When you’re trying to create an oasis in your backyard, you need all the right tools and materials. Fabric for patio furniture is an important part of that. A dining area is going to need chair cushions, a seating area might have pillows on a bench, or you might want to add a canopy for some shade covering over the patio itself. Whatever kind of project you’re looking to embark on, you’re going to need the right outdoor patio furniture fabric, and if you don’t know what you’re looking for, you might be feeling a little overwhelmed.

Don’t worry. Here, we’ve got everything you need to think about when you’re selecting outdoor patio furniture fabric. 

Style

This one’s first because you’re looking to upgrade your outside area, not make it uglier! We’ll go over the higher demands on outdoor fabric in later sections. In spite of that increased performance need, though, you shouldn’t have to compromise the aesthetic quality. 

Your patio should suit you and your style. Are you looking for something more trendy or more timeless? Bright and fun or more understated and elegant? Do you want all of your fabrics to be the same, or are you drawn to a more eclectic style? Whatever descriptors speak to you, that’s the direction you should go.

Also think about how any new fabric for patio furniture will blend in with the other decor you already have in your outdoor space. You might end up wanting to refresh your entire yard if you choose outdoor patio furniture fabric that doesn’t go with what you already own! You should also consider every view of your yard when you’re trying to design a space. How will it look through your back windows? What will the neighbors see? 

Easy to Work With

When you’re attempting a DIY backyard upgrade, you want to make sure you’re not biting off more than you can chew. Some fabrics are easier to sew with than others. 

So, think about your skill level when you’re selecting outdoor patio furniture fabric if you’re planning on sewing it yourself. Have you done a project like this before? Do you have all the other tools you’ll need, like a sewing machine? When you’re selecting a pattern from which to create your project, is it appropriate for your skill level? 

As with most upholstery cloth, fabric for patio furniture tends to be on the thicker side. That’s going to make it more difficult to manipulate in some circumstances, but it can’t really be avoided. Start simply and work up to bigger and more difficult projects so that you can get a good feel for what it’s like to work with fabric for patio furniture.

For those of you with lots of experience and advanced skills, this is obviously less of a concern. You likely already know which kids of outdoor patio furniture fabric you like to work with and which ones you’d rather avoid. If that’s the case, move on to the next section.

Durability

It goes without saying, but leaving fabric outside means it has to put up with a lot more than fabric you keep indoors. Sun, rain, wind, etc. We’ll go into specifics about a few of these challenges specific to outdoor patio furniture fabric in the following sections. 

First, though, one general thing to watch out for is fabric that’s known to pill easily. You want to keep your patio furniture looking polished and new for as long as possible, and pilling looks messy.

Now, some people don’t mind having to replace their outdoor throw pillows each season, and they like switching things up with new, trendy prints. These types of folks might be fine with less expensive and less durable fabric for patio furniture, but if you’re looking for something to last, definitely keep an eye out for the following things. 

Mold and Mildew Resistant

When fabric gets wet, it can mildew, and that’s one of the last things you want your guests to notice at your next backyard party. Buying water resistant fabric can help a lot in this area, as well as treating your outdoor patio furniture fabric with waterproofing products. However, if you’re going to go that route, you need to be careful. Test the waterproofing product on a spot on the fabric that won’t be visible. That way, you won’t ruin the whole thing right off the bat if it doesn’t work out. 

The first step is to try to avoid getting your fabric for patio furniture wet — bring it inside when you’re not using it, if possible. But when it can’t be avoided, you should take some simple measures to prevent your cushions and pillows from getting ruined.

Flip cushions over regularly in order to make sure there’s no mildew growing on the hidden underside. And keep in mind that if you do see mildew, you don’t immediately have to throw out the pillow. First, try washing it in a solution of 1 teaspoon of dishwashing detergent, 1 teaspoon of borax, and 1 quart of warm water. Squeeze excess water out, and let it air dry.

Waterproof/Water Repellent/Water Resistant

In the last section, we talked about how water resistant fabric helps prevent mold and mildew. However, when you’re shopping for fabric for patio furniture, you’ll probably also see descriptors like waterproof and water repellent. What’s the difference between these three terms? 

They describe three different levels of water blocking ability. Water cannot penetrate waterproof fabric, but those materials tend to not be very breathable. That lack of breathability sacrifices a lot of comfort for performance, especially on hot and sticky summer days. Fully waterproof textiles are usually not a top choice for outdoor patio furniture fabric for this reason.

So, you should probably look for water repellent or resistant fabrics instead. If water is left on these materials for long enough, then it will sink into the fabric, so they’re not as sturdy as their completely waterproof counterparts. Water repellent fabric makes water bead up on the surface, while water resistant is merely tough enough to withstand light contact with water and will dry quickly. Depending on your needs, either could be a good choice for your next patio refresh. 

