endorse Polywood! Solid as a rock, and comfortable— doesn’t hold the heat too much so you can still sit on it on a blazing day. We’ve had four gray adirondacks on our patio for four years and they are flawless. We also have a sectional from them with sunbrella cushions on our screened-in porch that is lovely and comfortable as well.
We live in Wisconsin and get heavy snow (we had a blizzard on Monday!), and our Polywood dining set has held up great overall. One drawback, though, is that animals—likely squirrels—have started gnawing on the edges of the table and chairs, leaving them rough and surprisingly sharp. It was perfect for the first three years, but the damage has been frustrating, especially given the cost and its appeal as a year-round outdoor solution.
I think you could hit the rough spots with a sander
We definitely have done this but some of the grooves are DEEP and it’s not easy to soften them. So frustrating!
I wonder if Polywood’s grey color looks enough like greyed-out teak to offer the organic blending-in look that Emily is looking for. As long as it isn’t sitting right next to actual grey teak, it might do.
I have found after 14 years of living with a patio that I want outdoor furniture that feels fantastic to sit on even when it has no cushions. Racing around to snatch them up before it rains, or propping cushions to drain and dry if it rained while I was at work is just such a pain and a process that was leading me to hate my furniture. We made the switch to cushion-less and It is SO MUCH easier. I do HAVE cushions and pillows that I can bring out when we host a gathering so it’s cute and cozy, but for everyday we got super comfortable metal chairs that I can use every day and not have the hassle. For sure cushions look better but I have moved on. Removing that pain point was the best decision we made.
Same. We never put in effort to protect the white cushions on our very affordable outdoor furniture set from Target. Although the frames have held up well in the weather, the cushions are disgusting (moldy and permanently discolored from leaves and rain even though they’ve been kept on a covered porch where their exposure to rain and leaves has been relatively minimal). We’re unfortunately on the hunt for replacements and will be avoiding cushions entirely this time.
Which brand did you end up buying? I was recently introduced Tupelo. It’s a bit too modern for me, but cushion-free is so appealing. I’m more concerned about keeping cushions clean.
I agree with this 100%. Keeping cushions clean and dry is impossible if you live somewhere where it rains. It is unfortunate that cushion-less furniture is a little hard to find.
In the South, where it is very humid, wrought iron holds up the best. It lasts decades.
My relative has outdoor metal furniture from Fermob. I’ve sat it in many times and it’s surprisingly comfortable. Fermob sells in the US but is a French company that makes really colorful outdoor furniture (and other kinds of furniture I think). It’s treated to be rust resistant. The pieces my relative has are left out uncovered and still look great. Here’s the downside: It’s pretty pricey. But definitely worth a look.
love fermob! not sure its right for our flagstone areas but its such a great product!
Good review of the products, thanks. One question, why would you want to drag a bunch of cushions around and have to store them in winter? And you know your dogs will get up on them, so one more complication. You could pick furniture that’s OK comfortable WITHOUT a cushion. No one is going to be sitting on this furniture for hours and hours, even if you have a party, people move around. It would make your life a whole lot easier without cushions.
Yah you might be right. last summer we brought our furniture from our back porch (from Article) out to the landing area and it was so loungy and comfy. It did feel like people would sit for hours because it was comfortable. But agreed that storing the cushions is annoying and ours that are white get gross and we have to power wash them, but I think that’s just par for the course, right? two groupings of adirondack chairs could certainly work as well but less comfy (but could add cushions?)
I am in the no cushions camp. When party is done or rain comes up quick nice not to have to worry. In MN. Bought the Sommer brand lounger and couch from DWR 3 years ago. Furniture stays out year round. Very comfy, beautiful and no cushions needed. The most work I want for outdoor furniture is a quick wipe down with damp rag.
I just love your backyard with the stones and plants – taking out part of the court was such a good move. Also SO grateful you didn’t do shutters. There’s a lot going on and the gorgeous window panes still catch my eye without being too much.
