My family of six spends a lot of time on our back patio, and we like to entertain despite it being a relatively small space. Having high-quality outdoor furniture that can last us through the seasons is an absolute must.
After going through several less expensive patio sets, last spring, I started looking through the best places to buy patio furniture for outdoor sets that would last longer. In the long run, I was throwing away money by regularly replacing less expensive sets and adding to landfills. I settled on Polywood. I like that the furniture mimics the looks of wood while being made of low-maintenance, durable, and sustainable HDPE plastic. I also appreciated the numerous color options and classic, modular designs. The 6-piece deep-seated Acadia Lounge Sofa Set from Polywood's collaboration with Martha Stewart was just what I was after.
After a year, I am still very happy with my choice. The set has a simple design that I still love, and it has held up well. My Polywood set gets heavy use during the spring, summer, and fall, and easily withstood the harsh snowy winter. Over the past year, my kids regularly lounged on the sofa with snacks. We hosted countless guests for causal backyard get-togethers, and most people gravitated to my comfortable Polywood furniture at some point. On particularly nice days, I often sat in one of the set's deep chairs and kicked my feet up on the coffee table while I worked.
Polywood furniture is made of durable and sustainable HDPE, which looks like wood, but requires minimal maintenance. The Acadia 6-Piece Lounge Set includes a sofa, two chairs and ottomans, and a coffee table. The collection is modular and customizable.
- Extremely comfortable and durable
- Customizable and modular design
- Cushions repel water well
- Nearly maintenance-free
- Expensive
- Shipped with a lot of cardboard that is time-consuming to break down
- Cushions should be spot-cleaned
About Polywood
Polywood is an outdoor furniture brand known for its commitment to quality and sustainability. Their use of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic mimics the looks of wood but is safe, durable, weather-resistant, and easy to clean and maintain. Everything is also made in the United States; manufactured in Indiana and North Carolina to be specific. They've created a special process that blends UV inhibitors, pigments, and other protective compounds within the plastic to help it keep its color. They implement sustainable practices wherever possible, including recycling plastic scraps to be made into "Polywood lumber," which the brand claims is a circular, 99% waste-free process. Polywood's assortment spans various dining and lounge collections sold individually or as sets. The brand is perhaps most well-known for its Adirondack chairs available in a rainbow of colors.
Our review of the Polywood Acadia 6-Piece Lounge Sofa Set
Delivery and assembly
Polywood offers free shipping, as well as White Glove Delivery for an extra cost, which varies according to such as the size and weight of the order, the quantity of items in the order, the delivery location. Mine would have been $499. Otherwise, most shipments are made via FedEx, although Polywood states they will always use the "fastest, safest, and most reliable method possible." When I ordered my set, Polywood's website indicated that my set would ship within 8-10 days. I received my order eight days after ordering, which was faster than expected. Polywood updates shipping estimates in real time. Polywood also has several "quick ship" options for those who need furniture in a rush.
Close to my delivery date, I received an email from FedEx notifying me when my furniture would be delivered so I could arrange to be home. Delivery was very efficient. The FedEx driver asked me where the furniture would be placed and used a dolly to deliver multiple very large boxes containing the furniture and cushions to my back patio. I was responsible for unpacking the furniture and disposing of the considerable packing material myself.
Furniture frames and cushions shipped in separate boxes. Removing the furniture from the cardboard boxes was easy, but there was a lot of packing material to deal with. Multiple cardboard pieces were placed inside the boxes containing furniture to prevent damage during shipping. Between breaking down the boxes and packing material, I had so much recycling that some was left behind the first time I left it out for collection, and the rest was picked up the following week.
My Polywood furniture arrived nearly completely assembled; all I had to do was snap in a couple of small endcaps and place the cushions on top. I could easily move the chairs, ottomans, and table into place myself. I needed help moving the sofa because it is much longer than the other pieces. It's not heavy, but it is long enough that it requires two people to move.
Design
I wanted a timeless look that I would not get tired of quickly. Polywood has several designs, but I opted for the Acadia line with a classic design that I believe will stand the test of time.
The 6-piece Acadia Lounge Sofa Set includes the following pieces
- Acadia Deep Seating Sofa: 91.25" W x 31.31" H x 34.5" D
- Acadia Deep Seating Chair: 36.25" W x 31.31" H x 34.5" D
- Coffee Table: 47" W x 15" H x 32.63" D
- Acadia Deep Seating Ottoman: 31.48" W x 15.58" H x 24" D
Polywood's furniture is made of recycled and reusable high-density polyethylene (HDPW) that mimics the look of wood. Polywood describes this material as a durable plastic widely used to make products such as milk jugs, laundry detergent containers, and bottle caps. The cushions have a polyester-blend fill and are covered in a weather-resistant performance fabric.
Once I settled on my favorite seating collection, I started selecting colors. Polywood's online design tool is very easy to experiment with and see how different frame colors look with cushion colors.
I had a hard time narrowing down my selection. I eventually chose darker gray cushions that I thought would stand up to whatever my four children could throw at them, paired with a lighter gray frame. I like the contrast of two shades of gray that adds interest without being busy.
Although the number of options available for frame and fabric pairings initially seemed overwhelming, I appreciated having options. Polywood will send fabric samples upon request. If I didn't have messy children at home, I might have picked one of the many beautiful patterns Polywood offers. However, since almost all the patterns have some white, I didn't want to take the chance.
The scale and versatility of the Acadia line work well for my family of six on my patio space in Washington, DC, and I believe it would work well in most spaces. The 6-piece set can easily accommodate eight if we use the ottomans as seats. The set's chairs, ottomans, and table are light enough to move around to easily create different seating configurations, depending on if I want to lounge with my feet up or create more space for guests. I also really like that the set is customizable. If we need even more seating, I can order another couple of chairs instead of purchasing an entirely new set.
