Soft, weatherproof garden furniture might not seem like the most durable choice – especially here in the UK. But it can be, and I’ve spent the last decade perfecting it.
When visiting the USA in 2012, I was introduced to luxury fabric outdoor furniture – so soft and comfortable I’d be happy to use it in my living room but durable enough to be left outside all year exposed to the elements. I was inspired to perfect my own soft outdoor furniture range specifically for the British climate.
I certainly never considered it until a trip to the USA in 2012: I was introduced to stylish fabric furniture, that I’d be happy to have in my living room, but could be left outside all year in the sunshine and rain.
Understandably people are surprised at how a cushioned garden sofa can survive the rain, and a bean bag not turn soggy.
Below I’ve answered the 16 most common questions I hear, alongside real customer experiences.
If you have any questions please get in touch with me or come and visit us at our new showroom in Hawkhurst, Kent.
Armadillo Sun is the UK specialist in outdoor fabric furniture and garden bean bags. Its range of weatherproof garden seating and outdoor cushions are handmade from premium, high-performance fabric in the Kent countryside. Order Armadillo Sun luxury outdoor furniture online or book a visit to its showroom in Hawkhurst, Kent.
16 questions answered on fabric garden furniture
1. Can outdoor fabric furniture be left outside? ⇒
2. Can soft garden furniture get wet? ⇒
3. How quickly does fabric furniture take to dry? ⇒
4. How much maintenance does outdoor fabric furniture need? ⇒
5. Is soft garden furniture as comfortable as it looks? ⇒
6. How does the weatherproof fabric on outdoor furniture feel? ⇒
7. How easy is it to get up out of a garden bean bag? ⇒
8. Is fabric outdoor furniture 100% waterproof? ⇒
9. How do I clean outdoor fabric furniture? ⇒
10. Will fabric garden furniture go mouldy? ⇒
11. How long will fabric garden furniture last? ⇒
12. What is the best material for outdoor furniture by the beach? ⇒
13. How heavy is bean bag garden furniture? ⇒
14. Can I choose the fabric for my garden furniture? ⇒
15. Will I need to assemble my fabric outdoor furniture? ⇒
16. How often do the beads in bean bag garden furniture need replacing? ⇒
1. Can outdoor fabric furniture be left outside all year?
Yes, it can! Armadillo Sun garden furniture is designed to be left outdoors in sun, rain, or snow.
Made from high performance technical fabric – invented to meet the tough requirements of the marine industry – it will withstand high levels of UV, as well as seawater, chlorinated water, and rain.
"Really lovely cushions and they've genuinely withstood all weathers." ~ Erica (Outdoor Cushions, Luxury Summer Stripe)
Outdoor fabric sofas and garden loungers from Armadillo Sun do not have a hard frame. Instead they are filled with premium non-absorbent polystyrene beads. With no metal to rust or wood to rot, bean bag outdoor furniture does not need special maintenance – it can be left outside in all weathers with just a wipe-down, or jet-wash, come summer to remove surface dirt and winter debris.
Find out more about garden sofa cushions that can be left outside in the rain >>
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Armadillo Sun sofa cushions, custom-made to fit an existing sofa, are undamaged by a thick layer of snow. Despite being left out in all weathers, the outdoor cushions do not rot or deteriorate and, after a jet-wash in the spring, look fabulous for summer!
2. Can soft garden furniture get wet?
Yes, all Armadillo Sun soft garden furniture is happy to get wet and can be left outside in the rain.
As a bespoke request, we have even made a lounge chair specifically for use in a swimming pool!
The outdoor fabric of Armadillo Sun furniture is made from woven threads of solution-dyed acrylic or olefin, known for durability, fade-resistance, and colourfastness. Water beads and runs off the surface without causing damage.
The inner foam padding of garden sofa cushions takes a long time to dry out – even if the outer fabric is dry to the touch – resulting in an uncomfortable, squelchy sitting experience.
Instead, we fill our upholstered outdoor sofas and garden bean bags with premium polystyrene beads which do not absorb water.
Liquid, whether from a spill or a heavy rainshower, runs straight through Armadillo Sun furniture without leaving it soggy.
"It's a very comfy seat and does not go mossy or green when left out in the damp." ~ Armadillo Sun customer describing their garden bean bag chair.
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3. How quickly does fabric outdoor furniture take to dry?
Armadillo Sun garden furniture dries very quickly. On a sunny spring day, if you've been caught in a seasonal rain shower, you’ll be back outside and sitting comfortably within five minutes. On a wintery day, or if humidity is very high, then it might take a little longer for surface water to evaporate – a wipe with a cloth will speed up the drying process.