Sounds like people will be balancing plates of food on their knees. White cushions would make me nervous. I love #4 of your teak sofas – such pretty lines and fewer cushions. The park bench idea is a great one for seating without a table that can hold up and feel comfortable. I vote to keep one picnic table where it is for people to hover and put their plates on and congregate, and then a few more really easy care seating areas.
You are not in California any more. Indoor-comfy furniture will not hold up to the elements of the PNW. When we had our garden done 25 years ago, we invested in black wrought iron furniture. I have a table and four chairs in two seating terraces and two chairs with bouncy springs and a coffee table in another seating area. We have a rubbermaid tub of cushions I bought on Etsy and before a gathering we plop them around. It takes all of two minutes and then we collect them afterwards. I have a comfy, cushiony wicker set of chairs and a vintage glass garden table on the covered back porch right outside my kitchen door. That’s where we eat May-Sept, where I sip a cocktail or tea with a book. All of this has lasted 25 years and counting. The black just blends in vs. stands out. Every spring a good wash with 30-second cleaner and a hose does the trick. I wash all the cushions at the end of the season as well.
yah that’s what i’m learning! thus looking for truly outdoor furniture and not just porch furniture. this is super helpful, I had started looking for wrought iron, but should 🙂
Our iron furniture is actually a dark bronze which i love with plants
Useful information, Cynthia! I sort of wish we could all transport back in time to buy wrought iron with you in the past. I feel like the quality/affordability realities now mean that nothing I’m actually able to pay for is likely to last anywhere near 25 years . . .
Oh man, I appreciate this hunt, and I love the roundup! As a fellow PNW’er, I can confirm the rain is no joke. That said, in your situation, it seems like you have the storage space to tuck these away during the wettest months. Around here, everything eventually molds or mildews if it stays out long enough. Just look at our roofs — they’re about as weatherproof as it gets, and even they eventually give in to moss without regular cleaning.
I’d imagine your landscape crew could even help haul everything in and out for you. We usually store ours from about mid-October through spring break. After that, if heavy rain is in the forecast, we’ll just bring the cushions in and leave the actual furniture outside. And truly, there’s nothing better than a sunny nap on a comfy outdoor couch.
its such a thing, right? the rain is a lot but as you know there are some beautiful days in febuary and def in march where people want to hang out outside since we don’t get intense weather. Brian had a big outdoor kids/dads party the other day while I was out of town and people sat on all the furniture so remoing them completely for months wasn’t what I was planning. But i know I can’t have everything so figuring it out 🙂 honestly the outdoor resin wicker might be the best solution. it seems to hold up so perfectly.
Fellow PNWer here. Even our garage gets too damp, especially this rainy fall and winter. This year I had to resort to storing the cushions is IKEA zippered cases and stashing them under our bed. Our house is small with very little closet space, so it’s the best I could do. 🙁
I love our polywood adirondack chairs. They look great, no signs of wear after 5 rough winters outside, and they are super comfy without any cushions. I may just be lazy, but messing around with cushions is not for me. 🙂
A couple thoughts.
First for context, I live in LA, and while it doesn’t rain much, we obviously get a lot of sun. And I frequently forget to cover our furniture when it does rain. Oops.
We’ve had the Article Teaka dining table for about six years now, and it is fantastic. I gave it a light sanding last year, and no joke it looks brand new again.
We also have some wood lounge chairs from WestElm, in a matte black stain that were starting to look worn last year. So my husband just re-stained them. Like new. I’m also super impressed with the cushions. They’ve held their shape really well, and I wash the covers periodically. They come out looking great.
Finally, I also hate looking out at covered furniture. Totally kills the vibe. Glad I’m not alone there. Our yard has a lot of greenery and decomposed granite, so I found some covers in a beige-y tone that kinda visually disappears into the dg. Less of an eyesore. So maybe it’s about finding some covers that blend in to your yard, for when you do need to cover them.
Anyway, hopefully there’s something useful.
