Outdoor living is part of the quintessential Australian lifestyle. An outdoor living space or furniture allows you to enjoy some fresh air and the amazing weather Australia has to offer.

But how does outdoor furniture differ from indoor furniture? The products used to build and recover outdoor furniture are extremely different, as outdoor pieces need to be able to withstand the harsh natural elements, in particular resistance to sunlight, rain, mould and mildew.

Outdoor Foam

A common misconception is that you can use regular foam outside. However this would be a potentially costly and unsafe mistake.

If your cushions will come into contact with any water, (be it rain, spray from the garden hose or exposure to wet swimmers) the correct foam to use is speciality outdoor reticulated foam. Regular indoor foam is like a sponge, it will soak up any water, which will become trapped inside. This can lead to a growth of mould and mildew and cause the foam to deteriorate very quickly. Reticulated outdoor foam -has an open-cell construction, which means it allows water to run through it freely.

Although reticulated outdoor foam is more expensive, using the right product for the application means you won’t need to replace the cushions for a very long time (even if they are left out in the rain)!

Outdoor fabric

For outdoor furniture, it is also important to consider the fabric being used and whether it is appropriate for the application. Specially designed outdoor woven fabrics are engineered to resist fading and mould (often made from Olefin or similar). Alternatively, there are a great range of specific outdoor imitation leather fabrics (Vinyl, PVC and PU) that look like leather but are waterproof, as well as resistant to fading, mould, mildew and are waterproof.

If you would like more information about the right materials to use for your outdoor furniture, please contact us to discuss, visit our Sydney showroom and warehouse, or order online for delivery Australia wide.