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