UV Protection

The sun’s rays are great, but they will damage your outdoor patio furniture fabric over time. You will see fading and discoloration after several summers. There are, though, fabrics that are built to stand up to tough outdoor conditions. Marine-grade fabric is material that’s created to stand up to the harsh conditions out on the water, and it’s some of the toughest stuff out there. It’s stiffer, more tightly woven, and features a heavier finish than most other fabrics. 

Keep in mind, though, that even the toughest fabrics are not immune to the ravages of time. Everything will eventually fade. If this is a concern for you, consider choosing lighter colored fabric for patio furniture. Darker colors, like navy and black, tend to fade more quickly. There are certain steps you can take to keep your outdoor patio furniture fabric in as good of shape as possible, but if you’re just looking for low-maintenance cloth, the tougher the better. This is especially true of canopies and other fabric coverings.

Even if you do your best to preserve the fabric and choose really tough stuff, you’re going to have to replace it eventually. So, if you prefer a more stylish fabric for patio furniture that’s not going to last all that long, don’t feel too bad about it.

Abrasion Resistance

This is the key metric that first comes to mind when most people think of upholstery fabric durability. Textiles are tested to see how well they can withstand stressors over time to determine their abrasion resistance. One test has a robot arm covered in cloth rubbing the fabric to simulate sitting. Another examines how easy a fabric is to tear by pulling it in different directions. 

For outdoor fabrics, you’re going to want to find a textile that has a high abrasion resistance. These are fabrics that have handled over 30,000 double rubs in that first type of lab test we described. You’ll see these fabrics labeled as “extra heavy duty.” When you select a fabric that can withstand tons of seasons and years of outdoor fun, you’re going to get the most out of your purchase and patio project. Make sure you’re choosing wisely!

Easy to Clean

You’re not going to want to have to worry about keeping your outdoor patio furniture fabric pristine. You’re going to want to enjoy your yard without any nagging thoughts about stains. A comfortable dining area is a great addition to lots of backyard barbecues, but those shindigs come with lots of potential spill liabilities — drinks, sauces, and all kinds of other mess makers. 

Spills are going to happen, especially if kids are involved. So, it’s usually better to focus on making sure cleanups are easy rather than trying to prevent them altogether. Fabric for patio furniture is often built to take a bit of a beating.

Make sure pillow and cushion coverings can be removed, if you can. That often makes the cleaning process easier — you might even be able to just throw it in the washing machine! You might not immediately think of machine washable fabric for patio furniture, but it’s definitely a consideration to keep in mind.

Comfort

With all the tough qualities good fabric for patio furniture needs to have, it might seem like comfort isn’t a main concern. Many people are under the impression that outdoor patio furniture fabric has to be rough, stiff, and uncomfortable in order for it to meet all those other criteria we’ve talked about. It’s not true! You can definitely find fabric that will be comfortable for you and your guests when you’re enjoying your outdoor space. 

The best outdoor living spaces are ones where you can completely relax. The softer the fabric, the easier that will be. So, don’t think you have to settle for rough, scratchy, rigid outdoor patio furniture fabric. There have been lots of improvements to outdoor fabrics over the years. If it’s been a long time since you last shopped for outdoor fabric, you’ll be surprised to see what’s out there today. 

Affordability

Don’t break the bank on outdoor patio furniture fabric! When you’re looking to DIY a few improvements, you’re probably looking to save money, not shell out for super expensive fabrics. You can get all of the other things we’ve listed that you should look for for affordable prices, if you know where to look. 

Check for sales on fabric for patio furniture, of course, and make sure you’re only buying the amount you need. It might be tempting to buy a bunch extra in case of mishaps, and it’s definitely good to leave room for a healthy margin of error, but you don’t want to go overboard. You can save money by only buying the necessary amount of outdoor patio furniture fabric.

Finally, consider buying a remnant. These are precut, leftover pieces that are often sold at a discounted price. You might be able to find a piece of fabric for patio furniture that’s exactly the right size for your project. It’s definitely worth exploring, although the selection might be a bit limited.

Find the Perfect Fabric for Patio Furniture!

Your outdoor area can’t really be a true oasis if you don’t have the right fabric for patio furniture. Now that you know what you’re looking for, though, you’re definitely on the right track. 

You know that you shouldn’t sacrifice too much style or comfort for durability, and you know all the different elements that can degrade your outdoor patio furniture fabric over time. You also know what to look out for to make sure that spills and stains won’t ruin your cushions. To top it all off, you’ve got a few tricks for finding a bargain. You’re ready to get out there and start your project!

Start your journey toward the perfect fabric for patio furniture right here at House Fabric. We’ve got lots of different options for you to choose from.