Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

| By | | 569 Comments

Outdoors Chairs For An *Indoor* Dining Room

And now for a little chair-related riddle: What sucks more than buying eight chairs on craigslist only to realize that they’re really really not working after a year and a half of trying?

A: Buying eight chairs on craigslist only to realize that they’re really really not working after a year and a half of trying while you blog about it to the world at large. Haha. But you know we like to keep it real, so here’s the unfortunate chair lesson that we had to learn through trial and error. And boy were there trials. And errors. But you win some and ya lose some when it comes to making your house a home. So if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. And again. And again. Haha. The good news is that this whole journey into home-making has a happy ending, so let’s skip to the fun part:

Dining Chairs2

But wait. We’re getting ahead of ourselves. First let’s flash back to the whole struggling-to-make-our-original-eight-craigslist-chairs-work rundown:

  • First we found our $25 craigslist chairs and snatched them up – even though we hated the crazy hotel fabric
  • Then we hunted down some inexpensive slipcovers at World Market (score!) but they were too big (boo!) so we tossed them into the dryer and they shrunk up and fit a lot better (score!).
  • Then we dyed them a nice mocha color in the hopes of letting the dark teal backs of the built-ins do their thing (the original off-white tone clashed with all of the white trim and the built-ins in person).
  • Then we lived with them a bit and learned that they got baggy and messy looking after a week or two of washing them (boo!). Although they snapped back into shape whenever we washed them again, it was more maintenance than we initially thought (boo!).
  • So I actually tried painting one of the chairs a happy apple green using textile medium (epic fail!).
  • Then I tried spray painting them (knowing I could just toss the brown slipcovers back on if it didn’t work out, so I didn’t have much to lose). They were sleeker than the baggy slipcovers thanks to the tighter lines, but the swirled pattern showed through in texture, which was a little less than ideal.

Chair Changes

I actually ended that spray-painting post with this somewhat deflated statement: “As for how we feel, we’re still sort of on the fence. They’re definitely better (muuch better) than the green painted chair debacle. And in person we think they’re marginally better than the baggy slipcovers. But we’ll probably recover or replace them someday down the line. There’s probably a lesson in here somewhere about how $25 craigslist chairs might not always be the answer if they have a crazy pattern and don’t fit typical store-bought slipcovers. Ah well, live and learn.”

In other words I took all of my crazy out on those poor hopeless chairs. Then I gave them the silent treatment for a few months while slowly growing more and more frustrated with them. Eventually we faced the they’re-just-not-working music and said things like this and this to folks who asked about them. And the good news is that the fifth (eighth? I’ve lost count) time is the charm! The key wasn’t saving those chairs and desperately trying to make them work, it was setting them free.

Dining Chairs8

We’re planning to craigslisting the old guys in the hopes that someone who is much better at reupholstery than we are will be interested (they’re a great classic shape, but the fabric has to go) so we’ll keep you guys posted on what brave soul wants to keep giving these chairs a chance at survival.

But now let’s talk about the new chairs! They were actually a really good deal (just $62 a pop) and best of all, we love them just as they are. No more chair-speriments. At least in this room. The larger/cozier chair idea actually hit me one night while thinking about casual and super comfy dining room setups like this one from West Elm and this one from Ballard Designs:

Dining Chairs Ballard

Why do our chairs need to be tiny and why do there need to be eight of them? What if there were six big armchairs around the table? We still have seating for an additional four people at the peninsula (literally three steps to the left of the table) and if our family gatherings eventually get so big that we need to seat more than nine or ten people, we can always set up a kids table in the office since the middle of that room is clear (and that’s just three steps from the dining table in another direction). Plus seating for six in our first house’s dining area worked for the 4.5 years we lived there, so even just the four extra spots at the peninsula will be gravy.

So then I was on the hunt for armchairs, but because I worry about kiddos (& even adults) with a whole bunch of fabric + food, I had this very specific hankering for something wicker or woven. Just to add more texture and not have fabric that I have to worry about staining. The only bummer is that most wicker armchairs are in the $200-300 range a pop (like these $319 options from Ballard Designs, and these $299 ones from Pottery Barn). And then I found these. Four of them for less than the price of one of those others! And angels sang. Wait, that was just Clara in the background doing her Katy Perry impression (in case you’re wondering, if you ask her who her favorite singers are, they’re listed as follows: Katy Perry, The Chipmunks, Adam Levine, and Barney).