"Comfortable, versatile, and looks great in the garden. It really does dry as quick as they said!" ~ Sue K. (Fabric Garden Sofa Set)
Droplets of rain bead on the hydrophobic surface of Armadillo Sun outdoor fabric sofas. The water slides off, rather than being absorbed, allowing the material to dry quickly – and you to get back to sitting and relaxing!
Armadillo Sun fabric garden furniture dries rapidly because of two key elements of the premium materials we use:
(1) Marine-grade fabric that repels water – the outer material of our garden seating is naturally hydrophobic: water beads and runs off the surface of the fabric, rather than soaking it. If it pools in the seat of the outdoor sofa chair or bean bag, a quick shake sends the water sliding off.
(2) Premium bead filling that does not absorb water – if any water does get through the weave of the outer material it flows straight through the outdoor sofa chair or garden bean bag. The bead filling does not absorb a drop of water!
The inner bead filling also promotes the free circulation of air around and through your fabric garden seating. This ensures the material dries quickly and thoroughly.
Getting caught in a rainshower at a fair or event is not a problem when showcasing Armadillo Sun furniture – we shook the pooled water off this bean bag, gave it a minute, and it was ready for customers to sit on!
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4. How much maintenance does outdoor fabric furniture need?
Armadillo Sun garden furniture is soft and comfortable but does not require annual maintenance.
There is no need to add a preservative, sealant, or any other protective coating to the outer fabric – it is highly durable and water resistant without additional products.
Armadillo Sun outdoor sofas and garden bean bags have no inner frame so there is no wood to rot, metal to rust, or plastic to perish.
We suggest winter covers for your garden furniture to make it quick and easy to have your seats ready to enjoy in spring: whip off the cover (and the soggy leaves and muck) and you are ready to relax!
Discover the three steps to getting garden furniture ready for winter >>
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5. Is soft garden furniture as comfortable as it looks?
Our bestselling product is the Armadillo Sun outdoor bean bag because it is so comfortable.
"It is the most comfortable chair that I have and I use it every day. When my friends visit they often ask to sit on it!" ~ Virginia P. (Garden Bean Bag Chair)
The premium bead filling in our bean bags is used also in Armadillo Sun outdoor fabric sofas and luxury cushioned sun loungers. It ensures our garden furniture is suitable for all-weathers, but also incredibly comfortable.
The lounging experience is different from hard metal garden chairs, or the foam-filled cushions on a standard sectional sofa. With beans that mould around your body, this outdoor furniture is lovely to sit on, and would be a respectable addition to any living room too.
We pride ourselves on the quality of our materials and the beans we use hold their shape and stay supportive.
"I broke my back six years ago and this is by far the most comfortable seat I have come across since. The support is excellent!" ~ James H. (Bean Bag Chair)
We don’t use interior bags within the furniture because, in our experience, they encourage uncomfortable clumps and lumps. Instead we allow the beans to flow freely around inside the furniture so that it moulds around you.
Find out about the best shape for a bean bag and why they’re the comfiest chairs you’ll ever sit on >>
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6. How does the weatherproof fabric on outdoor furniture feel?
Outdoor fabric furniture needn’t look shiny and crunchy – or feel stiff and plasticky to sit on. It can be soft, textured, and inviting – woven into detailed patterns and in the perfect array of colours.
Order a full set of Armadillo Sun outdoor fabric samples to feel the material for yourself and choose the design best for your home. Or come and sit on our furniture at our show room in Kent.
Discover more about the best fabric for outdoor furniture >>
Outdoor fabric that doesn't look or feel like outdoor fabric – but can still stay out in all weathers!
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7. How easy is it to get up out of a garden bean bag?
Are you wondering: 'if I sit down into a garden bean bag, will I ever get back up again?!'
Let me dispel concerns that these are like the saggy bean bags of the 70s – our furniture is filled generously with the highest quality beads for firm support and structure.
"Comfy and easy to get in and out of" ~ Meriel N. (Garden Bean Bag).
It isn't that you can’t get up, it’ll simply be that you won’t want to get up!
If you’d like to give any of our furniture the 'sit-test' then please come and visit the Armadillo Sun showroom in Hawkhurst, Kent. We also take up a stand at RHS Chelsea Flower Show – join our newsletter to be the first to know (and we often have tickets to give away too.)
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8. Is fabric outdoor furniture 100% waterproof?
For soft outdoor furniture and garden cushions to be fully waterproof requires a plastic or rubberised layer on the underside of the fabric and a protective coating on the surface. This blocks water, but it also blocks air circulation – and is why your skin sticks unpleasantly to some outdoor cushions. (Think of a waterproof mac and how that feels on your skin when the sun comes out.)
A better, and more comfortable solution, is:
(1) water-repellent fabric that encourages water to bead and run off its surface; and
(2) a non-absorbent inner material that water can run straight through, maintaining air circulation and encouraging quick drying.
So, no, we ensure that Armadillo Sun fabric garden furniture is not 100% waterproof, but instead quick-drying, rot-free, and 100% gloriously comfortable.
