6 Important Ways to Protect Your Outdoor Furniture
As weather conditions cool down, here’s how to ramp up the protection of your outdoor furniture.
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Over time, the weather (good or bad) can do some serious damage to your outdoor furniture. As the warmer days start to taper off and we enter into a new season, here’s how to prepare your outdoor furniture for the cooler months ahead.
Outdoor Furniture Protection Tips
While most outdoor furniture features weather-resistant materials like durable aluminum and UV-rated fabric, they can still be affected by the elements if left unprotected for long periods of time. Here are some easy ways to protect your outdoor furniture throughout the year.
- Watch the weather
- Cover your furniture
- Store it in the shade
- Stain your outdoor furniture
- Put your pillows away
- Choose wind resistant furnishings
One of the key things you can do to protect your outdoor furniture and furnishings is pay attention to local weather conditions. Whether you download an app, keep an eye on the nightly news or tune into a local radio station, it’s a good idea to make a habit of knowing the forecast. That way, you’ll be aware of any potentially damaging conditions, including high UV, strong winds, heavy rains, hail or storms.
The easiest way to look after your alfresco furnishings is to cover every item with outdoor furniture covers. Covers are widely available from a range of hardware and furniture stores, designed to offer protection from the wind, rain and sun. For an affordable alternative, a water resistant tarpaulin will also offer adequate protection.
An outdoor umbrella or shade in the form of a patio/backyard awning can make the world of difference when it comes to preserving the life of your furniture. The shade will protect any outdoor settings from harsh UV light/rain and the damage they can cause over time.
We recommend installing retractable awnings (also known as folding arm awnings). These awnings are fixed to the side of a building to provide instant shelter from sun, rain and even hail. However, if the wind picks up or if the rain is heavier than usual, they should be folded away. You can find more tips on caring for your outdoor blinds and awnings here.
There are plenty of choices when it comes to outdoor wood furniture, but it’s important to select types that are more durable than most (e.g., teak, eucalyptus or cedar). But, regardless of the type of wood you have, an easy way to protect it and make it look great is to lightly sand it back and then apply a protective oil or stain every few months. Choose from a wide range of different colours and finishes to match your outdoor setting or even go for a different look.
This tip is simple to do but very easy to forget! To protect any outdoor pillows, cushions or throw rugs, try and keep them undercover when the winter months roll around (or if a summer storm is approaching). You could keep them inside the house or even add some outdoor storage specifically for this purpose.
Out of all of the outdoor blinds that we offer, we would strongly recommend Windmaster blinds or Alpha M blinds. These blinds have been specially built for windy conditions, with features that help to minimise fabric movement and reduce noise. But while these durable blinds are great for withstanding windier conditions, be mindful that they still need to be rolled up during extreme weather.
Like to learn more about water resistant blinds and awnings for your outdoor area? Give us a call us on 13 13 15, visit one of our Perth showrooms or arrange a free measure and quote with a highly-trained consultant in your own home.
All of our blinds, curtains and awnings are made in Australia and are sold for the lowest prices in the market, guaranteed. Just bring in a quote on any competitor’s comparable item and we’ll beat it by 5%!