You probably have a chair or couch in your home that you don’t spend too much time sitting in. Your favorite room in your home probably has to do with how comfortable you are in the seating options within it—because of this, selecting the perfect wooden deck chair is crucial if you want to spend more time outside. You won’t want to relax with a glass of wine on your deck if the furniture you have is uncomfortable or unpleasant to look at. So here is how you choose the perfect wooden deck chair and some of our favorites.
What Purpose Will it Serve
As with almost any decision, it’s essential to figure out precisely what you need from the chair. For example, do you plan on relaxing with a favorite drink after a long day, or will it be a place you work on that novel you’ve been dreaming about? One of those needs is comfortable and plush enough to allow you to relax your muscles into the chair. The other might require a more rigid back for you to sit up and focus. Those are two different chairs, so be sure you get clear about what you want your wooden deck chair to do.
Match Current Aesthetics
To ensure that the look you’re going for flows, you’ll want to find a deck chair that matches the already existing aesthetics of your deck. This might be in the form of the color stain you chose for the deck material, other furniture that you already have, or you might have a clean slate! Just be sure that when you’re shopping for furniture now or in the future, you have a clear idea of the look you’re going for.
Low Maintenance is Best
The last thing you’ll want to do after spending time and money on the perfect wooden deck chair is to then have to maintain, clean, and care for the chair constantly. Choose a chair that has been built for the conditions of your climate. While you still might need to store the cushions somewhere during the winter months, it’s best to have a chair that can withstand rain without needing to be brought in or immediately dried off after a rain shower. Also, if you have to store the cushions during the colder season, you’ll want to have a system that makes this simple and easy.
Sit Before You Buy
The age of online shopping is a wonderful thing. However, certain items need to be seen, touched, and experienced in person before you buy them. It might be easy to return that shirt that didn’t fit, but returning a chair that looked amazing but is uncomfortable will be a massive headache. Instead, visit some local shops and stores and test out the chairs you are interested in. You might find that one style suits your body shape better than another, and it’s best to find that out sooner rather than later. That being said, we understand that the chair you love might not be available in your local area. In that case, check the return policy for that company and make sure you can return or exchange the chair if it turns out to be the wrong one.
Quality Over Sales
Furniture stores have sales all year round. Labor Day sales, Memorial Day sales, Christmas sales, and the famous Black Friday sale. It’s a great way to get what you need or want at a discounted price, but it can also be a situation where you get what you pay for. Outdoor furniture goes through a lot: wind, rain, hail, and sometimes even tornadoes. So while it might be easier on your pocket at the time, a cheaper chair isn’t going to last as long and will likely end with you buying another chair anyway. That’s why it might be better to invest in a more expensive chair that will last you a long time, rather than buying cheap and replacing it in a year.
Some of Our Favorites
There is a chair out there for everyone, but here are some of our favorites that might be just what you’re looking for. Remember to keep in mind what you want to chair to fulfill and if it matches your current or desired aesthetics.
L.L.Bean Wicker Eucalyptus Lounger
This chair from L.L.Bean is a nice mixture of chair and lounger. The back doesn’t lean back so far that you’ll be forced to take a nap, but the slide-out footrest allows you to prop up your feet and comfortably read a book.
Highland Dunes Adirondack Chair
Adirondacks are trendy outdoor furniture because of their durability and comfortability. This one by Highland Dunes has a beautiful deep stain applied to it and might suit a more traditional aesthetic.
Winston Porter Artidiello Acacia Armchair
With a herringbone style backing, these chairs by Winston Porter offer a more supportive chair that will be best for eating at a table or holding conversations. Without cushions to remove, they are low maintenance and come in four color options.
West Elm Catskill Lounge Chair
To chat with friends or relax with a coffee on Saturday morning, these chairs offer a plush cushion that’s sure to help you unwind. They have a woven seat and back to allow airflow and quick drying after a storm. In addition, the durable teak wood ensures they will last a long while before needing to be replaced.
vidaXL Sun Lounger
If you have a pool or if you love to take cat naps in the sun, this chair might be the one for you. The curved design will hold you up in just the right way, and its solid wood design means it is durable and won’t need to be replaced too soon.
Whether you choose one of our favorites or not, you’re at least now equipped with the information you need to make an informed decision about which chair will work best for you and your needs. Remember to sit before you buy, and you might want to purchase a storage container for those cushions.
