Kitchen folding tables and chairs with padding and without; outdoor folding chairs for lawns, patios, decks and gardens; lightweight camping chairs; beach and poolside lounge styles – everything you need to know to choose the best portable seating – at Kitchen Bar Stools we don’t just recommend stools you can use in the kitchen. We understand you also sit outside in your garden or need to get away to the beach; and sometimes you simply need extra seating for guests.

Elegant Padded Folding Chairs For Kitchen and Dining Room

If you think a folding chair must be aluminum, plastic or metal, and if you believe it must be ugly, something you hide in a closet unless absolutely necessary, then think again, because there are really elegant wood folding chair designs, like the Queen Anne cherry wood creation that’s made from solid hardwood and padded like any other dinning room chair or cherry barstool you may already have. The extra beauty of it lies in the fact that it can be folded because it has a steel mechanism that allows the gorgeous sculpted front legs and the white fabric padded seat to collapse and press against the back of the chair.

It’s so compact for storage it doesn’t take up much more space than one of the ugly metal card table chairs, yet when extended, it’s as classy as any of your other cherry kitchen or dining furniture. This item offers the best of both worlds. Is it expensive? Yes, but we think it’s reasonable for what you get. Each chair costs about $65 or a set of two for about $126. There are several designs made by Stakmore, like the slat-back design, the schoolhouse chair and the mission wood one with a vinyl seat. The woods you can choose are cherry, fruitwood and oak. They all cost about the same price for a set of two and you can order them online at places like Dining Rooms Direct and can be shipped within the USA and Canada.

By the way you can also get the Stakmore folding table to create a complete set. The table is an expanding design and comes in the same finishes to pair perfectly with the cherry, schoolhouse or mission chairs mentioned above.

Contemporary Sleek Designs For Modern Kitchens or Outdoors by Calligaris

If you have a contemporary theme in your kitchen or want some sleek outdoor patio furniture you must see the trendy Calligaris Skip Stool that’s simple, practical and folds for easy storage. There are several reasons why you should consider this lightweight folding chair.

First, it’s cheap, retailing for just over $160 (a set of two). Second, it’s got a wood (wenge finished) seat, although the rest is lightweight aluminum. So you get the best of wood without the weight. Third, the design is sleek and contemporary so it can be used not just as guest seating but as the main chairs in a kitchen or minimalist living room or on a patio deck or summer garden.

The Calligaris line also includes a funky flexi table, which also folds and is of a similar design. This very trendy set of folding table and chairs can be incorporated into a permanent or semi-permanent kitchen or dining concept by adding none-folding seating and elegant accents.

For example in summer, if you’re having a gathering on the patio, you may choose to bring your more formal dining chairs outdoors. Chairs are easy to move, tables are not. Add the formal chairs to the Calligaris table, and add extra skip stool chairs for more guests. The arrangement can be funky or classic depending on how you accent, but suffice to say it’s a wonderful solution, because when summer is over, and the guests have gone, the table and stools fold away to await next year. However, since the table adjusts to seven levels, and can be extended to seat 6 people, it may be ideal furniture for all year round.

Italian Outdoor Wood Folding Chair and Table Sets

We have some gorgeous wood folding chair surprises for you! If you had the notion that outdoor wood furniture, which folds, must look portable and cheap, you’ll love the find we’ve come up with.

Take a look at the Emu Cetra folding chairs. You’d never guess they fold, right? Poolside diners and garden parties needn’t ever look makeshift again if you choose the interwoven teak and antique bronze metal creations designed by Ciabatti in the Italian Emu collection of folding furniture sets.

For about $345 you can have this exquisite design, and pair them with a matching extendible table or get the complete set called the Emu Mito and Cetra dining set. No, they are not the cheapest outdoor folding chairs on the market, but they may well be the most versatile, distinctive and elegant outdoor furniture you can store away with ease. Match with teak bar stools for even more seating, or add a bar table for pre-dinner cocktails and appetizers.

Since you may love the above suggestion but find it’s beyond your budget, here’s a teak alternative that’s not quite so luxurious but affordable and tasteful.

The Infinita Corporation has a line of teal slat folding chairs and tables that start at about $150 (set of two).

The series is called Le Bistro, and that’s exactly what they are. Fun, classic folding bistro chairs that are made from premium teak wood grown on government approved plantations. The wood has been duly hand sanded and finished with 3 coats of oil. The hardware, which makes these items foldable, is marine quality stainless steel and therefore very durable.

These items are recommended for outdoor areas, poolsides, open or uncovered decks and gardens and even for placing on boats. Why? Because teak is one of the only woods that can withstand the elements. It gets better with time; gets a gorgeous aged look….that’s part of the teak charm. Choose a matching folding table for about $250, and there are two different designs, both from Le Bistro collection. You can order the above items from shops like All Modern

Axa The Funky Metal Folding Chair From Italian Sidewalk Cafes

Forget the ugly metal chairs you think you want and think Italian bistro and outdoor sidewalk cafes. That’s what you can have when you order the Axa metal folding designs created by Emu. One of the most versatile options in affordable outdoor or indoor furnishings that also can be stored when not in use.

