What Garden Furniture Can Stay Out All Year?

Garden furniture often bears the brunt of harsh weather conditions, from strong winds to heavy rain, so choosing all-weather outdoor furniture is important for longevity. It’s no fun to finally get your table and chairs out when spring and summer arrive, only to realise that they haven’t withstood the winter elements as well as you’d hoped. 

So as well as looking for a design that looks great, take into account how well your furniture will last when the rain, wind and snow are thrown at it. Let us walk you through the best garden furniture to leave outside and some key things to do to keep it in top condition all year round.

Material Matters: What Is The Most Durable Type Of Outdoor Furniture?

The first thing we tend to do is look for pieces we love the look of, but the aesthetic isn’t the only factor to consider when choosing the right garden furniture. With so many different types of outdoor furniture materials to consider, it can be difficult to understand which one can withstand all weathers but worry not – at Robert Dyas, we’re here to help with advice from our in-house Garden Guru and outdoor furniture expert, Rich Redman.

Synthetic rattan garden furniture is excellent at withstanding harsh weather conditions. Strong and durable, it’s available in an array of neutral colours to complement every garden aesthetic.

It’s often made with aluminium frames which prevents the rust that can affect steel frames, and has the added benefit of being lightweight, making the furniture easy to move around. Synthetic rattan is tough and weatherproof – even in harsh winds – whereas real rattan (the same as natural wicker) isn’t, so be sure to choose the man-made variety if it's weatherproofing you’re most concerned about.  

Given that this type of furniture tends to be lightweight thanks to the (usual) aluminium framing, it can be blown about in strong winds which could damage your garden. Our Garden Guru, Rich, recommends stopping this happening by storing it in a shed, but if this isn’t possible, tie it to a wall or post with a rope or bike chain, or use an outdoor furniture cover and keep it secure with bricks or large stones. Either way, we always recommend a furniture cover to prevent any fading of colours due to rain and sunlight, so it’s worth using them in the summer months too. 

Specific types of wood make good outdoor furniture that can be left outside: Teak is the best as it’s the strongest and most able to withstand the elements, while eucalyptus is a close second, such as this popular eucalyptus garden bench. It’s best to opt for hardwoods like these rather than softwoods like pine and cedar as they’re much more durable. However, the sun will eventually cause the wood to discolour if left outside, and the rain and snow will cause the wood to rot or crack over time, so it’s always a good idea to use wood treatments, such as oils and sealants, which can prevent damp and rot. If you regularly treat it every year and store it away for winter, or use furniture covers, you can expect your wooden garden furniture to last for decades. 

Cast aluminium is a strong choice for all-weather outdoor furniture, especially if it has a powder-coated finish to prevent rust. It’s a very durable and low-maintenance option, lightweight for moving around easily and doesn’t heat up quite as much as other metal garden furniture, making it more comfortable to sit on in the summer months. For very hot days, you can solve the problem of heat build-up with garden cushions which have the added benefit of giving your garden a pop of colour if you choose a bright design.  

Plastic or resin garden furniture is a great budget option but needs some attention to stay looking good – namely, being stored away in winter and covered in summer. Sunlight causes coloured plastic to fade, while white plastic can get very dirty if left outside which, though easily remedied with a little soapy water and a sponge, is an inconvenience that could be avoided with other types of furniture. It’s also very lightweight so will get blown around in strong winds, potentially leading to damaged fences or pots, so it’s best to store it away in a garage or shed in bad weather. If you don’t have one of these, a garden storage box will work just as well.

Plastic has got a bad rep recently and is often labelled as not eco-friendly, so if you’re worried about the use of fossil fuels in creating the plastic, at Robert Dyas we have an array of recycled plastic furniture options that will help keep your garden as kind to the planet as possible. 

While rattan and aluminium are ultimately the best weatherproof garden furniture types, it’s important to cover your outdoor furniture in the winter months and during periods when it’s not in use. This will help to stop the sunshine from discolouring it and prevent wet weather from causing rot, rust or mould. There are garden furniture covers available for all types and shapes of furniture, from L-shaped sofa sets to swing chairs, so you can keep your tables and chairs protected no matter what type they are. 

Another thing you should do is treat your garden furniture according to its material. If given the right treatment regularly, you’ll have a great-looking piece for years to come and will ultimately make your money go a lot further.

So when choosing the best garden furniture to leave outside, bear in mind covers, storage and regular treatment to make sure you get the most out of it. It’s ultimately about what best suits your space, so have a browse for something that looks great and ticks the boxes for you, and enjoy year after year of satisfaction.