The Best Patio Furniture for Desert Climates

After repeated exposure to the sun’s rays, unprotected finishes and fabrics can fade. This means your bright red lawn chairs may eventually end up a sad shade of pink. Additionally, damaging sunlight can weaken the material fibers, causing brittleness and breakage.

Seek sun-resistant patio furniture that repels UV rays. Genuine POLYWOOD™ lumber, for example, is made with ColorStay™ technology that guarantees maximum UV protection for outdoor furniture and color retention—even on the sunniest Southwestern patios.

As anyone who's ever tried to sit on a metal chair on a hot, sunny day can attest, furniture left in the sun for a long time can be too toasty to use. This is especially true in desert areas that experience intense sun exposure. 

Any material left in direct sunlight for prolonged periods can become hot to the touch, including wood, aluminum, and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). So instead of searching for furniture that won’t overheat in the sun, seek preventive measures. 

Try these solutions:

• Use fade-resistant outdoor cushions and umbrellas to shade your furniture and minimize heat buildup. 
• Use protective covers to shield your furniture from overheating when not in use. 
• Shop for outdoor furniture materials with low heat retention, such as HDPE or wood. 
• Select pieces in light shades, as darker colors tend to retain more heat. 
• Position your furniture in covered areas. Think lanais, gazebos, retractable awnings, and sun shade sails.

Fluctuating temperatures can negatively affect your patio set, especially if it’s made with porous wood or natural wicker. Sweltering days cause absorbed water molecules to move faster and spread out, which makes the material grow. The shift to cooler nights slows the molecules and bunches them together, which shrinks the material. This constant expansion and contraction can lead to warping and cracking over time.

Avoid this issue by opting for desert patio furniture designed with non-porous materials, like powder-coated aluminum or HDPE.

Arid climates are dusty, so outdoor furniture collects dirt quickly. Plus, there aren't many trees in the desert to act as natural windbreaks. This gives strong winds the freedom to blow your bistro set off your deck if it's lightweight and not securely anchored.

The best patio furniture for desert climates is heavy-duty and built with durable, low-maintenance materials. Our HDPE lumber resists messes common to desert living. A simple scrub with soapy water at the beginning of the season and an occasional wipedown with a damp cloth are all that’s needed to keep your furniture looking fresh.

Deserts aren't known for rainy weather, but if you live in Arizona, New Mexico, or Texas, you're familiar with monsoon season in late summer, leading to major climate changes in these ordinarily dry areas. Lightweight, fragile, or unprotected furniture doesn't stand a chance against the harsh weather. 

You’ll want build-to-last furnishings that won’t need to be replaced or repaired every season. POLYWOOD furniture, crafted with ClimateTuff™ materials, can handle the most fearsome forecast. 

We engineer our Genuine POLYWOOD™ lumber and marine-grade quality hardware to perform beautifully in any climate. Increased humidity, thunderstorms, and hail won’t damage our products, even when left outside year after year. It’s an investment that saves you time, money, and worry.