Find out why you don’t want your garden cushions to be waterproof >>
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9. How do I clean outdoor fabric furniture?
It’s best not to put the covers of your garden furniture in the washing machine – and you don’t need to either! The fabric is stain and mould resistant, so a cloth, water, and mild detergent is all you need to wipe it clean.
If your fabric garden sofa or sun lounger has been out all winter simply jet wash it clean from the mud and seasonal debris. It’ll look like new! I do mine at the same time as my patio paving to get ready for garden-party season.
I’m all for a life where you can enjoy your garden more – rather than spending time prepping and cleaning – so here are my three shortcuts to a speedy garden makeover.
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10. Will fabric garden furniture go mouldy?
The outdoor fabric we use is resistant to mould. However, it might still grow on old unwiped stains. The easiest thing to do is give your fabric furniture a jet wash to return it to its former glory.
Take a look at the video below to see how we quickly spruce up our outdoor sofa cushions after a winter left outdoors.
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11. How long will fabric garden furniture last?
"I've used my bean bag loungers for over 6 years and they still look as good as the day I bought them" ~ Armadillo Sun customer (Outdoor Bean Bag Loungers)
Armadillo Sun fabric furniture is made from woven acrylic or polyolefin yarn that is solution-dyed, rather than piece-dyed. This means that the yarn is coloured all the way through – like the orange of a carrot – and doesn't just sit in a thin layer on the surface – like the green skin of a cucumber.
The result is resort-level UV resistance, and colour and pattern that will not fade or rub off.
The fabric comes with a 5-year manufacturer guarantee against fade and rot too, for greater peace of mind.
"The quality of the fabric and its vibrant colour has been a talking point amongst my family and friends." ~ Alison H. (Weatherproof Pouffe, Sigma Paprika)
This fabric also has a high abrasion resistance so won’t scratch, even when used on a gravel patio.
Plus, we handmake all our products with high attention to detail and secure overlocked seams. We do offer a 2-year guarantee for any issues on stitching, but you’ll see from our reviews that this is not something we rely on!
"So comfortable and looks amazing in my garden. The stitching and material are of the highest quality – just perfect!" ~ Olga W. (Cushioned Sun Lounger)
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12. What is the best material for outdoor furniture by the beach?
The fabric used to make the outdoor furniture and bean bag loungers at Armadillo Sun has been approved by the marine industry for durability and stands up strong to saltwater.
Plus, our outdoor fabric furniture does not have an inner frame – so there is no chance of your sun lounger rusting or rotting!
Due to its colourfastness and resistance to deterioration, our customers choose our outdoor fabric furniture for their boats and yachts. We custom make cushions to fit, and add penny weights to the bottom of bean bag loungers to stop them blowing off deck.
Why a bean bag chair makes a sturdy, comfortable lounger at the beach >>
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13. How heavy is bean bag garden furniture?
One of the benefits of soft garden furniture with a bead filling is that it is lightweight – for example, the Armadillo Sun Luxury Sun Lounger is 7kg and about half the weight of a traditional sun lounger. It can be moved and rearranged easily - without compromising your back.
Whether you want to be able to follow the sun around your garden, or change-up your patio to host different events, bean bag furniture is flexible and versatile.
"The most comfortable seats... one of the best purchases we've ever made! I love that they're so light, I carry them around the garden to follow the sun." ~ Roanna C. (Fabric Garden Sofa Chairs)
All our garden bean bags, cushioned loungers and fabric garden sofas come with handles at the back so they are easy to move.
This is garden furniture that can even be moved indoors when needed without worrying about scratching the paint off living room walls or damaging a doorframe.
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14. Can I choose the fabric for my garden furniture?
We want you to love your garden furniture and for it to fit your outdoor space perfectly. We will always do whatever we can to tailor your furniture for you.
Please get in touch if you have something in mind or if you’d like to tweak the details of the pieces we have available.
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15. Will I need to assemble my fabric outdoor furniture?
Put your screwdriver away, there won’t be any need for it! All our soft garden furniture comes filled with beans and ready to relax on.
Bean bag furniture is light, but it is large, so your order will come on one or more pallets. We use a courier and will always email you when your order is ready for delivery.
For garden bean bags, you can expect delivery within 5-7 working days. Garden Sofas and Luxury Sun Loungers are made-to-order so take between 4-6 weeks.
If you have specific requirements in terms of timing or location of delivery, please let us know.
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16. How often do the beads in bean bag furniture need replacing?
This depends on how much the furniture is used but we’d suggest a top-up every 2-3 years. You don’t need to replace the beans just add more to keep the filling to the level of support you prefer.
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If you have any questions about choosing the right outdoor fabric furniture for your garden please give me a call or drop me an email – I'm always happy to help.