As summer comes to an end, it’s time to start thinking about getting your garden ready for the colder months. While you might not be spending as much time outside, your garden furniture still needs a little attention before winter arrives.
Knowing how to store garden furniture for winter can help protect your cushions, keep your furniture looking its best and make getting everything ready for spring much easier.
The good news is, winter garden furniture storage doesn't have to mean bringing everything indoors. With the right preparation and a few simple steps, your outdoor furniture can be well protected throughout the colder months.
Whether you’re storing your cushions away or leaving your furniture outside under covers, here’s what you need to know.
How to prepare your garden furniture for winter
Before you put your garden furniture away or cover it for winter, give everything a little attention first.
After months of use, your outdoor furniture can collect dust, dirt, leaves and other debris. Cleaning everything before storing or covering it means you're not leaving that dirt sitting there throughout the winter.
Start by cleaning your furniture, paying particular attention to the cushions.
How to store outdoor cushions for winter
Outdoor cushions need a little more consideration than the furniture frames themselves.
Before storing your garden cushions, give them a thorough hoover to remove any dirt, dust and debris that has accumulated during the summer.
It's important to make sure your cushions are completely dry before putting them into storage. Storing damp cushions can trap moisture and potentially cause problems while they're not being used.
If possible, bag your cushions before storing them. A suitable storage bag provides an extra layer of protection while the cushions are packed away for winter.
A garden storage box can also be a useful option, particularly if you don't have room to store large cushions indoors.
Where possible, try to keep your cushions off the floor. Even inside a shed, garage or storage area, floors can become cold or damp during winter. Raising cushions off the ground can help minimise their exposure to moisture.
In simple terms, when storing outdoor cushions for winter, remember:
Clean them. Dry them. Protect them. Keep them off the floor where possible.
Should you cover garden furniture in winter?
While aluminium furniture can remain outside, using a suitable outdoor furniture cover can provide additional protection.
A cover can help protect your furniture from everyday outdoor debris such as bird poo, tree sap and dust, meaning there's less cleaning to do when you're ready to use it again.
If your furniture is positioned beneath trees or in an exposed area, a cover can be particularly useful during autumn and winter when falling leaves and wet weather are more common.
However, it's important to remember that simply putting a cover over your furniture isn't the end of the job. How you position the cover matters too.
How to cover garden furniture properly
If you're covering an outdoor sofa or chairs for winter, try to create a peak or tipi shape wherever possible.
Why?
Because you want rainwater to run off the cover rather than sitting on top of it.
Think of the peak as creating a little roof over your furniture. Instead of water collecting in the middle of the cover, the angled surface encourages it to run down the sides.
This is particularly important during periods of heavy rain.
Don't let water pool on your furniture cover
One of the biggest mistakes you can make when covering garden furniture is allowing water to pool on top.
If your cover is flat, rainwater can collect in the middle. As more water gathers, the weight can cause the cover to sag, creating an even deeper dip.
This can put unnecessary pressure on the furniture and the cover itself.
If enough water collects, it can eventually seep through the stitching.
So whenever you're putting a cover over your outdoor sofa or chairs, take a moment to check the shape. Create a peak where possible and make sure water has somewhere to run off.
It's a small step, but an important one when protecting your garden furniture through a wet British winter.
What should you avoid when storing garden furniture?
There are a few simple mistakes worth avoiding when preparing your outdoor furniture for winter.
Don't store damp cushions
Always make sure cushions are completely dry before putting them into bags or enclosed storage.
Don't leave cushions directly on the floor
If possible, raise cushions off the ground to reduce their contact with potentially damp surfaces.
Don't allow water to collect on furniture covers
Check your covers after heavy rainfall and adjust them if necessary. A peak or tipi shape can help encourage water to run off.
Don't forget about your furniture once it's covered
Furniture covers provide useful protection, but it's still worth checking them occasionally throughout winter.
After particularly heavy rain or strong winds, check that the cover is still sitting correctly and that water isn't collecting anywhere.
A little preparation goes a long way
Storing garden furniture for winter doesn't have to mean moving everything indoors or completely packing away your outdoor space.
For cushions, the key things to remember are clean them, make sure they're dry, protect them and keep them off the floor where possible.
For aluminium furniture frames, they can remain outside, while a suitable cover can help protect them from the everyday dirt and debris that comes with winter weather.
And when you do cover your furniture, remember one simple rule: don't let water pool on top.
Create a peak or teepee shape wherever possible, encourage the rain to run off and check your covers occasionally throughout the winter.
A little preparation now can mean much less to worry about when spring comes around.
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