Pia’s Picks: folding chairs that are better than regular ones
7.5.2026
Translation: Eva Francis
When you think of a folding chair, do you think campsite, a wobbly frame and the nagging suspicion that it might collapse underneath you at any moment? These designs have changed my mind. They’re clever, sturdy and take up hardly any space.
The real misunderstanding was never the folding mechanism as such. The fact is we haven’t taken folding furniture seriously for decades. And rightly so, as manufacturers didn’t produce models that would prove us wrong for a long time. Instead, the classic folding chair would feature an olive-green steel frame, brightly coloured stripes and that typical squeak with every wrong movement. But the folding chair situation has changed.
Stylish folding chairs
A folding chair that looks good has one major advantage over other chairs: it’s there when you have guests and quickly stored away when they leave. No disassembling, no searching for screws, no taking up space. All it takes is one hook on the wall and your floor space is freed up.
Designers have known this for a long time. In 1967, Giancarlo Piretti designed the Plia, a transparent chair that folds as flat as three centimetres. Today’s it’s on display at MoMA and is frequently cited, as by EN.Casa. David Chipperfield’s Piana for Alessi is the contemporary answer to this: minimalist, available in various colours and made of reinforced plastic. And those who like a bit of humour might appreciate the Mouth Chair by Seletti and Blow, a folding chair shaped like a pair of lips that proves practicality and decor can go hand in hand.
Source: Alessi
Outdoor chairs
The combination of fabric and wood ensures comfort and outdoor suitability. It’s also low maintenance. Oil the frame once a season, throw the fabric covers in the washing machine, and your chair will look as good as new.
Source: Kave Home
Source: Kave Home
Source: House Nordic
On top of all these great aspects of foldable tables and chairs, they’re also portable. Whatever you’ve planned – a picnic, at the lake, at the beach or on your balcony – they’ll go anywhere with you. Strictly speaking, Sunnylife’s sunbeds aren’t chairs, but they follow a similar design. They’re light, come with a carrying strap, are adjustable to six angles and are made of water-repellent, colourfast canvas.
No matter which model you choose, you won’t have to worry about a thing when you move next time. There’ll be nothing to dismantle or wrap up – just fold up your furniture and off you go. If you have limited space – indoors or outdoors – you no longer have to choose between style and practicality. Just fold open your furniture and enjoy. And when you have guests, do the same again!
In my Pia’s Picks series, I regularly showcase my favourite finds – things I might not need, but definitely want.
Header image: Kave Home
Pia Seidel
Senior Editor
Pia.Seidel@digitecgalaxus.chLike a cheerleader, I love celebrating good design and bringing you closer to everything furniture- and interior design- related. I regularly curate simple yet sophisticated interior ideas, report on trends and interview creative minds about their work.
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