When the sun's out, there's nothing better than sitting on outdoor dining chairs around the table to enjoy good food, drink, and company. It's also a great way to work on your tan while socializing with friends and family too.
However, bringing anything less than the best garden furniture can be embarrassing. After all, no one wants to sit on dirty or cracked plastic chairs, and you don't want to give your VIPs a deck chair to dine on.
So we've put together a menu of tasty patio dining chair choices to sit and mull over. Whether you want to add color and interest to a bland backyard scheme, have a small garden that requires stackable seats to stow away off-season, or maybe you want to make a statement with your choice of seating.
Whatever your reason for investing in patio dining chairs – we've covered all bases with a variety of frame and seat materials to choose from.
Outdoor dining chairs to enjoy fine and casual food
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'Eating dinner inside is perfectly fine. It’s climate-controlled, the dishwasher is right there, and you’re close to the fridge if someone forgets to put the Sriracha on the table again,' says Katie Fritz, content manager, Article.
'But, and no offense to the indoor modern dining rooms of the world, they just don’t measure up to that alfresco meal experience. The sun on your skin as you sip a mimosa, a gentle breeze rustling your arugula salad, the way tossing your scraps into the compost from your seat feels like a draining game-winning three-pointer — all beautiful things.'
'So when the weather’s cooperating (and even occasionally when it’s not), what better place is there to dine than your outdoor space? To make the most of it you’ll need the key essentials: a modern outdoor dining table that’ll fit you, yours, and your style; the dining chairs to match or complement in their own unique way; and the decor items that help bring your outdoor dining room to life.'
1. Article Svelti dining chair
Dimensions: H34.5 x W20 x D21 in | Colors available: 4
Give your backyard a classy Californian-style aesthetic without blowing the budget with these gorgeous Laguna Orange outdoor dining chairs. Sold in pairs, this peach-colored seat looks far more expensive than the affordable price tag. Elegant and eco-friendly, these chairs are made from Grano, an upcycled wheat byproduct with the strength and durability of plastic. Also available in Robin Blue, Palm Green, and Fawn Beige.
2. Flash Furniture indoor-outdoor steel patio armchair with square back
Dimensions: H35 x W21.75 x D22 in | Colors available: 7
Bringing color to your outdoor space has never been easier than with these metal outdoor dining chairs from Flash Furniture. Available in a rainbow of seven colorways, with a choice of round or square back, watch how the floral cut-out design creates the most delicate of shadows come sunset. On rainy days, or occasions you prefer to eat indoors, stack up to eight chairs safely. Don't forget the matching steel table to create a complete patio set. Purchase a single seat or buy five from Amazon.
3. Anthropologie Belmar striped indoor/outdoor bistro chair
Dimensions: H36.5 x W21.25 x D24 in | Colors available: 3
There's something about eating outside on a Meditteranean vacation. The colors, the cosmopolitan vibe, but let's face it... We can't all live on a Greek or Italian isle 24/7. But what we can do is bring that aesthetic to your outdoor space. Available in sky blue, Mykonian navy, and a yellow that screams Capri cool, these striped bistro chairs will give you a chic cafe feel.
4. CB2 Oro gold outdoor dining chair
Dimensions: H30 x W17.5 x D19 in| Colors available: 1
Go for gold and make socializing with friends and family a real celebration with these
metallic outdoor dining chairs from CB2. Adding a warm luxe look to your outdoor space, your alfresco area will feel like you're dining out at an expensive restaurant. With a polished aluminum frame with a wipe-clean finish, spills, and splatters from beverages and BBQs can be taken care of in an instant.
5. Urban Outfitters Mimi stackable outdoor chair
Dimensions: H30.7 x W24.8 x L24 in| Colors available: 3
Bring a pop of color to a smaller external space with these stackable chairs from Urban Outfitters. With an oval-shaped seat and back and slim legs, it'll provide a modern traditional aesthetic to your scheme. Choose from a single-colored set in green, white, or yellow, or add some fun by picking one of each.
6. CB2 Matera large grey outdoor dining bench
Dimensions: H18 x W75 x D14 in| Colors available: 1
Outdoor dining tends to be considerably less formal, so rather than having a formal chair, why not create a communal Nordic feel with a long, light grey outdoor bench. Designed by Jonas Wahlström in solid Acacia wood, create the designer picnic of dreams with this sleek but laid-back setup.
7. CB2 Sophia sage outdoor dining chair
Dimensions: H28.5 x W23.5 x D22 in| Colors available: 3
You can never have too much green in your garden, so max out those verdant vibes with this muted, basket-weave outdoor dining chair from CB2. If black, grey, or neutral weather-resistant resin rattan feels too normal, this contemporary tweak to classic garden furniture might just be your thing. Make even more of a statement and add comfort with the best outdoor cushions.
8. Wayfair Martinson Stacking Patio Dining armchair (Set of 2)
Dimensions: H32.3 x W22.4 x D23.6 in | Colors available: 8
There are so many advantages to these midcentury-inspired, reclining outdoor dining chairs, we don't know if we have space to list them all. Available in eight colorways including tropical green, orange, and taupe, transform your backyard into a beautiful paradise, with an exotic drink in hand. We think the mesh detail on these plastic/resin chairs looks quite like a hammock - perfect for nursing that food baby after an evening of delicious home cooking.
9. Crate and Barrel Verro outdoor dining chair in yellow
Dimensions: H x W x D in | Colors available: 2
Bring a guaranteed source of sunshine to your space, whatever the weather with this Verro outdoor dining chair from Crate and Barrel. Strand upon strand of brightly-colored rattan gives this furniture flair and jungle luxe vibes. However, a neutral-colored seat and sophisticated slim black legs keep this looking more cool and less kindergarten. Makes for a great Instagrammable backdrop for that new pic on the grid! Also available in green.
10. Leisure Made Maria aluminum outdoor dining chair (2-pack)
Dimensions: H29.8 x W23.5 x D22.9 in | Colors available: 1
Many of the chairs we've shown you so far quite evidently 'look' like garden furniture, but if you want something that has the feel of an indoor traditional dining set, look no further than this matte black rustproof aluminum pair of outdoor dining chairs with hand-woven resin wicker and cane seat.
A curved back will support you from an early evening supper, right until sundown. These chairs are UV-resistant and rust-resistant, so the only thing stopping you from enjoying yourself is the weather (we're still working on that).
How to choose outdoor dining chairs
'Once you’ve got a table, great. This is an integral start but your outfit isn’t complete. You’ve got a gorgeous top but your bottom half is bare — you can’t go outside like that. The next pieces you’ll need are the right outdoor modern dining chairs,' says Fritz.
'The same considerations for tables apply to dining chairs. Start by making sure they work practically: how many will you need, will they fit around the table. For everyone to sit comfortably, there will need to be about 24” of space between each seat for diners to avoid smacking elbows and have enough room to scoot out to if they need. Once those details are nailed down, it’s styling time.'