What I love about warm weather: Guests show up at a moment's notice. Sometimes it's easier to feed them than to seat them, though, unless you have a secret stash of folding chairs—the weather-resistant kind that won't punish you for absentmindedly leaving them outside when the party's over. Let us help you with that:
Above: Photograph via The Balcony Gardener.
Metal
Above: With a durable steel frame and weather-resistant powder-coated finish, the silver-colored Arc En Ciel Folding Chair weighs about 10 pounds and is $89 from Design Within Reach.
Above: A set of compact (and budget-friendly) folding chairs is £35 from The Balcony Gardener.
Above: Made of steel, Fermob's Latitude Folding Chair has a backrest made of weather-resistant fabric. It's available in 10 colors; Linen/Savanna is shown here (the backrest's top band is customizable). A set of two is $432 and is nonreturnable from Y Living.
Above: Constructed of powder-coated steel, the Folding Bistro Chair from Fermob is the classic Paris chair. It's available in 20 colors, including white, for $108 from Potted.
Metal and Wood
Above: The folding Bayern Chair combines a galvanized steel frame with a seat and backrest made of ash wood; 94.12€ from the Dutch company Elefant.
Wood
Above: Made of teak, a sturdy Tropico Folding Dining Chair has a handle that makes it easy to carry when folded; a set of two is $415 from All Modern.
Above: Designed by Gunilla Norin, a Viken Folding Chair is made entirely of teak (except for a couple of tiny screws). For pricing and information, see Skargaarden, which sells it with evident pride: "The chair is, despite its apparent simplicity, a construction that demands a high degree of precision in production. Every teak strip must be treated with care and respect (yes, you’re allowed to think that we’re exaggerating, that doesn’t bother us)."
Above: An Applaro Folding Chair is made of solid acacia wood with an acrylic glaze. It's designed for outdoors use, but storing it indoors is recommended to protect the finish; $35 from Ikea.
Above: Constructed of hardwood, a Spontaneity Folding Chair is manufactured in Vietnam. Non-returnable, it is $99 from Jamali Floral and Garden Supplies.
Above: From Smith & Hawken, a 2-Piece Folding Patio Chair Set is made of mahogany and rust-resistant steel; $130 at Target.
None of these chairs suit your fancy? We have more! Go to Folding Chairs For Spontaneous Summer Dinner Parties. Looking for an outdoor café table? See 10 Easy Pieces: Outdoor Bistro Tables and Chairs.
This is an update of a post originally published April 3, 2013.
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