Buying patio furniture is a bigger investment than simply choosing a table and a few chairs that look good in the showroom. Utah's intense sun, dry climate, temperature swings, wind, snow, and seasonal moisture can all affect how outdoor furniture looks and performs over time.

Before purchasing your next outdoor furniture set, keep these tips in mind:

1. Buy for Your Climate

Don't assume furniture designed for outdoor use is automatically ideal for Utah. Outdoor furniture can vary significantly in quality, construction, and durability. Look for materials and finishes that are designed to handle intense UV exposure, temperature changes, and seasonal weather.

Materials such as aluminum and teak can be excellent choices for Utah patios when they are properly constructed and maintained. It's also important to consider the quality of the hardware, finishes, frames, and other components—not just how the furniture looks when it's brand new.

2. Prioritize Quality Fabrics

Your cushions and upholstery can take a lot of abuse from the sun. Even when your furniture is under an awning or covered patio, UV exposure can still reach cushions throughout the day.

Look for high-quality outdoor performance fabrics specifically designed for outdoor use. Quality performance fabrics can provide better resistance to fading, moisture, mildew, and everyday wear while also giving you more options for color and style.

If you find a fabric you love, ask about its performance characteristics and how it is expected to hold up in your particular outdoor environment.

At Huish's, we believe the fabric you choose is just as important as the furniture itself. That's why we use only high-performance outdoor fabrics from trusted manufacturers, including Sunbrella, widely considered the gold standard in outdoor fabrics. Sunbrella fabrics are engineered to withstand demanding outdoor conditions while providing excellent resistance to fading, wear, and everyday use. With a wide selection of colors and styles, you don't have to sacrifice appearance for performance—you can have both.

3. Think About Maintenance

Be honest about how much maintenance you're willing to do. Every type of outdoor furniture requires some care, but some materials and finishes require more attention than others.

Think about how often you're realistically willing to clean your furniture, wash cushions, refinish wood, or move pieces during bad weather. If you know you don't want to spend every weekend maintaining your patio furniture, choose materials and fabrics that fit your lifestyle.

It's also worth thinking about what happens when you're not using the furniture. A custom furniture cover can significantly reduce the amount of dirt, dust, and weather exposure your furniture receives between uses.

4. Consider Your Patio's Exposure

Take a close look at where your furniture will actually sit. Think about how much direct sun the area receives, which direction the patio faces, whether it is exposed to wind, and how much rain or snow can reach the furniture.

Two patios at homes only a few miles apart can have very different exposure depending on their orientation, surrounding landscaping, and existing shade structures.

A piece of furniture sitting in full afternoon sun will have different protection needs than furniture located beneath a covered patio. Understanding your patio's specific exposure can help you choose the right materials, fabrics, shade solutions, and protection.

5. Don't Forget the Furniture Layout

Before purchasing your patio furniture, think about how you actually want to use the space. Avoid overfilling your patio with too much furniture, which can make it difficult to walk around, pull out chairs, or comfortably move between different areas. At the same time, don't underestimate how much seating you'll need when family and friends come over. A patio should have enough seating for the people you regularly entertain without feeling crowded.

Start by measuring your available space and thinking about traffic flow. Leave enough room to comfortably walk around tables and chairs, open doors, move between seating areas, and access grills or outdoor kitchens. Consider creating designated areas for dining, relaxing, and entertaining rather than trying to fill every available square foot with furniture. It's easy to fall in love with a large sectional or spacious dining table in a showroom and discover later that it overwhelms your outdoor space.

The goal is to find the right balance: enough furniture to comfortably accommodate your family and guests, with enough open space to move around and enjoy the patio. A well-planned layout will make your outdoor space feel larger, more comfortable, and much more inviting.

Measure your patio before buying. If you're purchasing multiple pieces, consider the entire layout before making your purchase. A well-planned patio should feel comfortable and functional rather than crowded.

6. Think About Winter Storage

Have a plan for your cushions and other pieces during the winter months. Utah winters can bring snow, freezing temperatures, moisture, and long periods when your outdoor furniture isn't being used.

If you plan to store your patio furniture during the colder months, consider whether you have enough space to comfortably store the furniture and cushions while keeping them protected from the elements. If you have adequate indoor storage, bringing cushions inside for the winter can provide excellent protection. But not every homeowner has the space—or the desire—to move and store bulky cushions every year.

That's where durable outdoor materials and custom patio furniture covers can be especially helpful. A properly fitted cover can provide an additional layer of protection when your furniture is sitting unused and help reduce exposure to snow, moisture, dirt, and other elements.

7. Consider Shade

An awning, pergola, or patio cover can make your furniture—and your entire outdoor space—more enjoyable during Utah's summer. Providing shade can reduce direct sun exposure, lower the temperature of your outdoor living area, and make it more comfortable for dining and entertaining.

Shade can also help protect your furniture, but it doesn't completely eliminate exposure to the elements. Depending on the position of the sun, UV rays can still reach furniture underneath an awning or covered patio.

For maximum protection, consider combining a quality shade structure with furniture covers. The shade protects your outdoor living area while you use it, while furniture covers provide additional protection when the furniture is not in use.

8. Protect Your Investment

Once you've found quality patio furniture you love, think about how you'll protect it. Good outdoor furniture is an investment, and protecting it can help you get more years of use from that investment.

Custom furniture covers can help keep cushions and furniture cleaner while reducing exposure to UV rays, dust, moisture, and changing weather. They can be especially useful for furniture that remains outdoors year-round or sits in a semi-protected area such as underneath an awning or on a covered patio.

At Huish's, we make custom covers for virtually any style or brand of patio furniture—even if you didn't purchase the furniture from us. We can create covers for sofas, dining sets, chaise lounges, fire tables, outdoor kitchens, BBQ grills, and more.

The right furniture is only part of creating a great outdoor living space. Choosing quality materials, planning for Utah's climate, providing shade, and protecting your furniture can help you enjoy your patio for many seasons to come.