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Shopping Guide

Shopping for Outdoor Dining Chairs

Outdoor dining chairs have a hard job. They are expected to be comfortable and good looking, but they are also supposed to be easy to maintain, no matter what the weather brings.

“Maintenance is probably the biggest consideration,” said Charles de Lisle, an interior and product designer in Sausalito, Calif., who frequently creates outdoor dining spaces for his clients. “I like outdoor chairs that are hose-able and bulletproof.”

The trick, he noted, is balancing that durability with a pleasing tactile feel: “We often use teak or redwood because it’s a lot softer and warmer to sit on than metal.”

Cushions can help, but Mr. De Lisle recommends avoiding them if you live in the city. “They just get super dirty,” he said.

But wherever you live, he suggested finding a chair with a relaxed sitting position.

“It shouldn’t be as formal as an interior dining chair, where you’re sitting upright,” he said. “I like something that’s a little more lounge, where you can really hang out.”

• Are they easy to put away? Mr. De Lisle frequently uses folding and stacking chairs outdoors so they can accommodate numerous guests when needed, but aren’t always in the way.

• Is it better to choose a heavy chair or a light one? “I like chairs that are lightweight, so you can grab them and move them around,” Mr. De Lisle said.

• Is there a comfortable alternative to cushions? Yes, Mr. De Lisle said: “A mesh sling or woven seat.”

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Fiberglass-injected polypropylene chair by Josep Lluscà | $150 at Design Within Reach: 800-944-2233 or dwr.com

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Aluminum-and-woven-rope chair by Doshi Levien for Kettal | From $2,409 at Karkula: 212-645-2216 or karkula.com

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Teak chair with woven fiber seat and optional cushions by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby | $1,780 (as pictured) at Dedon: 212-334-3345 or dedon.de

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Weather-resistant wood chair with gray finish | $248 at Terrain: 877-583-7724 or shopterrain.com

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Folding teak chair with Sunbrella fabric from Skargaarden | $600 at Horne: 877-404-6763 or shophorne.com

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A version of this article appears in print on  , Section RE, Page 6 of the New York edition with the headline: Spring Is Here, Have a Seat. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe

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