I love the sets and the colors of teak and natural wicker. The resin material looks just as good. I do have a teak set with thick cushions in an off-white color, and as much as I like the aesthetic and comfort, I don’t want to uncover the set to sit in it for 5 or 10 minutes. I’m not going to keep it uncovered, because it would soak up the rain and get bad quickly. The neighbour’s cat walked on the sofa one morning, when there was still dew or some light mist after running the morning sprinkler, and his paw prints got printed on the fabric. Those are the only prints because we started covering it up right after. I can wash it, but it’s a task I just don’t want to do. It doesn’t make sense to keep it uncovered. And because it’s covered, we don’t sit in it unless we have company or we plan to stay outdoors longer. I prefer my chairs that are braided rope with a metal frame. It’s sythetic and it stays out all year long. I can sit in it whenever I want, it dries quickly, it never feels too hot… Read more »
I have had resin wicker pieces in the past and really liked them, however, birds really loved them too. They would constantly pick at them and pull pieces from them. Must be great nest building material! I currently have polywood which holds up really well in the desert heat.
Highly recommend Loll. Made in Minnesota / Minnearctica.
Loll Designs. Made from ployethylene. Beautiful designs and colors. From MN where we have all 4 seasons ;).
Fellow PNWer here…we’ve had success with faux wicker and poly lumber. Love the look of teak but knew I wouldn’t want to commit to the occasional sanding and oiling. And aluminum also would be a little too modern for our yard (plus I was afraid of dents from falling branches from the many windstorms we get). We had some adirondack chairs from Durogreen (another poly lumber manufacturer) which we loved but they unfortunately didn’t offer any dining furniture. So we opted for a couple Polywood farmhouse tables in Sand (can 100% relate to not feeling “this is it” about the color, but was the best choice they had–wish they offered their Vintage Sahara color in their non-Designer line). We paired them with some inexpensive stackable wicker chairs (easy to store) and we can easily seat 14 and spray them down to clean. Bird poop comes off with soapy water and a brush. We have a lot of squirrels but thankfully the poly lumber has stayed nibble-free. We also have the wicker/cushion Brookbury lounge set from Walmart which I’ve been really impressed with. Dirt and stains brush off the fabric so easily, if the cushions were a little thicker it’d be… Read more »
yay, the post i’ve been waiting for
Another PNW offering what we do. Our back patio is uncovered, so the furniture is truly exposed year round. – I highly recommend our Lifetime Craftsman table that has held up impressively well for being completely exposed to all weather for a decade (plus a household of kids/large dog). We originally selected originally because it folds so we could put it away, but we have actually never used that feature. Even for the random, unexpected beautiful days, it’s easy to hose it off, throw on a tablecloth, and be ready within minutes for a spontaneous outdoor meal. While not design-foward, it blends in with our mid-century house just fine and is comfortable to use. (So often outdoor furniture is uncomfortable!) We got ours at Costco. – We otherwise stick to folding/storable chairs that go into the backyard shed. They are stored hanging by the door on repurposed plant hangers, so they are easy to grab and don’t fall all over the place, but they don’t get gross. We have a two-level backyard, so they have the additional advantage of being easy to move up and down depending on where we want to be (down by the fire pit, up by… Read more »
The best outdoor coffee table ever is Lagarstar from Ikea. It has been on our dock for 2 years now. Once it fell into the water during a storm when we were away, and we recovered it 10 days later from underwater with no damage.
Good quality teak truly lasts forever. There are definitely grades of teak though, and some of it is REALLY expensive. I have bought some vintage teak benches at auction – some are covered in lichen – and they are sturdy and durable. They blend into the landscape best imho.
My second choice is metal – either cast iron or fermob. The cast iron can get hot though. The fermob is much more lightweight, which is helpful for dining chairs or other pieces you move around. It seems like most retailers only carry a couple lines of it. Bon Marché based in Santa Fe seems to carry it all though if you’re looking for some of the more traditional styles.