The first thing to think about is what sort of even you’re going to need to provide seating for – is it casual or formal? Professional? Outdoors? Indoors? The type of folding chair that will be right for you will depend a lot on what sort of event you’re having. Wooden folding chairs give a nice feel to a casual outdoor event, but might not be right for a professional business meeting. Padded folding chairs are a popular choice for indoor events, and white folding chairs are a staple at outdoor weddings.

If your guests are going to be eating at your event, you might consider providing a folding table and chairs for them to sit at. Being able to put their plate on a table instead of having to try and balance it in their lap will make their evening go much nicer. Even if you’re not having a full meal at your event, being able to sit down and eat is always preferable – even if you’re just eating cake or brunch.

Photo by doobybrain

If you are having your event outside, then you’ll definitely want to get an appropriate type of folding chair. Metal usually makes the best outdoor folding chairs, especially if there’s any chance of them getting wet or banged up during the event. Plastic folding chairs can be an acceptable alternative, but plastic can weaken if it’s left out in the sun too long, which could present an embarrassing situation if one of your guests sits in a chair and breaks it.

If you’re having a very casual event outside, or if you’re simply going on a camping trip, your best option for outdoor seating may be folding camping chairs. Folding camp chairs are lightweight and sturdy, and can be taken just about anywhere. If you’ve ever spent an evening in front of a campfire while precariously perched on a fallen log or a hard rock, you know how uncomfortable that can get after a few hours. Bringing along a nice camping chair will make your trip much nicer.

You can always put someone on the couch, and you may have a guest bedroom to take care of a couple of people, but I’ve been in a few homes that began to run out of room fast when it came to sleeping guests. Fortunately a solution is easy to find: a simple folding cot will sleep someone very comfortably, and won’t take up a ton of room when it’s not being used. A couple of folding cots in a spare room or corner will take care of sleeping arrangements for two people, and will keep those people from having to sleep on the floor. Your guests will be very appreciative, I can promise you.

Photo by St.VincentVolunteers

So what should you look for in a fold up cot? The big things to consider are the materials used to make the frame of the cot, the recommended weight limit, and the length and size of the cot. Aluminum is the material of choice for the construction of the cot, as it is very strong and lightweight, but you can also find great cots with frames made from fiberglass. The recommended weight limit for most folding cots is well over 300 pounds, so chances are that it won’t be an issue unless the Incredible Hulk is sleeping at your house. (But be sure to check out the limit before you buy a cot anyway, just in case.) And lastly, consider the length of the cot – anything over 72 inches will sleep most people comfortably.

If you’re gearing up for a camping trip and are planning on taking your cot along, make sure to check the weight of the cot itself. It wouldn’t be much fun to get a great folding camp cot and then have to leave it at home because it weighs too much to bring along on your trip. And that’s the last point to consider – make sure that all of your camping gear, camping chairs and camping beds included, fits into your pack and isn’t too heavy to carry. You’ll be glad you did when you make it out to the woods.

Over the years, the things that I’ve done to make her time in the wilderness more comfortable have ranged from bringing along a small water pot and some mugs so she could have a cup of coffee in the mornings, to always making sure to bring along our camping chairs (plus hers has a canopy for the sun) so she has somewhere comfortable to sit, to finally breaking down and buying some camping beds so that she doesn’t have to sleep on the hard, rocky ground.

Part of me disagrees with the whole idea – it seems like it’s not really a camping trip unless you spent at least part of the night trying to find a comfortable way to lie amongst the tree roots and rocks underneath your tent – but I have to admit that sleeping on a soft, comfortable camp bed is not a bad way to spend the night.

Photo by Cool Librarian

The simplest and cheapest type of camping bed is a simple foam mat that we all learned to sleep on way back when in Boy Scouts. These mats are serviceable and are better than sleeping directly on a rock, but don’t really provide a huge amount of comfort when you hop into your sleeping bag. The next step up from the foam mats are camping air beds, which have an actual mattress that you inflate to give you a good bit of cushion between your back and the ground. These camp beds are very nice and comfortable, but some of them can get a bit bulky so make sure to watch out for camp beds that are too big or too heavy for your camping trips when you buy them.

