Solution dyed acrylic is the best fabric for outdoor furniture, with solution dyed olefin as the strongest value alternative. Both hold their colour under sunlight because the pigment is added while the fibre is still in liquid form, so it runs through the whole strand rather than sitting on the surface. Below those two, polyester coated with a water repellent finish is acceptable for occasional use, and textilene or mesh is the practical choice for sling seating that needs to dry within minutes.
The single most useful thing to understand is the difference between solution dyed and piece dyed fabric. Everything else, from weave density to water repellency, is secondary to how the colour got into the fibre.
In piece dyed fabric, the cloth is woven first and then dipped in dye. The colour coats the outside of each fibre. Sunlight breaks down that surface colour, and abrasion wears it away, so fading shows quickly and unevenly.
In solution dyed fabric, pigment is mixed into the liquid polymer before the fibre is extruded. The colour is part of the fibre for its entire depth. Cut a strand in half and the centre is the same shade as the surface. The result is fabric that keeps its colour for years of exposure rather than months, and that can be cleaned aggressively without the colour lifting.
British summers are not especially harsh, but ultraviolet exposure is cumulative and our furniture often stays outside from spring to autumn. Over three or four seasons the difference between the two dye methods becomes very obvious.
Acrylic is the fabric used in most higher specification garden furniture and outdoor awnings. It resists ultraviolet light, dries relatively quickly, does not encourage mildew growth in itself and feels closer to an indoor upholstery fabric than any other outdoor option.
That last point is worth emphasising. Cheaper outdoor fabrics often feel stiff and plasticky. Good acrylic has a soft handle and a visible texture, which is why it looks convincing on garden sofas and lounge seating where you want the space to feel like an outdoor room.
It is the most expensive of the mainstream options. Where budget is limited, the sensible approach is to specify acrylic on the pieces that stay out longest and take the most sun, and use something less costly on occasional seating.
Look for fabric described explicitly as solution dyed acrylic. Vague terms such as weatherproof fabric or outdoor textile usually indicate a lower specification.
Olefin, also known as polypropylene, is the value choice and it performs better than its price suggests. Solution dyed olefin resists fading well, dries quickly, repels water reasonably and stands up to mould and mildew.
Its weaknesses are heat and abrasion. Olefin has a lower melting point than acrylic, so it should be kept away from barbecues, fire pits and stray cigarettes. It is also slightly less resistant to heavy wear, though for domestic garden use that rarely matters.
For a family garden where cushions take a hard life and may need replacing every few years anyway, olefin is often the more rational purchase. It gives most of the colour retention benefit at a considerably lower cost.
Polyester is the most common fabric on budget garden furniture. Standard polyester is piece dyed and treated with a water repellent finish, and it looks good when new.
The problems appear with exposure. Colour fades, particularly in strong or dark shades, and the water repellent coating wears off with cleaning and abrasion. Once the coating has gone the fabric absorbs water readily, which slows drying and creates conditions for mildew.
Polyester is not without a role. For cushions that live in a shed and come out for occasional use, or for a sheltered balcony that gets little direct sun, it performs perfectly adequately and costs far less. Just do not expect it to survive several seasons of permanent outdoor life.
If you do buy polyester, choose lighter and mid tone colours, which show fading far less than navy, black or bright red.
Textilene is a woven mesh of PVC coated polyester yarns, used for sling chairs, sun loungers and stackable seating. It is not a cushion fabric: it is the seating surface itself, stretched over a frame.
Its advantage is drainage. Rain passes straight through, so a sling chair is usable within minutes of a shower rather than hours. It also cleans easily with soap and water and resists mould because it holds almost no moisture.
The trade off is comfort. Mesh has no padding, so it suits loungers and dining chairs more than lounge seating where you want to sink in. It can also stretch over time, which is normal, and better quality mesh has less of this. For outdoor garden sun loungers UK sale designs it is the most sensible surface available.
Untreated cotton canvas has an appealing look and it is comfortable, but it is not an outdoor fabric. It absorbs water, dries slowly, fades fast and grows mould. Left out through a wet week it will develop mildew stains that do not wash out.
