Whether for home, porch or garden, work-desk or workplace, a folding chair has many types to check out.
The Basic Type
This is your chair if you want no-frills, proven comfort. Basic folding chairs are usually made from wood, plastic, metal, or combination materials. They have a flat seat and backrest with no armrests, and no seat padding either.
The seat height is between 17" to 19". So, with straight legs resting flat on the floor, there is no pressure, tension, or stress on your knee joints. And the flat seat divides the weight equally between the upper and lower body, so there is no excess pressure on the torso. Unless you lean frequently and unnecessarily, you are not likely to develop a hunch sitting on these chairs.
Finally, the backrest, angled at about 450 with the seat, provides optimum support to your spine. Effectively, what you are choosing is a modest but very efficient chair with a 9/10 ranking. And where can you use them? Just about anywhere!
Padded
The only difference between the basic and padded chairs is the seat cushion. Earlier, foam and organic materials such as cotton and coir were used for padding, but now memory foam is the most widely used material. It is durable, retains its cushioning property without deforming, it is weather and climate-resistant, skin-friendly, and neither too cushy nor too hard.
Shop this chair if you want to add sitting comfort to the basic type. Again, its utility is wide-ranging. Padded chairs usually have a footrest at a convenient height.
Upholstered
This is a value-addition to the folding chair that offers cosmetic appeal and enhanced comfort. The common materials are:
- Vinyl– inexpensive but easy to maintain;
- Leather – compensates for its price with classy elegance;
- Artificial leather (faux leather) for a cost-effective yet rich look;
- Synthetic fiber such as polyester for durability and user-friendliness;
- Natural fabrics such as cotton, linen, canvas, and denim. They will look good and be good to your sensitive skin around the torso.
High-back
Most high-back chairs support the entire spine. As such, they are full-back chairs. They also have armrests. From improvised basic type to high-end chairs, they come in a wide range. Their materials are also more varied, and so are their uses:
- leather and wooden high-backs for interiors and porches
- PVC, polypropylene, or paneled wooden chairs for living and dining areas
- waterproof synthetic materials for toddlers.
Benefits include ideal sitting posture that avoids hunching, total support to the spine, and easy, relaxed shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints. You can use high-back chairs at work, while dining, relaxing, entertaining guests, and even for outdoor use such as lounging.
Armchairs
Ah! The quaint and quiet "my time" moments of relaxation, reflection, and unwinding -- those are the times folding armchairs are made for. You slip into one by the pool, at the beach, garden or lounge, music room, or your breakout zone at work. Then chill. Your folding armchair is designed to offer you temporary nirvana.
Sounds endearing? Then go for one. The material could be plastic, metal frame or sheet-metal with canvas, leather, or one of the endless fabric options. Reclining or not, it's your choice. If you prefer a reclining design, make sure that your feet are not dangling; that's not advisable for blood circulation.
Portable
These are essentially light-weight chairs meant to carry with you wherever you go. Their design is basic but functional, and the body is not only foldable but also collapsible, so that the chairs stack up in a neat pile without occupying much space. They are very useful for outdoor use such as camping and safaris. Also ideal for a garden party, barbeque, or socializing in your lounge.
Being light-weight, these chairs are usually made of metal armatures or slim wooden panels. Seat and backrest are flat, of wooden or coated sheet-metal plate.
Reclining
These folding chairs are high-end extensions of the category. Since you recline and don't sit upright on them, the features to look for are spinal and lumbar support, and comfortable positioning of head so that you can read easily. Ideal head level will be about 5" higher than your feet level, so you can read or rest conveniently.
These chairs often have a stretchable and flexible hammock or lounger type of coverings. Materials vary from leather to natural or synthetic fabrics. These folding chairs can also be cushioned extendable recliners. Usage is again wide-ranging. Pool-side, drawing room, porch, garden, outdoors, entertainment room…
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