I've tried it all and I leave it all out every year, except for cushions. (Note, make sure cushions are totally dry before storing or they can mildew.) I clean up the furniture in the spring with water and bleach to get off the dirt and green algae. I've tried a winter plastic table cover, but no matter how tightly I tied it, it blew off in strong winds. Plastic chairs. Cheap, comfortable, needs annual cleaning which will dull the glossy surface, but can be repainted with spray paint. Easy to move around and stack for storage, but can blow over in heavy wind. Painted tube aluminum with thick plastic strap seats. These have lasted well for over 25 years. Some of the paint was flaking off (after 20 years), but I touched them up with spray paint and they looks fine. Comfortable with added cushions. Not heavy and stack for storage. Painted wood. The directors chairs aren't very expensive and are comfortable except for large people. The material backs and seats do fade and need to be replaced after several years. They fold and can be stored easily. The paint will flake off eventually. Teak. Usually expensive and very heavy. I have a teak bench (in shade) and a teak coffee table. The bench I bought on sale (end of season) at Costco and the table was a kids' table from Ikea. Both were good prices for teak. The point of teak is that it can't be painted (the natural oil in the wood seeps out) and stands up well to weather. My bench gets speckled with gray moss that is difficult to get off and leaves stains. I'm very disappointed with it in the PNW climate. The table also has a stain from a piece of metal that was left on it and rusted. I tried a light sanding, but that didn't help. 'Wrought iron' (really aluminum) with baked on paint. This is usually the most expensive, but stands up to the weather the best. The chairs are comfortable with or without added cushions. (I really like the chairs that rock.) After 10 years, it still cleans up to look like new. The table developed a few small rust spots, but I touched it up with spray paint and the rust hasn't come back. The chairs are very heavy so hard to move, but they don't blow over in the wind. Note: if you're putting furniture in an unsecured yard, don't buy expensive stuff. I had two brand new, expensive chairs stolen. Daphne in Tacoma

I saw this thread as I am dealing with frustration with my wood furniture from Pottery Barn. I bought the Chatham line less than two years ago, covered it all winter and any time it rained last summer. It is peeling and has cracks. I have talked with the customer service people and they tell me this is normal and that I need to refinish it. I may let it weather, but either way, I am annoyed because it was really expensive (to me, anyway). I wouldn't get wood again...

And another, I have Sunbrella Dupioni on a cushion that is on a bench in my mudroom. The bench faces a north facing French door and is used for sitting on when removing boots after ranch work, and, although it wasn't planned that way, for temporary dumping of mail, dog harnesses, coats, groceries, you name it. So, dirty stuff is regularly placed on it. Most either do not affect it or brush right off. Occasionally, I have to spot clean it with a dab of dilute detergent and water, then blot. Once in awhile, I take the cover off (it unzips) and wash it in the washing machine, then let it air dry before replacing. It looks brand new after five years. This post was edited by kitchendetective on Mon, Nov 24, 14 at 12:30

I looked at storage boxes but sometimes space and spending money on that may not work for everybody, and bringing them in and out was annoying on a daily basis... I bought a giant square cover that goes over the sectional couch and then the fire pit props out the empty corner - just throwing that over everything was the cheapest and easiest solution for me. I'll bring cushions in for the winter and use the same cover over the furniture frames, even if I have to buy a new cover every year or 2 it still made the most sense. Any recommendations for patio furniture that is comfortable WITHOUT cushion, please post! :)