This feels like a very optimistic post to write two days into 2021 with the end of the pandemic nowhere in sight, but here we go anyway. At the start of the pandemic we invested in a couple of slim folding chairs that fit in our bedroom closet, taking up about as much room as a dress or two. The intention was to have some extra seats when we have friends over for dinner. After we bought the chairs I don’t think we have had friends for dinner since (well maybe a handful of times). To think we used to complain a bit about our noisy chaotic dinners with 6 or more adults + 6 or more kids in 600sqft. They were so loud and hilarious and sometimes disastrous but mostly wonderful. What I would give to have one of those noisy dinners tonight!

Anyway! I have to believe that some day soon we will be able to have close friends and family in our apartments again. Also in these past 9 months or so I have realized parts of our space were mostly for entertaining and having not entertained in so long I wanted the space to be more edited when we don’t have guests but be able to accommodate them easily when we do. As mentioned in this post we now have two dining chairs and a bench seat (seats 4-5). Then we have the two folding chairs (now seats 6-7) plus a side table that could add an eighth seat (though the table space would be limited). I also believe folding chairs can be useful for a sometimes home office space or additional seating on a small patio.

My folding chair choice was from Resource Furniture. I bought these chairs and this post is not in partnership with Resource. I am just a forever customer. I was initially looking at the wood version of this chair and then Alexandra kindly suggested that there was a metal and plastic version that was more affordable and that is also suitable for outdoors. This seemed like a better option for us especially with the wear and tear our chairs take. I am so happy with the comfort and quality of these chairs and have actually sat in them myself for long dinners. You have to request a quote (my finish is not listed on the website but I would inquire if you are interested) but the price point is in the middle range of the chairs below.

For our space it was worth spending more to save a few inches of space as we did not have space for 5” deep chairs. But if your space is larger or you have an extra wall I think a folding chair hung on the wall with a nice hook can actually be quite cute. Or if you have an unused corner of a closet, under a sofa or a bed can be good hiding spots. Friends of ours hung spare chairs on the wall in a stairwell at one of their apartments and I always loved that use of space.

As I never want to only offer you what we do in our space… below is a round up of some currently available folding chairs of varying price points. Be sure to confirm you have a spot for them folded up before you buy. And also I would encourage you to be sure you will get use out of them before you buy because the thinnest folding chair is no folding chair, if you get what I mean. Also don’t forget this previous post about side tables doubling as stools.

Here’s to hopefully more entertaining at home in small spaces in 2021!!

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 (affiliate link)