Do You Need Outdoor Furniture Covers?

Guide  /  Accessories

Do You Need Outdoor Furniture Covers?

Honestly, not for everything. Here's what actually benefits from one.

Outdoor Furniture Ideas  ·  6 min read

A cover protects fabric and cushioning far more than it protects a solid aluminium frame.

We'll give you the honest answer up front: whether you need a cover depends far more on what the furniture is made of than on how much you paid for it. A powder-coated aluminium dining setting is already built to sit outside uncovered. A rope-woven outdoor lounge with cushioning is a completely different story. Here's how to tell which category your furniture falls into.

No. 01

What Genuinely Needs A Cover

Cushioning, sling fabric and rope weave are the pieces that benefit most from covering. Foam cushioning holds moisture and can develop mildew if it's rained on repeatedly without a chance to fully dry, and even fade-resistant fabric will discolour faster under constant, uninterrupted UV exposure than fabric that gets covered between uses. If your setting includes upholstered cushions, a Boucle-style finish, or a woven rope seat, a cover is a genuinely worthwhile investment.

Powder-coated aluminium frames, UV-stabilised resin chairs and glass or ceramic table tops don't need the same protection. They're engineered to handle direct sun and rain as a baseline, and a cover here is more about keeping dust and bird activity off a setting you use infrequently than protecting the material itself. If your outdoor dining setting is all aluminium and resin and gets used weekly, don't feel obligated to cover it every time you finish a meal.

No. 02

Why The Wrong Cover Can Do More Damage

This is the part most people don't hear until after the fact: a cheap, non-breathable tarp-style cover sealed tightly around furniture that's even slightly damp underneath will trap that moisture rather than let it escape. The result is mould growing inside the cover, on fabric that would have dried out fine if it had just been left uncovered in the open air.

• Look for a breathable, water-resistant fabric rather than a fully waterproof PVC sheet, which is the material most likely to trap condensation.
• Let cushions dry fully before covering after rain, rather than covering wet furniture straight away.
• Remove covers periodically on fine days to let any trapped moisture air out, especially through humid stretches of the year.

No. 03

Fit and Fastening

A cover that's too loose will flap in the wind, chafe against the finish, and eventually work its way off entirely. Too tight, and it can strain seams or stitching over time. Measure your specific setting rather than guessing a size, and prioritise covers with a drawstring, toggle or elastic hem that cinches underneath the furniture rather than relying on weight alone to hold it in place.

For anything near a pool or an exposed balcony where wind is a genuine factor, a cover with dedicated tie-down points is worth the extra cost. It's a small addition compared with the cost of a torn cover, or a cushion that got soaked because the cover blew off overnight.

Buying Once

A Straight Answer

• Cushioned, rope-woven or sling-fabric furniture genuinely benefits from a breathable cover.
• Aluminium, resin and ceramic pieces are already built for direct exposure, cover them for dust and convenience, not protection.
• Whatever you cover, choose breathable fabric and a proper fit over the cheapest tarp you can find.