Folding Chairs Don't Have To Be Ugly. Here Are Our Top Picks For Cute Alternatives

Folding chairs are ingrained in hosting culture. They're as crucial to a party or get-together as any other element that adds space to your setup and comfort for your guests. If you love to have friends and family over, you likely have a selection of fold-out furniture stashed somewhere to make room when your staple pieces can't stretch to meet the guest list.

Folding chairs are one of many budget-friendly pieces of furniture that maximize space, and when it comes to them, you don't have to sacrifice style in favor of convenience. You may be surprised to find out that there is a wide variety of aesthetic folding chairs that not only match your interior or exterior decor, but elevate your space when they are in use, too. From wooden and upholstered designs to fold-out chairs that double as indoor or outdoor furniture, your guest accommodations do not have to remind them of a community center shindig, nor do they need to be made of hard plastic or cracked polyethylene.

It may have never crossed your mind to even shop for stylish fold-out chairs. After all, these chairs are meant to be hidden until they are absolutely necessary — when your guest list swells beyond your home's seating capacity. Shoved into closets, garages, outdoor sheds, or corners, these useful seats are meant to be functional, not pretty. However, by opting for some of these stylish chairs, you may decide to keep them out more often ... or at least show them off with pride when they are needed. If you're short on space but regularly host company, folding chairs are great pieces of furniture that you need in your kitchen or dining room.

While budget-friendly low-profile folding chairs from an affordable retailer like IKEA will certainly work in a pinch, why not upgrade so you're never embarrassed to pull them out? One of the easiest ways to find choice folding seats is to search for some that could pass as dining room chairs. The HOMEFUN Folding Chairs from Amazon, for example, are a good option. They're plush and cozy enough to feel like everyday furniture, stylish enough to blend in with a well-designed home, and compatible with a variety of interior themes and color schemes. The wood and upholstery combination make them modern but unassuming, meaning they could slot into any room without seeming bulky or awkward. This is a great starting point for finding the folding chairs that suit you, because if you like the idea of upholstery, products like the Meco STACKMORE Queen Anne folding chairs from Amazon are more traditional but also feature padding that is both comfortable and decorative.

Rattan and cane materials are always stylish. They especially look good in a room that uses a lot of white, but they can match many aesthetics. Another perk of these types of folding chairs is that they work both indoors and outdoors, so you can keep them on a patio until you need them for an event. If you want to buy from a brick-and-mortar store, Emma and Oliver Folding Rattan Chairs from Target are simple, neutral, and breathable for all climates. And if you want a stylish option that works well outdoors, don't give up on plastic chairs: Canglong Acrylic Folding Chairs from Amazon offer a great solution for durable materials that can blend into their surroundings easily.