Can my furniture be left outside?

Yes, wicker garden furniture can be left outside but it does depend on the type of wicker you have. 

For example, natural wicker weave or rattan furniture can only be left outside temporarily, as the weather damages it over time, causing the material to crack or split due to excess heat, cold and moisture. Natural rattans and wicker are ideal for inside use or outside for short intervals. They should always brought in during cold or wet weather.

On the other hand, synthetic weave furniture, which is increasingly popular now, is extremely durable, waterproof, and well-suited for outside use. LifestyleGarden®’s unique, responsibly sourced synthetic wicker, Petan® has been developed to provide the highest levels of performance for use in outdoor furniture. It is highly weather-resistant and 100% maintenance free. This means you can happily leave your Petan® furniture outside year-round and won’t have to do more than wipe it with a gentle cloth to remove any dirt to keep it looking as good as new.

Petan® is made from raw polyethylene but boasts a natural colour and feel, so you can experience the beauty of natural wicker but with greater longevity. Only the highest-grade colour pigment is used to ensure maximum colour fastness, which combined with Petan’s exceptional UV resistance, means colours won’t fade.

Aluminium is an extremely hardwearing material and is great for leaving outside, thanks to its rust-resistant properties. The only word of caution is that this fantastic material is quite lightweight, which is a real bonus when it comes to moving pieces around easily but can prove a pain if you live in an exposed, coastal or particularly blustery area because it could mean furniture items get blown around in strong winds.

In this instance, it would be advisable to bring furniture inside if windy weather is on the horizon. If you have stacking chairs, you can put them together to add weight and cover them with a PVC-free cover while securing them with clip-on sandbags to prevent wind lift.

If strong winds are not a factor where you live, aluminium garden furniture can happily stay out year-round without any need for maintenance.

The aluminium LifestyleGarden® uses for its furniture is commonly used for boatbuilding and water-sensitive shore applications, making it the very best choice for products used outdoors. For added protection, all aluminium components and products are coated with Duracoat®, a polymer-based, multi-layer powder coating for effective protection from the weather. This exceptional coating also helps furniture retain its colour year after year. 

Whilst not as robust and maintenance free as aluminium or synthetic weave furniture, hardwood furniture, including eucalyptus and teak, can still stay outside throughout autumn and winter. However, it’s worth noting that its appearance will change over time, with wood forming an aged silver patina. Some people love this look and feel it gives furniture more character but, if you prefer to retain the original golden tones of your wooden furniture, you will need to give it some TLC.

We would advise keeping wooden furniture covered when not in use – particularly during wet or frosty weather – and using a Wood Protector, which helps make wood water repellent and prevents stains. If the wood has been left out and become discoloured and grey, fear not because it can very easily be restored with our Eco Safe Wood Cleaner, followed by a wipe down with a decent Wood Sealer, which nourishes timber, maintains the wood’s natural colour and prolongs it for a long time, thanks to a UV-blocker.

With these tips, you should be able to enjoy your furniture and keep it looking fresher for years to come.