Can Outdoor Furniture Stay Outside?

Taking care of your outdoor furniture

There’s no doubt that our New Zealand climate can be hard on outdoor furniture, and it’s also safe to say that most New Zealanders are fans of outdoor living. We tend to design our houses to be as open to the outside as possible, and we create decks and terraces that can be used as outdoor rooms year-round.

So, when choosing outdoor furniture, you may want to consider whether it needs to withstand exposure to sun, rain, and cold all year, or whether you intend to store it away during the worst of the winter weather. This will likely be determined by where in New Zealand you live.

Our patio, deck, and garden furniture is made for the outdoors. We design and manufacture our outdoor furniture to be water-resistant, so as to maintain quality in wetter conditions. That being said, it is still important to cover the cushions during rainstorms and to protect them during the winter months.

Outdoor furniture is quite an investment, and you want to get it right so you don’t have to replace it every other year. At Modern Style, we sell beautiful, weatherproof outdoor furniture that can stay outside. In answer to “Can outdoor furniture stay outside?”, we can have a look at the outdoor furniture we sell.

Is teak good for outdoor furniture?

To clean and restore discoloured, dark grey teak and hardwood, we recommend Golden Care Teak Cleaner. This water-based formula is a high-concentration cleaner with brightener ingredients, so it cleans while bringing back the original colour of new teak or hardwood.

Unlike most other cleaners that require a 2-step process – a separate clean and brighten – you can get it done in one go, using half the time.

After Golden Care Teak Cleaner, a Teak Protector is used to bring the colour back. When it comes to using a reliable product, the Modern Style team recommends and stocks the full Golden Care range.

Does aluminium corrode in the rain?

Aluminium garden furniture is inherently anti-rust. When exposed to the elements, aluminium develops a microscopic layer of oxide on its exterior. It’s this oxide layer that acts as a barrier to prevent it from corroding.

Our aluminium outdoor furniture is highly resistant to cracking or other types of blemishes. They are rust-resistant, an especially good feature for the salty coastal environments throughout New Zealand.

What about rattan furniture?

Our rattan outdoor furniture is water-resistant and made to withstand damaging UV rays. Synthetic rattan is lighter and stronger than natural rattan and is resistant to all weather conditions. Furthermore, it is unlikely to swell, rot or get mouldy. It’s resistant to UV light, preventing colours from fading and the material from becoming brittle and cracking. However, the longevity of your rattan garden set will depend on the quality of fibre used. Cheaper rattan furniture will be weaker than rattan from a brand that invests in quality. We use highly durable Rino Rattan in our range of rattan outdoor furniture that can withstand being left outside all year round.

What if the cushions get wet?

Comfort is just as important outdoors as it is indoors. The whole point of garden furniture is to spend more time lounging and entertaining, and outdoor couches need cushions. In New Zealand, we ask a lot of our outdoor fabrics, and we sell Sunbrella^® because it has proven to be up to the task.

Weatherproof fabric

It is important to note the difference between water-resistant and waterproof cushions. We use weatherproof Sunbrella^® fabric on our outdoor furniture and cushions. Sunbrella^® is treated to withstand moisture, mould, mildew, and the sun’s damaging rays. Thus, our outdoor furniture is weatherproof but not 100% waterproof.

Long-life, all-weather cushions

Cushions made from French Sunbrella^® look great all year round, even when they get left outdoors. These cushions have fibres saturated to the core with highly UV-stable pigments, so they have long-lasting colours that won’t fade or wash out. They can easily last up to a decade, which is twice the lifespan of most other performance fabrics.

Sunbrella feels like an “ordinary” interior fabric, but because it is produced from high-quality synthetic products, it has the longevity and fade resistance of acrylic and the softness and good looks of cotton canvas. Acrylics don’t absorb water; they’re hydrophobic, and the ‘cotton-like’ weave of the fabric means moisture can escape even more easily and the fabric can breathe.

To top things off, a water-repellent finish is then applied to the fabric, and it is specially treated to prevent fungus growth.

Here comes the rain

If your outdoor cushions get wet, it is not a problem. Simply shake them off well and press down on them, or place them on their sides in the sun. The cushions will dry relatively quickly.

What is quick dry foam?

Quick-dry foam is the core foam we use in all our outdoor cushions. When it rains, water goes through the cushion cover and into the inner cushion. The quick-dry foam in the cushion has large open pores for maximum water drainage, air circulation, and a quick drying process.

To learn more about quick-dry-foam, you may be interested in our blog What Is Quick Dry Foam?

Mildew and mould-proof

Built-in anti-microbial protection in the foam prohibits the growth of mould, mildew, and fungus.

Enjoy your outdoor furniture for longer without having to replace cushions, worry about fading fabrics, race around bringing cushions inside and out, need extra cushion storage or do loads of maintenance.

Visit One of Our Showrooms Across New Zealand

Check out your nearest Modern Style outdoor furniture showroom today!

We understand investing in outdoor furniture requires careful consideration, which is why our showrooms have display models for you to experience firsthand. Whether you’re seeking stylish outdoor chairs, luxurious sun loungers, comfortable sofas, or elegant dining furniture, rest assured, we have your needs covered.

Our showrooms are in Rosedale, Auckland; Te Rapa, Hamilton; Tauriko, Tauranga; and Riccarton, Christchurch. Our friendly and helpful team is here to help you find the perfect setting for your space.