Lastly, the top of the line in terms of comfort are camp beds that have an actual frame that lifts you off of the ground altogether. You set up the frame in your tent, put the mattress on top of the frame, and you’re good to go. You (and your wife) won’t feel a thing when you go to sleep except for the cool spring breeze.

The most mundane type of stool is the folding step stool. But for all its commonness, this handy tool is essential for the activities at home and at work. The nearby discount store will have a quick-buy option, but if you can take a little time to consider your options, you’ll end up with a long lasting, durable item. The simplest stool is perhaps the B&R EZ Foldz Step Stool (available at Amazon for around $14) with an ingenious design of small rectangles that fold out into a sturdy 9 inches high step stool with a respectable 300 pound weight capacity. And it closed into a 2 inch thick, 9 inch square. And for higher reaches and more business-like environments, the manufacturer Cosco offers their Three-Step Wood Folding Step Stool that folds out with a top step that is 13 inches high. Three 9 1/4 inch platform steps include a locking top step, and there is a safety rail across the top of the steps to make climbing more stable.

For outdoor activities, there are folding stools for camping, sports and field events and even light-weight hiking use. Some folding stools are even big and sturdy enough to do double duty as your full-time camping chairs. The simplest design may be the Camp Time Roll-Up Stool (Camp-Mor item #41198; $25). This item is made with three layers of strong polyester fabric and 1 inch diameter legs made of heavy gauge aluminum. The stool opens to 18 inches high and 14 inches triangular with a surprising weight capacity of 250 pounds. It folds to 4 inches by 24 inches and weighs a respectable 1½ pounds for light-weight hiking.

Photo by mihrimah

Other outdoor stools grow in complexity and price. The WALKSTOOL brand offers the “Comfort XXXL” model, an extra-large tri-pole design that sits 30 inches high and supports up to 550 pounds of weight. It only weight a pound more than the Camp-Mor stool and offers a little more utility – for a substantially higher price ($120 at various online stores). This sort of camp stool would go great beside the camping beds in your tent, and would give you a nice place to do some reading before you turn out the flashlights.

Indoor activities for folding stools include more than just daily activities. Wedding events, spectator and group events often take advantage of the quick-fold, storeable stool. Folding bar stools may be the most interesting example of an indoor, folding stool. These stools come in 24 and 30 inch heights and vary widely in design and composition. The manufacturer Linon offers its “Triena Pad Back 24″ High Folding Counter Bar Stool model for around $70, and you’ll like the “serious stool” look that masks the folding aspect of the chair. Many bar stool models are made to complement a folding bar, so the options are numerous.

But there are better folding tables and chairs available today, and some sets can even take on the daily demands for substantial and sturdy furniture. In particularly, one of the tables and chairs sets available today can, even though they fold, still handle serious responsibilities in the home.

If you live in an apartment or small home where space is limited, or if your family group is small and you often have other uses for the dining and working space, you may be interested in the Linon folding dining table and chairs, model #LHD-901NATAB. This remarkable set consists of a space-saving 2-leaf folding table, constructed for use in the kitchen, along with four chairs that fold and can be stored inside the folded table. The pieces are constructed of an attractive solid beechwood and veneer design, available in a natural or a cherry wood stain.

The size and flexibility of the Linon set are respectable. When opened, the table leafs extend to 58 inches wide by 36 inches deep, with a height of 29 inches. When the table is closed and the chairs are stored inside, the set only occupies a space 13 inches wide by 35.8 inches deep. Despite the total weight of 75 pounds, the casters and the handle on the closed set allow for easy mobility and storage: the table can be set up anywhere you need the surface. And while four chairs come with the folding table and chairs set, the table surface has room to seat a total of six people by adding two additional chairs.