Acrylic coated canvas is a different proposition and can be used for parasols and windbreaks, where the fabric dries in a vertical position and is packed away between uses.
The sensible approach with natural fibres is to treat them as accessories rather than upholstery. A cotton throw or a set of cushion covers that come out for an afternoon and go back indoors afterwards is fine. Anything that stays out overnight should be synthetic.
People focus on the fabric and forget what is inside, yet the filling is what determines whether a cushion dries or rots.
Reticulated quick dry foam has an open cell structure with interconnected voids. Water passes straight through and air moves freely, so a soaked cushion is dry in hours. Standard closed cell upholstery foam behaves like a sponge: it holds water for days, and a damp interior with a dry surface is exactly the condition mildew needs.
Look for covers with a corrosion resistant zip so they can be removed and dried separately, and ideally small mesh vents on the underside of the cushion to help air circulate.
Even with the right foam, cushions last considerably longer if they are stored indoors when not in use. A cushion box, a shed or a corner of the garage is worth organising, and options within outdoor garden storage UK sale ranges make the habit far easier to keep.
Manufacturers describe fabric in varying detail, so a few pointers help.
Fibre and dye method should both be stated: solution dyed acrylic, solution dyed olefin, coated polyester. If only water resistant or weatherproof is mentioned, assume the lower specification.
Look for a ultraviolet or lightfastness rating where available. Higher figures on a standard scale indicate better colour retention under sun exposure.
Water repellency is usually described as a finish rather than waterproofing. Almost no upholstery weight outdoor fabric is fully waterproof, because it needs to breathe. Repellent means water beads and runs off rather than soaking in immediately.
Check whether replacement covers are available. Fabric will always need replacing before frames do, and furniture supported by spare parts represents better long term value. We supply modern outdoor and indoor furniture at Furniture in Fashion, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes, and returns are available up to 30 days.
Consider how your garden is actually used before specifying.
A south facing terrace in full sun for most of the day is the most demanding environment for colour retention, so solution dyed acrylic is the choice that will still look right in five years.
A shaded courtyard or a covered balcony puts far less strain on the fabric, and olefin or even good polyester will be adequate.
A family garden needs cleanability above all. Choose fabrics that can be scrubbed with mild soap, in mid tones that hide marks, with removable covers.
For lounge seating where you sit for hours, prioritise the softer handle of acrylic. For dining chairs used for shorter periods, mesh or a slimmer olefin pad is perfectly comfortable and dries faster. Our modern outdoor garden dining sets UK sale range shows the different approaches applied to dining seating.
Regular light cleaning does more good than occasional heavy cleaning. Brush loose dirt off before it works into the weave, then wash with warm water and a mild soap using a soft brush. Rinse thoroughly, because soap residue attracts dirt.
For mildew on solution dyed acrylic, a dilute bleach solution can be used safely, since the colour is integral to the fibre. Never do this on piece dyed polyester, which will lose colour immediately.
Let fabric dry fully in air, ideally standing cushions on edge so both faces are exposed. Never put outdoor cushions in a tumble dryer.
Avoid pressure washers on upholstery fabric: they drive water through the repellent finish and can damage the weave. Reproofing sprays can restore repellency on polyester and are worth applying at the start of each season.
Solution dyed fabric has pigment added to the fibre while it is still liquid, so the colour runs all the way through. Piece dyed fabric is coloured after weaving, leaving the dye on the surface where sunlight and abrasion remove it far more quickly.
For furniture in constant sun or for lounge seating where comfort matters, yes. Acrylic has a softer handle and better resistance to heat and abrasion. For sheltered spots or cushions replaced every few years, olefin gives most of the benefit for less.
Occasionally, if they use reticulated quick dry foam and a solution dyed cover. Standard upholstery foam holds water for days and will develop mildew, so storing cushions under cover remains the better habit.
On solution dyed acrylic, a dilute bleach solution followed by a thorough rinse works well. On polyester, use mild soap and water only, since bleach will strip the surface dye.
Mid tone neutrals such as stone, taupe and soft grey show fading least, whatever the fibre. Deep navy, black and bright red are the most likely to shift visibly, particularly in piece dyed polyester.
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