The issue of protecting your outdoor furniture when not in use is tricky, particularly in our climate. So how do you keep them dry, secure and in good condition when they’re not being used?

There will always be seasons where your chairs, tables, and other outdoor equipment won’t be used, so what are the best ways to protect them during these periods?

Tarpaulins

A tarpaulin, believe it or not, has a multitude of uses, but their primary purpose is obviously protection, whether from dust, debris, or sun damage. They are, however, also handy for covering cars, bikes, and plants.

Pros and cons of tarpaulin

Pros:

• A tarpaulin is readily available both online and in shops and comes in various sizes.

• They’re cheap. Really all they are is a polythene covering.

• Generally, they’re UV protected and waterproof.

Cons:

• It’s not specifically sized for any one particular piece of furniture so there’s a chance of gapping.

• Covering lots of items at the same time could result in a pool of water on the top of it, which could damage it due to the pressure.

Patio Furniture Covers

Patio furniture covers can be made out of various materials, but aren’t that different from tarpaulins. The main difference is that it’s specifically shaped to go over the furniture neatly.

Pros and cons of furniture covers:

Pros

• Many are designed with an angle to prevent rain from pooling at the top.

• For the most part, they will wrap snugly around individual pieces of outdoor furniture.

• Furniture covers are more structured while a tarpaulin drapes over furniture, preventing water from getting through.

Cons

• Furniture covers are more expensive than tarpaulins and you might have to buy them individually for each piece of furniture.

• There’s no guarantee that the cover will exactly fit your furniture.

• A tarpaulin is more universally usable whereas the patio cover is usually specific to the item it was bought for.

For the more ‘bespoke’ option and, if you can afford it, the patio furniture cover may be the best choice, but with the tarpaulin being a more universal cover it could be the option for you.