Decorating
Decorating: 10 Reasons to Love Folding Bistro Chairs
An utterly affordable design classic, the folding bistro chair is not only great looking, it’s incredibly versatile, too
Lightweight and capable of folding flat for storage, the bistro chair was designed to grace the pavements of French cafés and then be folded and stored at the end of the day. Its design is brilliantly simple, comprising a metal frame and wooden slats for the seat and backrest, and from this classic piece, a thousand lookalikes have been spawned.
Today, bistro chairs are available spray-painted in neon shades or sporting plastic slats instead of wood, but the same folding concept and light frame still features. It’s a timeless design: attractive, inexpensive and versatile. No wonder the bistro chair plays so many roles, both indoors and out.
Today, bistro chairs are available spray-painted in neon shades or sporting plastic slats instead of wood, but the same folding concept and light frame still features. It’s a timeless design: attractive, inexpensive and versatile. No wonder the bistro chair plays so many roles, both indoors and out.
Go rustic
In its simplest form, with wooden slats and a dark metal frame, the bistro chair is a great fit with a rustic scheme. The wood and metal are age-old materials that belong in a room with vintage elements and they have a relaxed feel that perfectly suits the earthy vibe of rustic rooms.
In its simplest form, with wooden slats and a dark metal frame, the bistro chair is a great fit with a rustic scheme. The wood and metal are age-old materials that belong in a room with vintage elements and they have a relaxed feel that perfectly suits the earthy vibe of rustic rooms.
Slip into a small space
The bistro chair’s light silhouette makes it a perfect fit for a small space, with the added bonus that it can be folded up and stored out of sight to free up more room.
The bistro chair’s light silhouette makes it a perfect fit for a small space, with the added bonus that it can be folded up and stored out of sight to free up more room.
Punctuate an all-white scheme
The metal frame of a bistro chair has legs with an attractive crossed design. So celebrate their shape by using dark bistro chairs in an all-white scheme. They will help to add definition and their pleasing form will be shown off to its best, too.
The metal frame of a bistro chair has legs with an attractive crossed design. So celebrate their shape by using dark bistro chairs in an all-white scheme. They will help to add definition and their pleasing form will be shown off to its best, too.
Use as a bedside table
In a vintage-chic bedroom, the versatile bistro chair makes a pretty and informal bedside table. Keep it there permanently, or simply use it as a quick fix solution while you hunt for a more solid piece.
Check out how to find the right bedside table for your room
In a vintage-chic bedroom, the versatile bistro chair makes a pretty and informal bedside table. Keep it there permanently, or simply use it as a quick fix solution while you hunt for a more solid piece.
Check out how to find the right bedside table for your room
Employ as a bedroom chair
A chair in the bedroom is an invaluable addition, often serving more as a temporary home for clothes than a seat. With this in mind, choose a bistro chair, which will take up much less space than an armchair, but still look great and work hard, too.
Dicover 10 reasons to love see-through seating
A chair in the bedroom is an invaluable addition, often serving more as a temporary home for clothes than a seat. With this in mind, choose a bistro chair, which will take up much less space than an armchair, but still look great and work hard, too.
Dicover 10 reasons to love see-through seating
Team with a bench
Built-in bench seating, a long refectory table and some folding bistro chairs could just be the dream team of flexible, cater-for-a-crowd seating. Benches are great for accommodating lots of diners, particularly children, who are usually happy to scrunch up on them, while the folding chairs keep a big dining table looking light and informal.
Built-in bench seating, a long refectory table and some folding bistro chairs could just be the dream team of flexible, cater-for-a-crowd seating. Benches are great for accommodating lots of diners, particularly children, who are usually happy to scrunch up on them, while the folding chairs keep a big dining table looking light and informal.
Choose in a fresh colour
Bistro chairs are made today in a huge range of colours, so if you want to introduce a pop of the bright stuff, choose one in a zingy shade.
Bistro chairs are made today in a huge range of colours, so if you want to introduce a pop of the bright stuff, choose one in a zingy shade.
Colour-up a patio
Bistro chairs were designed for use in the street cafés of France, and for that reason make wonderful patio furniture. Team them with a similar-looking folding table for a simple, timeless set that will suit almost any outdoor space.
TELL US…
Are you a fan of the folding bistro chair? Tell us why in the Comments below
Bistro chairs were designed for use in the street cafés of France, and for that reason make wonderful patio furniture. Team them with a similar-looking folding table for a simple, timeless set that will suit almost any outdoor space.
TELL US…
Are you a fan of the folding bistro chair? Tell us why in the Comments below
If you are hunting down vintage bistro chairs, particularly for use in the garden, expect them to feature some signs of wear, from flaking paintwork to patches of rust. But don’t be put off – the more battered the better! They will give your garden an unpretentious and vintage air and you won’t feel so concerned about leaving them out in the elements, either.