Photo by Erik Mallinson

This Linon manufacturing company produces durable and solid furniture for the entire home. The company’s large distribution center is located in New Jersey, but their products are sold by various retailers through out the U.S. This particular folding table and chairs set can be found in both local Meijer and BizChair stores as well as on the online sites of Amazon, Onewayfurniture and CyMax. All retailers except Meijer offer free shipping. But the prices for the set vary: a check today of comparative prices shows the lowest cost for the 5-piece set is around $185 at Meijer (plus shipping if you order online). The highest price –but the best-rated online seller—is approximately $430 at Onewayfurniture, with free shipping. Amazon with its excellent return policies offers the set for approximately $275.

As with all purchases, confirm prices and reliability of retailers before purchase. Taxes and other local factors may add to or reduce your purchase costs.

The good news, though, is that there are reputable and substantial folding table and chair sets that can hold up to the every-day use of the kitchen and dining areas. If you need the space and the flexibility, you’re sure to find just what you need.

I also want something that looks like plush “indoor” furniture but which works outdoors just as well. I need attractive design, extra-comfortable construction: and both of these with durability and weather-resistant materials. I want to avoid the expected rag-tag webbed seating or the look of cheap metal outdoor folding chairs. And I have a reasonable budget – but I don’t want to break the bank. So what are my choices?

The manufacturer International Caravan offers several styles of the outdoor folding chair that might fit my need. One option is their Caravan Folding Chair for around $85. It’s widely available both in local stores and online at Wal-Mart and other retailers. I particularly like the bold wide wooden arm rests that also curve down to form the front legs. The actual frame support is a dark tubular metal, but at first glance the chair appears to be made of wood. The seating is a padded micro-suede material, so the impression the chair gives is that it is luxurious, comfortable and not restricted to outdoor use. Yet the Caravan Chair does fold, stores easily and even comes with a carrying bag.

International Caravan also offers its Steinly Outdoor Folding Patio Bar Chair. This too is an outdoor folding chair that could look at home indoors as well as outdoors on the deck. This item is constructed completely of wood and looks very classy. The attractive design on the fabric of the padded cushion seat can be matched to the décor of my entertainment area in colors and ambiance. The chair appears in several different stores and is available online as well, through Wal-Mart or Amazon, for example. The price varies, though, so I’ll probably go with the Amazon $125 rather than Wal-Mart’s $145 (prices are approximate and are subject to change, of course.) The weight of the chair is 33 pounds, so it will be a solid, stable addition to the seating I’m planning for the deck.

Photo by roger_mommaerts

I need one more complementary piece of seating, and I like the looks of the International Caravan 2 Seater Love seat. This item mirrors the sweeping wooden armrest and front leg of their Caravan Folding Chair, so the combination with this love seat will help pull together the furniture placed around the deck. The love seat is also built around the steel frame and uses the same micro-suede fabric for seating. I’ll plan to match the fabric colors for a final touch of elegance.

There will be children in the group for the first gathering I’m planning. I’ve decided against having kids’ outdoor folding chairs: the love seat will give a sturdy seating option for the younger folks without restricting the use for adults. And with a sales price of around $129, this option offers me the greatest use for my budget.

I am surprised to find that it is possible to do “opulent” and luxurious with simple outdoor folding chairs. And the prices aren’t bad, considering I’m getting something great for this weekend – and something that will store and look great for the indoor entertaining as well. Mission accomplished!

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.

Here’s an example: the extremely simple Sol Lite Folding Beach Chair. The hinged steel tubing frame (22 mm with powder coated finish) is either in the open or in the folded position. No assembly or set-up: just pop it open. The single piece mesh seating is attached to the frame and cleans with mild soapy water. The size is simple as well: almost 17 inches long and 14 inches wide, with a seat height of 23 inches off the ground. Cost is reasonable ($36) and this beach folding chair is readily available through Target stores, Target online, Amazon, and other beach chair retailers. The weight capacity is 260 pounds, a respectable strength for a chair of this size and design. But reviewers have given one consistent complaint: there are no arm rests. To really relax while seated, you may prefer to have some comfortable arrangement for resting your arms.