Comfort
My old patio set got a lot of use throughout the year, so I prioritized comfort when selecting a new set. I opted for Polywood's deep-seating line because I thought the design and plush cushions would work well for lots of lounging. Even though I expected the set to be comfortable, I was still stunned at how comfortable the set wound up being. My family has used the patio furniture for hours to have afterschool snacks, play board games, hang out with friends, and relax on the weekends.
My children think the Polywood sofa is more comfortable than the one we have in our living room, and I agree. Multiple guests have used the set, and everyone has remarked on how comfortable it is to use for longer periods of time. Seating cushions are just over 5" thick, and cushions that support the back are even more plush at about 6" thick.
Durability
Getting a durable patio set was also something very important to me. My active kids can be rough on furniture, particularly outdoor furniture. Additionally, I live in the Mid-Atlantic region of the East Coast. My patio furniture must withstand hurricane-level rain, occasional hail storms, 100+ degree weather in the summer, snowstorms, and below-freezing temperatures in the winter. That's a tall order and past patio sets have shown significant wear and tear after just a year, even when I tried to be diligent about covering the sets when not in use.
Getting a truly waterproof patio set was also a priority for me. I try to be diligent about covering my patio furniture when rain is in the forecast and often throw the cushions in the garage when particularly bad weather is expected. However, this doesn't always happen. Shortly after I received my Polywood set, it rained heavily for several days straight. I was really impressed with how well the cushions repelled water. I placed them vertically to dry. As far as I could tell, no water seeped beyond the fabric into the cushions.
I also wanted a set that was as maintenance-free as possible. I like that Polywood is made of durable plastic that never requires staining, sanding, waterproofing, or painting. Polywood also applies a UV protectant and color throughout the recycled plastic used to construct furniture, so pieces should resist fading. The hardware Polywood uses to assemble the furniture is marine-grade quality, so it should not rust. I have found my Polywood set to be easy to clean. It's been easy to wipe off the frames with a cloth and water. I've been able to easily shake fallen leaves and crumbs off the cushions.
I had hoped that the cushion covers could be removed to be washed. Although covers can be removed, Polywood recommends vacuuming cushions and spot-cleaning with mild dish soap and water for cleaning. They also provide other instructions for deep cleaning specific types of stains, such as bird droppings and red wine.
After one year
I was concerned that the cushions would start to show wear and tear, both because the set is so well-loved and because I didn't always remember to cover them away when rain was in the forecast. However, I didn't need to worry. When I put the cushions away for the winter, they still looked nearly brand new. While I'm glad I didn't leave the cushions out in the elements all winter when they wouldn't have gotten any use, I was relieved to see that they could easily withstand typical use and weather without too much fuss.
I wasn't as worried about the coffee table and chair frames showing wear. They are very sturdy and appear almost indestructible. That remains the case even after a year of being used regularly by four kids and withstanding both brutally hot summer temperatures and a particularly cold winter with a lot of snow and sub-zero temperatures. Fortunately, the coffee table and furniture frames held up just as well as I expected.
Now that it's spring again, I've taken the cushions out of my garage and gotten the set ready for another season. I love lounging on the set just as much as I did when it was brand new.
Sustainability
One of Polywood's most notable features is how environmentally friendly they are as a brand. High-quality furniture that doesn't need to be replaced regularly is good for the earth, but Polywood goes further in how it does business.
Polywood keeps sustainability at the core of its operations. They strive to be a "zero waste" company, meaning that most furniture is made to order, so there are few or no unsold pieces sitting around. Moreover, not only is Polywood furniture made from recycled material, but the furniture they create is also recyclable. Most shavings or scraps that are left over once a furniture set is manufactured are swept up and re-introduced to the beginning of the recycling process where it becomes part of new furniture. Similarly, when furniture is returned, most is broken down and re-introduced to the beginning of the manufacturing process to be turned into new items.
Cons to consider
The biggest downside to purchasing a Polywood patio set is the cost. However, having been through several less expensive patio sets that did not hold up, I wish I had invested in a quality set from the beginning. I have probably spent the equivalent of a Polywood set on patio furniture that looked great initially but quickly looked shabby and fell apart. Having owned several patio sets, I could immediately tell the difference in quality and believe this set will be a great investment.
Another downside is the amount of cardboard I was left with after unpacking. Almost all of Polywood's packing materials are recyclable, which softened the blow of so much trash. Since, I've tested, it looks like Polywood now offers white glove delivery, though it can get pretty expensive, too.
Polywood's commitment to sustainability means that most furniture is made-to-order. Although furniture is produced relatively quickly, most customers have to be willing to wait several days or more for their furniture to arrive, even with "quick ship" options. In the age of free two-day delivery, some customers may find it hard to wait.
I would like to have been able to remove cushion covers for cleaning. However, since Polywood recommends spot-cleaning I will follow those instructions to prolong their life. Polywood does sell replacement parts but does not list prices. I found it frustrating that it's impossible to find out how much a new cushion or cover costs without submitting a special request. I hope mine stand the test of time, but it would still be nice to know how much I am looking at for a replacement if I need one.
The bottom line
Polywood is an excellent choice for outdoor furniture that should last for years. I'm still impressed that my six-piece lounge set — given it got regular use by active children and survived both a very hot summer and a very cold, snowy winter — still looks great. It's also a very environmentally friendly choice. If an entire Polywood set is not in your budget, ordering a piece or two at a time is a great way to start building a collection, or opting for a less expensive line.
More options from Polywood to explore
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