If you’ve splashed out on a brand new piece of luxury outdoor furniture then don’t spoil its good looks by not taking precautions to properly protect it over the winter months. Sheds are a great option, but not everyone has the space for one so a dedicated outdoor storage box for the cushions or a furniture cover might be a better option. In this edit, we’ll discuss the types of outdoor storage available and how you should look to protect your garden furniture to keep it looking brand new for next summer.

Contents

Is outdoor furniture weatherproof?
Best practices for storing outdoor furniture
Are outdoor storage boxes useful?
Is it worth covering garden furniture?

Choosing a suitably robust piece of outdoor furniture for your garden is worth taking time to consider and buying weather-resistant furniture means you won’t need replacement after replacement. Although garden furniture is designed to be durable, taking extra care to keep your garden furniture suitably protected will extend its lifetime, so storing your pieces indoors or buying a cover that will protect your outdoor seating is another option.

The main antagonists to your outdoor furniture are the weather elements, UV exposure and dust and debris so if you can keep your furnishings protected, clean and ready for use it will reduce the need for excessive maintenance. Some of the most durable garden furniture includes materials like aluminium framed furniture, hardwood furniture & synthetic rattan, these are the materials to look for if you want a long lasting garden furniture piece.

Garden furniture increases your usable outdoor living space but before winter comes you should look to keep your garden tidy and your belongings safely stored or covered to prevent weather damage. So you might be asking yourself what are the best methods to store and secure your garden furniture or BBQ over winter and how you might go about it, here are our top tips for storing outdoor furniture…

1. Secure your furniture down - Garden furniture must be secured to ensure it doesn’t blow around in strong winds. If it is left unsecured, it has the potential to cause damage to you, your property or even the furniture itself. You can secure your garden furniture by arranging it together and covering it with a dedicated furniture cover. Ensure your furniture cover is fixed to the legs to make sure it doesn’t flap around. If you live in a particularly windy area, for added security you could look to add heavy duty straps around your chairs to ensure they stay tucked under the table and don’t get blown away.
2. Clean your garden furniture before storing - Your garden furniture will easily get covered in leaves and grime, so before you cover it up for the winter it is vital that you wash it down. Most pieces of garden furniture can be easily cleaned up by using mild soap and water to wash away any dirt. You should also ensure that it is completely dry before you store it under any protective cover or move it inside.
3. Stop the ageing process with a wood preserver - If you’re lucky enough to own some luxury wooden garden furniture then it’s a good idea to treat it with wood preserver for added protection. If the paint, stain or oil on your wooden furniture is starting to look a little worse for wear then it is time to re-coat the outside layer before the temperatures drop, this way it will remain weatherproof and won’t rot.  
4. Use waterproof furniture covers - Protecting your garden furniture from winter weather by covering it can help prolong the life of your outdoor sofa or dining set and can prevent the need for deeper cleaning down the line. Without a breathable protective cover, your outdoor furniture can quickly gather mould or if it is metal could rust in wet weather. Some of the best quality outdoor furniture is designed to withstand the elements, but it won’t hurt to use a high-quality protective cover to prevent wear and tear.
5. Bring your furniture indoors - One of the great advantages of our outdoor furniture is that it can look just as stylish inside your home as it does in your garden. There is a trend of bringing the outside into your home and you can achieve this and protect your outdoor furniture from the elements at the same time! If you don’t have the space inside your home, then most garden furniture will happily be stored inside a shed or outhouse. Lots of garden furniture pieces, such as folding seats, sun loungers and parasols are collapsable to help reduce their footprint and make storing them easier. If you have furniture that isn’t collapsable then try stacking the chairs to minimise the storage space.

Storage boxes are fantastic for housing garden furniture cushions and stowing general gardening equipment. Outdoor storage boxes are both heavy-duty and weatherproof so they will ensure your soft furnishing and expensive garden tools are protected when they’re not being used. Some of the best outdoor storage boxes are available in aluminium, wooden and plastic materials, each differs in terms of durability, appearance and resistance to the elements.

Aluminium outdoor storage boxes are our top pick, they’re extremely sturdy and secure with lockable features for added security, they are weather-resistant and often come with a powder-coated finish to prevent rust. One point to consider is that aluminium garden boxes can be quite difficult to move, especially the larger metal storage boxes, we like the fact that they’re heavy duty but they’re best being kept in the same spot in your outdoor space. Resin/plastic outdoor storage boxes tend to be excellent at resisting sun, rain and snow, they won’t rust, rot, or peel either making them extremely low maintenance. They are also easy to clean and are also fairly light so they can be moved around the garden with relative ease when compared to metal or wood boxes. One of the only negatives to plastic storage boxes is their appearance, they try to mimic the look and feel of wood or metal boxes but can look less attractive.

Wooden storage boxes and log stores offer a natural and classic look that blends well with outdoor furniture and general garden settings. They offer solid construction, are often able to support heavier loads and can be stained, painted or sealed to match your outdoor decor. You’ll need to apply regular sealing or staining to prevent rot in a wood shed or store from warping so be prepared to put in a little bit of time to maintain your wooden storage box. Wicker cushion boxes are incredibly stylish and blend especially well with outdoor wicker furniture. They’re typically made of resin wicker, which is more durable and resistant to the elements than natural wicker. Wicker storage boxes are relatively light so easy to move around the garden but may fade over time with constant sun exposure.

The items that need storing away in the garden are seemingly endless so we’re regularly asked if covering garden furniture or a barbecue is a viable option. We’re here to tell you that using a cover is a great idea to protect your outdoor furniture but choosing a heavy duty model that is breathable is worth the extra cost. So if storing your garden furniture somewhere dry, secure and free of dampness isn’t an option then a garden furniture cover or BBQ cover might be the only way to ensure your outdoor furniture is well protected.

A garden furniture cover can be a practical solution in winter but there is also the opportunity to use a protective cover if you spot a patch of upcoming bad weather forecast. There are also certain types of outdoor furniture that you may not wish to cover, for example, some hardwood furniture can stay outdoors all year round if you use a good quality stain or wood preserver. Another option is to use a protective cover for the frame of your garden furniture which can stay outside and you can bring the cushion inside as they may need to be kept extra dry.

Overall, protecting your garden furniture with a waterproof cover will help to maintain its original appearance and will ensure your outdoor space looks consistently inviting and well-maintained. Pulling a cover over your furniture overnight and for extended periods throughout the colder months will keep your furniture pieces in excellent condition and should reduce the chance of weather damage or deterioration.