The Ultimate Guide to Buying and Caring for Adirondack Chairs

Few pieces of lawn furniture are more iconic than the classic American Adirondack chair. Gracing outdoor spaces from balconies to lakeside properties, these chairs offer a stylish look and absolute comfort as you enjoy outdoor scenery. If you have been planning to invest in Adirondack chairs, but aren’t quite sure where to start, don’t worry. We are here to help!

In this guide, we will explore how to buy the perfect Adirondack chairs for your space, and how to care for them so they look like new for years and years.

 

Finding the Right Size

Before you can find the best furniture for your outdoor seating zone, you will need to determine the right size. Take time to measure the area where you plan to put your chairs. This will help you find Adirondack chairs with measurements that align with what you are looking for.

To make things easier, when you shop on Highwood’s website, you can find dimensions and measurements by scrolling down past the images of each of our chairs.

You don’t want the Adirondack chairs to overwhelm your space, so take measurements, and then double check. You won’t regret it!

 

Choosing the Right Materials

While Adirondack chairs are traditionally made with wood, the market has really expanded in recent years. Today, you can find Adirondack chairs in a wide range of natural and synthetic materials–from all-natural wood to plastic. Ask yourself what material will look and feel the best for your property.

 

 

One increasingly popular option for Adirondack chairs is poly lumber. This material offers that classic wood style while also giving you the benefits of a synthetic alternative. Poly lumber Adirondack chairs can be left outside all year long, allowing you to save on storage space. Even better, they are a low-maintenance option that can be wiped down with ease.

 

 

Selecting the Right Color

Many Adirondack chair options also provide you the ability to select from multiple colors. At Highwood, our American-made poly lumber material is available in a wide range of colors that will give you freedom to get creative with your space. Hues of Black, Brown, Gray, Blue, White, and more are available for whatever Adirondack chair color would look the best in your space.

Best of all, we include UV inhibitors in our material to keep our colors from fading in the sun. Check out our product swatches to get a sample of our colors in person!

 

Picking a Style

Adirondack chairs come in several distinctive styles. Let’s look at a few popular options!

 

Classic Adirondack

The “Classic” Adirondack style is the well-known curved design that has been popular in outdoor furniture since the early 20^th century. Offering plenty of lounging space and that definitive summer feel, these chairs are an ideal addition to most outdoor spaces.

Highwood’s classic Adirondack chair is the beach town-inspired Classic Westport. Featuring a contoured seat, you can take in the scenery of your yard while you lean back and relax. If you’re looking for the tried-and-true Adirondack chair, this is the style you want.

 

 

Folding and Reclining

Folding and reclining Adirondack chairs take the classic Adirondack design, and add some modernization with convenient, adjustable frames. These models allow you to lean back however you like for relaxing, reading, or taking a nice afternoon nap. Many also fold for easy storage in the off-season.

At highwood®, our folding and reclining Adirondack chairs come in the form of our Hamilton and larger King Hamilton Adirondack chairs. As a more luxurious offering, we also have the Manhattan Beach Adirondack chair, inspired by California beaches.

 

 

Each model includes both the folding and reclining functionality, and they’re made 100% in the USA from our long-lasting poly lumber. Worry less about upkeep and spend more time enjoying nature!

 

Modern (Straight-Backed Chairs)

If you are looking for a little more support from your Adirondack chairs, you might enjoy this twist on the classic outdoor furniture design. Contemporary designs usually have a straighter back that will keep you propped up while you relax. Some of them also give you a little more clearance as well!

The Italica Modern Adirondack chair includes a tall, straight back with extra-wide boards. The chair’s arms and legs continue the theme of wider boards, so you’ll have plenty of room to stretch out while you relax. These stylish Adirondack chairs look perfect as part of a porch, patio, or balcony arrangement.

 

 

Adding Accessories

Once you have an Adirondack chair picked out, feel free to throw in some furniture accessories for extra comfort or convenience! Adirondack chairs are designed for comfort, but if you like to stretch out and really put your feet up when you go outside, then an ottoman might be right for you.

Highwood ottomans match the Adirondack style, so you won’t have to worry about clashing designs. If you’ve gone with the bolder, modern style, we made our Italica Modern Ottoman specifically to match that style of chair! We also offer Adirondack sets that include chairs and ottomans as part of one convenient bundle.

For some space to set books, coffee, or snacks, you can add a side table. Many are also available in folding versions for easy storage. Like our ottomans, we’ve crafted our side tables to match our Adirondack designs, so take a look and see what you like best!

As a new offering, we now have a Tete-a-tete connecting table for our Westport Adirondack or other stationary chairs (not built for our reclining chairs or Italica chairs). This small table is perfect for giving space for two, and allows you to keep your drinks or snacks close by as you watch the sunset together.

 

 

Caring for Adirondack Chairs

After you choose your Adirondack chairs and set them up, all you need to do now (besides de-stressing and relaxing) is maintain them, as needed, so your outdoor furniture stays looking nice. Keeping your Adirondack chairs looking and feeling great is as simple as keeping them clean and managing the occasional minor repair throughout the years.

Depending on the material your chairs are made with, you may want to cover them in winter. However, if you choose low-maintenance poly lumber chairs (like Adirondack chairs from Highwood), you can just wipe them down with water and soap after winter, and you’re good to go for the next season!

For more information on how to care for your Adirondack chairs, check out our detailed care and maintenance guide.

 

Which Adirondack chairs will be your favorites this year? Let us know in the comments!