Protecting your investment, use furniture covers

With so many of us looking to the outdoors for much-needed relaxation and valuable extra space in our homes, we are investing more than ever in quality outdoor furniture and luxury grills, so we should also be thinking of how best to protect that investment.

In this case, it is literal protection. Even though materials and production processes have gotten more sophisticated and durable, the elements always pose quite a challenge. Our outdoor rooms have to weather pouring rain, blistering heat, UV, dust, pollen and decaying fallen leaves, the combination of which is the perfect formula for fading, staining and mold growth. Luckily, the times of heavy, bulky covers are long past. Now there are many options for chic, tailored outdoor furniture covers that are not blemishes on your outdoor space. Before you purchase, it is important to keep a few things in mind.

First of all, remember you are trying to cover your furniture, not suffocate it. Ventilation is key. The cover should come 1-2 inches above the ground when place over the furniture. This allows for airflow under the piece and keeps humidity from building up. This, in turn, helps prevent the formation of mold.

Look for covers that have a tie down feature. When the elements are at their worst, you want your covers to stay in place and not sail away into the horizon.

If you have large flat areas getting covered, think about adding air bags that are available through the same cover manufacturers. These are either square or round inflatable pillows that go between the piece of furniture and the protective cover. This turns the large flat surface that can puddle up into an inclined one that lets water runoff.

And finally, have a designated storage space for your outdoor furniture covers. This will reduce the hassle of having to find a place to store them every time you want to use your furniture or the unsightly pile of covers in your laundry room. If there is a convenient place to keep them out of sight, the easier it will be to spontaneously use your outdoor space.