Why so versatile? Because the metal frame and seating can be classic iron or antique bronze and beige or contemporary aluminum and white. It can also be ordered in trendy and funky colors like vibrant green, blue and even pink and orange. Naturally you can also choose the marine designs that come is solid white or light nautical blue. Mix and match for a modish outdoor bistro design or choose neutral tones to create a formal space for entertaining.

By the way, these items are quite affordable at just over $180 when purchased through All Modern.

Lightweight, Square Folding Beach Chair & Anywhere Sand Chairs & Loungers

It’s also metal, but really light and easy to transport. It’s made by Emu, so it’s a fabulous Italian design that will have you feeling sexy even on a non-Mediterranean beach or beside a home pool. It comes with the folding table, which is great for seaside gatherings of two under a little portable marquis tent or sun umbrella. The entire set with two chars and the table costs over $600, so you might want something cheaper if you’re on a tight budget. Here’s another affordable option: for about $88 you can have a funky Anywhere Mini Sand Chair. It’s sold through Mercantila. The fabric you se on the chair is by Sunbrella, so it’s really durable, and comes in a zillion colors like: linen tweed and plain linene, beige and toast, walnut brown or tan, 5 different shades of green including sea spray and forest, 3 shades of blue including sapphire and navy, black or charcoal, burgundy, jockey red, orange or sunflower yellow. This item is great for the seaside, for beside pools, on decks and boats, and is also considered a folding camping chair that can even be taken on canoe trips.

If it’s not large enough, then try the full size folding lounge chair, also by Anywhere and with Sunbrella fabric, just that it costs about $129. Yes it’s waterproof, and the frame is American oak. It’s one of the favorite resort hotel loungers, so you won’t be disappointed if this item is part of your holiday gear.

Versatile Folding Camping Chairs For Big Buddha’s Up to 300lbs.

There are zillions of camping chairs that fold and most are made from lightweight nylon and durable polyester fabrics that are coated and have treated aluminum frames, etc…but there is one that stands out and it’s made by The Travel Chair Company. The design that we recommend is called the Big Bubba, and it’s worthy of note because although it only weighs under 12lbs, it’s constructed of a tubular frame that’s so heavy duty it can hold up to 300lbs of weight. The second great feature is that it’s not just a chair to sit in, but also a place to really relax and put your feet up, be it at the sea or by a fire. It has a padded headrest and a footrest as well as a cup holder. You can order this folding camp chair in red, blue, green or black and it costs just under $70 when purchased through places like Beach Chairs.

Mac Sports Folding Lawn Chair With Canopy

Lawn chairs have always been a bit of a problem. They’re ugly when new, rusty and even uglier after a season in the sun and rain, they crack and melt and make your bottom itch, they never sit right on the grass and they blow away in the wind. We just couldn’t find redeeming qualities to rescue the reputation of chap chairs for lawns and backyards…until we saw the Mac Sports design that’s sold through ACE. It’s still a lightweight folding chair you can pack in the trunk of the car to take to the lake but it has a large enough frame to actually be comfy. And, it has a soft polyester fabric hammock style seat so no itchy bottom or plastic strap lines on your thighs. Best of all, it has a little canopy to protect you from the sun. It comes in funky colors that aren’t ugly and when you buy a set of 4 you get two of each of the yellow and red trimmed styles. The whole set costs about $120. That’s 4 chairs with little canopies and cup holders….and all you need to buy extra are the beers. It’s a good deal for sporty, none-ugly outdoor seating!

White, Solid Cedar Lawn Chair

The only other lawn chair that we can get excited about is a wooden design that looks like the ones that don’t fold, but this one does. It’s called the Folding Adirondack Chair and it comes in classic white and costs just $70. We really like this style because it folds flat when you don’t need it and only weighs 29lbs, which is really great considering it’s solid cedar. Take a look at how it folds and how easy it would be to store. And yet you could leave it out all year if you have a covered deck. There are several styles to create a complete set, and with some thick cushions these chairs are really, really comfy…something about the angle at which they recline.

There’s nothing ugly or cheap about some white Adirondack chairs on a lawn. Even if you don’t happen to have a lake or a forest beside your lawn, a tea service on these chairs is a delight. Use also for an all season porch area, a covered patio or even inside a gazebo. If you have been looking for an affordable folding arm chair that you can use in a variety of different places around the house, this is one very good option. It also comes in a bench style that’s ideal on a kitchen patio area or inside where you may have sliding glass doors. It can give a large kitchen an outdoor feel. Choose some white kitchen bar stools to go around the island or kitchen counter and you have a summer feel all year even inside. Decorate with French Provence style console tables, dinning table sets or buffets and add some floral lavender cushions or soft sage accents.

More Unique Seating Ideas

If you’re looking for unique seating ideas for your kitchen, dining room or patio, please find related topics that deal with a variety of stools and decorating themes. We offer suggestions on how to design a kitchen with a rattan counter stool garden theme, a Zen bar stool theme, an American Country atmosphere or even a jazzy New York bar stool loft style. From French Provincial relaxing to Classic Boston Pub, we have ideas to make your indoor or outdoor space as unique as who you are and where you live, or even, where you wish you lived.