You Can Leave Your Outdoor Furniture Out All Year (If You Follow This)

Let me guess. You are debating on whether to invest in luxury outdoor furniture. You know it looks amazing and would be a great addition to your outdoor space. However, you don't know if it will last for years to come -- let alone know what to do when the weather is less than ideal (wintery cold winters and rainy spring showers).

I'm with you. That's why I did my research and will give it to you for free. I also took it up a notch and found the best brands with high-quality materials and assembled them for you in one place - ahem...Amplify Your Home.

The key when picking your outdoor furniture (patio furniture, lounge, tables, chairs, daybed, etc.) is the material.

Intro to The Most Common Outdoor Furniture Material

• Aluminum: Lightweight and corrosion-resistant metal; Durable and low maintenance; Resistant to rust and fading; Can withstand harsh weather conditions
• Stainless Steel: Durable and corrosion-resistant material; Resistant to rust and fading; Can withstand harsh weather conditions
• Wood: Such as eucalyptus, mahogany, redwood, oak; Durable if properly cared for; Depending on wood material can be resistant to decay
• Teak: Type of wood; Durable and resistant to decay; Warm, golden brown color that will deepen over time
• Cedar: Type of wood; Durable; Known for its natural resistance to rot and decay; Reddish-brown color
• Synthetic Wicker: Made from resin material; More durable and weather-resistant than natural wicker; Resistant to fading and moisture; Can be left outside year-round without coloring or molding
• Natural Wicker: Light and airy; Prone to fading and may not be as durable as other materials
• Rattan: Material from a type of palm that grows in the tropical regions of Africa, Australia, and Asia; Known for flexibility and strength; Can hold up well year-round if properly cared for
• Plastic: Lightweight and affordable; Low maintenance and resistant to moisture; Not as durable as other materials
• Polyethylene: Type of Plastic; Durable and resistant to fading, molding, and moisture; Can hold up well year-round; Relatively lightweight; Can be prone to cracking or breaking if subjected to extreme temperature changes

How To Care for Each Outdoor Furniture Material

• Aluminum: Clean it regularly with mild detergent and a soft cloth; Can polish it periodically to keep it looking shiny and new
• Stainless Steel: Clean it regularly with mild detergent and a soft cloth; Can polish it periodically to keep it looking shiny and new
• Wood: Clean it regularly with mild detergent and a soft brush or sponge; Can treat it with wood oil or a wood protectant to help prevent fading and moisture damage (this is just a general note - each type of wood material may differ)
• Teak: Clean it regularly with mild detergent and a soft brush or sponge; Can treat it with teak oil or a teak protectant to help prevent fading and moisture damage
• Cedar: Clean it regularly with mild detergent and a soft brush or sponge; Can treat it with cedar protectant to help prevent fading and moisture damage
• Synthetic Wicker: Clean it regularly with mild detergent and a soft cloth; Can apply wicker protectant to help keep it looking new
• Natural Wicker: Clean it regularly with mild detergent and a soft cloth; Can apply wicker protectant to help keep it looking new
• Rattan: Clean it regularly with mild detergent and a soft brush or sponge; Can treat it with rattan protectant to help prevent fading and moisture damage
• Plastic: Clean it regularly with mild detergent and a soft cloth; Can apply plastic protectant to help keep it looking new
• Polyethylene: Clean it regularly with warm soapy water and a soft cloth or sponge; Avoid using abrasive cleaning products or harsh chemicals

How Each Outdoor Furniture Material Ranks Up

Depending on your priorities, the outdoor material you are looking for will vary. I did not include an average across all aspects because some people value certain aspects more than others.

Can You Just Use Your Indoor Furniture As Outdoor Furniture?

No! Even if it is covered with an awning or structure, don't take the risk. Indoor furniture is not designed to withstand the outside weather. Exposure to sunlight, rain, snow, and other things coming out of the sky can cause the indoor furniture to fade, crack, or warp. It is not as durable as outdoor furniture materials.

How to Find Great Outdoor Furniture Without Research?

Lucky for you, you stumbled upon Amplify Your Home. We aggregate the best products we can find in the market and show you our analysis. The goal is to make your life easier when finding products that add more YOU to your home.

If there is something you want us to research on, shoot us an email at info@amplifyourhome.com!