I came across an unusual folding chair this weekend – unusual for me, at least. I didn’t realize that bar stools could be built as a folding chair. When I think of folding chairs, I picture a steel or aluminum frame with a fabric seat, suitable for sporting events or concerts in the park. I’m familiar with folding camping chairs that emphasize utility and light-weight storage. But bar stools?

Some of the bar stools that I came across didn’t look anything like a folding piece of furniture. One “mission style” stool looked very stylish and well-made. After it was pointed out that the bar stool was actually a folding chair, I could see how the design and construction allowed for folding. The distributor was Linon Home Décor Products, a company I’m familiar with for its solid wood furniture. They offer this bar stool through various retailers, including online Amazon, and an approximate price for this “30-Inch Folding Bar Stool,” mission style in espresso finish is $70. Weight of each chair is around 25 pounds. I’m still shaking my head at the idea that a solid, sturdy bar stool could be constructed as a folding chair.

Once I knew to look for them, I began to see other “normal” bar stools that were also constructed as a folding chair. The retailer Ikea offers several folding bar stools, both in their physical stores and through their online website. The usual spare, simple lines of Ikea furniture also describes their bar stools – but with these, I could see the construction and folding frame. The Ikea bar stools were just that: taller folding chairs with a curved back, no arm rests, but a great foot rest that completed the bar stool silhouette. The price for these spare, no-nonsense chairs is around $25, a drop in price from the Linon product which is commensurate with the drop in style and comfort. But the attractive wood construction and the clean, utilitarian lines from Ikea would still be appropriate for use as outdoor folding chairs in a backyard deck or covered patio setting. And at this price, these chairs are great for the foldable, store-able seating budget.

Now the perfect complement to great folding bar stools would be a matched folding table and chairs set. So I did a little exploration online for something that included a bar table for a matching folding bar stool. And I found it, sort of. The table itself didn’t fold. But it did match a set of folding bar stools.

Photo by PortableChurch

A wholesale company located in the greater Los Angeles area, Bamboo54, offers a “Three Piece Set Outdoor Tiki Bar with Thatched Roof.” The set includes two folding bar stools, a large table top (28 inches by 58 inches) and a “rustic tropical” thatched covering. And coincidentally, this fun décor set also comes with a matching folding bamboo wine rack.

If this sounds like a set of folding furniture that you need for your next outdoor entertainment, all pieces are available online for around $650. The retailer, CyMax Stores, is a familiar online furniture provider. But before you commit your entire folding furniture budget to this bamboo set, you’ll want to do some research about the company’s merchant rating. Reviews I read reported competitive prices but a customer service record that at times is less positive than some consumers would like.

So, bar stools as folding chairs. I certainly didn’t expect to find this type of furniture available – to say nothing of the matching, folding wine rack. But I think I’ll pass on the thatched roof.

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