An alternative to the Sol Lite chair: the Cape Cod Folding Beach Chair sold by Brookstone. This chair covers all the bases. It folds; it is made of a hardwood frame that is naturally water-resistant; and the design offers integrated wooden arm rests and five different reclining positions. Both the construction and the materials are durable. The chair is comfortable, attractive and simple to use and store. The relatively high backing on the beach chair provides for actual resting, and while it lacks a foot rest, your body will be ably supported when you are seated. Simple, comfortable – but perhaps not the most affordable: it is priced at around $140. If you purchase the chair through Amazon (ASIN: B0017MQER8), you will at least have the reassurance that any problems in shipping or in quality will be supported with Amazon’s return and customer service policies.

Photo by Rdoke

For my money, something in between the higher priced Brookstone chair and the less comfortable Sol Lite item would be optimal. We’re still considering top choices in small beach chairs. So the extra length in folding beach lounge chairs is outside this search. Is there an in-between option while still keeping it small?

You may want to try something like the Kelsyus Beach Canopy Chair. It has the strong metal framework and the strong fabric seating piece. No additional length for the lounge or foot rest feature. There are arm rests, but they consist of the same tubular pieces as the frame. The price is more reasonable (around $60), and the chair offers the added convenience of a fixed, but adjustable, canvas shade. All of this fits in our focus for small folding beach chairs, and it matches our in-between price criterion. The final touch for your choice may be the fact that this chair, when folded, includes shoulder straps for hands-free carrying (much like a backpack beach chair).

If you need a small folding beach chair, and you want to keep it simple and affordable, check out the three chairs mentioned here. Keep an eye on similar products that you’ll find accompanying these three choices. When you’ve got a crowd and a load heading to the beach, you’ll need a small, simple chair. And you’ll be happy to find lots of choices on the market today.

Do you picture seating for a quiet but refined conversation area? Should the group dynamic be the focus rather than the furniture in use? Consider something like the Adirondack chair: made of durable wood, stable in construction, classic design. There are numerous retailers and manufacturers of the Adirondack chair, and you can even find plans to build your own. One product on Amazon offers woodworking plans for the Folding Contoured Lawn Chair by Classicraft (ASIN: B003MX6G7S). The end product is a contoured, wood-slatted chair with wide arms and an easy-to-fold plan making the chair easy to carry and store.

If you have in mind a set-up with actual chairs-on-the-grass, you might want to look at aluminum folding lawn chairs. These bring an outdoorsy but comfortable feel to the group area. Lightweight and very easy to store, folding web lawn chairs are flexible for whatever situation you need for a variety of group activities. The design lines vary: you’ll find the standard iconic American webbed seating with the strong nylon or polyester woven fabric strips forming the seat and backing. But you’ll also be able to find a folding aluminum lawn chair with a sling-type style: a one-piece rectangle of fabric attached to the scissor-style folding aluminum frame. Colors and sizes can work together to create a visually appealing seating plan outdoors on your beautiful green lawn.

Photo by splorp

Resin and molded plastic also offer great options for a folding lawn chair. And the silhouette for these seating designs comes in a wide range of styles. Target stores (both locally and online) offer the Kettler Caribic Armchair, made of white resin and a comfortable design (Catalog #10258712). Priced at around $190, this chair will prove to be a long-lasting and durable outdoor item. It offers 16 different seating positions and weighs around 24 pounds. The item as purchased requires assembly, but the high back and slatted seat of the finished chair will offer both comfort and easy access for lawn and patio seating.

The key to finding the perfect folding lawn chair for your needs is to shop around and do some research. You may be surprised at the wide variety in styles, design and construction materials that you will find on today’s market. There’s sure to be something just for your particular needs.