Upholstered Folding Chairs

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Portable, easy to stow, and more elegant than plastic or purely wooden chairs, upholstered folding chairs provide both functionality and style. With a padded component added into the mix, these chairs are also more comfortable to sit on especially if you have guests over. While some are made of wood, some are framed in steel, which is ideal for both interior and exterior use. With these choices from our design experts, you can find upholstered folding chairs that match your needs and aesthetics.

Eliza Bush Interior Design Expert

Eliza is a creative interior designer who swears by the power of sleek interiors and quality furniture to transform daily personal and professional life. With a B.Sc. in interior design from Philadelphia University and a well trained eye for craftsmanship, she offers unparalleled advice on how to arrange your space to make it sophisticated, comfortable, and functional, whether it’s the office or bedroom.

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Updated 27/07/2023

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Upholstered Folding Chairs

Buying Guide

Folding chairs are one of the earliest sitting furniture in the world. Their history dates back to the 13th century B.C. when they were used extensively in Mediterranean homes and beaches. In the US, a patent for folding chair was obtained as early as in 1855.

From those days to these, the humble folding chair has transcended millennia of changing furniture trends and styles to emerge as one of the most sustainable chair types in history. Its contemporary avatar is nothing less than a style statement, available in a milieu of designs for diverse uses.

If you are shopping for folding chairs, we are happy to help! Read on to know about the different aspects that should help you make the right choice.

Which are the types of folding chairs?

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…

Which are the key features to consider while choosing folding chairs?

Based on the above deliberations, the key features to consider are:

Comfort. Sit on the chair for at least ten minutes before short-listing your choices. If the chair passes this test, you can safely bet on its comfort factor. If the seat is not wooden or metal-sheet but canvas or leather, make sure that it won't sag after a while.
Aesthetics. Honestly, this is your domain. The only factor to be conscious about is that your folding chair should blend with different surroundings, décor, and ambiances. Remember, you will be taking your chair places, so it better be a chameleon that blends with various settings.
Light-weight and portability. Folding chairs are popular because of these twin features. You can lift the chair and move around a bit to check which one seems right for you.
Easy Stacking. When folded or collapsed, these chairs should stack well.
Dependable and durable folding mechanism. You can check the technical drawings and chat with the sales executive about the sturdiness of this feature. Maybe, they will even organize a demonstration for you!

Folding chairs have been around since millennia. From kings and pharaohs to presidents and pedestrians, they are everybody's favorites for good reason. Now that you are ready to buy yours, choose wisely, and sit happily ever after.