Target Chairs

Guess why they were so marked down? They’re actually outdoor chairs! And it’s the end of the season so they were on super clearance. I was really nervous to buy two 4-sets of them sight unseen, but I read that:

  • I could return them to any Target store instead of having to pay to ship them back if they didn’t work
  • By using our Target credit card the shipping was completely free
  • Also by using our Target card we’d score an additional 5% off (wahoo!)

So it felt pretty risk-free. Thank goodness, because at this point I’m suspicious of chairs having unforeseen issues. Haha. Oh and getting eight of them would mean that we’d have two extra chairs we wouldn’t need, so we could craigslist them, hopefully for $62 each since they’d be new/in the box and there are far uglier outdoor chairs on our local CL for $75 (so although we’d have to buy eight, we hopefully won’t lose any money getting those extra two by reselling them, and the per-chair cost will stay at $62). Update: Lots of folks are suggesting that we keep the other two for our deck or patio, which was definitely our first instinct, but we tried them in a few places and felt like we were forcing them, so we’d rather sell them and save up/wait for something that could work better in those outdoor spaces :)

Dining Chairs3

Then we crossed all of our appendages and knocked on wood while waiting for them to come (which makes Burger bark enthusiastically, btw – more on that here). And huzzah! They’re awesome! They make me want to sit cross-legged at the table for hours and draw with Clara (done!). I think they’ll be great for doing homework with her and stuff (they’re kind of cozy like an armchair) and I can’t wait to have a big family dinner with the grandparents and John’s sister so we can all sit and chat for a nice long time in them (who am I kidding, I have a toddler, I’ll be running around while they sit and chat).

Here’s a shot of John relaxing in one. We’re so happy they’re comfy and the right height for the table. Whew.

Dining Chairs12

Another great thing about them being outdoor chairs is that they have these great little durable seat cushions (they’re made to work outside, so they definitely can handle spills and wipe-downs – they actually feel impervious, like most things should bead up – which’ll definitely come in handy).

Dining Chairs9

I’ll keep you posted when it comes to how these babies wear – and how they work for homework, drawing, and hosting bigger dinners with the fam. So far they’ve been awesome for our little crew (they’ve already passed the Play-Doh test). The coolest thing is that because they’re outdoor chairs we can literally bring them outside and spray them down with a hose if need be.

Dining Chairs4

And I sort of love how everyone gets arm rests. It’s like we’re all sitting at the head of the table, which is kind of fitting since a round table doesn’t have a head.

Dining Chairs6

We’re so thankful. Seriously, I thought we’d never crack this chair code and in 2040 we’d still be blogging something like “so we cryogenically froze the chairs and we think that’ll work! Fingers crossed!” Why is it that failing a few times sometimes makes the simplest accomplishments feel monumental? We finally got dining chairs we love almost two years into living here! Somebody strike up the band!

Here’s the view from the kitchen. We love how the slatted wood stools and the woven dining chairs work together without feeling too matchy. They both bring a nice texture and warmth to the rooms without feeling overwhelming (since having so many seats in two adjoining rooms could easily get crazy-competey-looking).

Dining Chairs11

And so ends the epic 2010-2012 Chair Olympics that we hosted at our house. Sure, we lost the first six events (and you have to hand it to us, we really bombed a few of those times) but I might just be found standing on one of these chairs raising my fake gold medal up and happy-crying at the crowd. So it pays to keep at it until you finally get those “this is IT!” butterflies… even if they don’t come easy. In the end, we’re just happy that we didn’t have to spend 1K on a bunch of chairs, which was definitely our fear ever since we got our big ol’ table – but even with the loss that we took on those first ones (including all of our desperate attempts to save them) our total spent is still a few hundred less than that… and will hopefully be even less when we craigslist them. I think we just had to try the parson’s chairs and live with them to learn that we didn’t want to live with them. Haha. It’s like how you have to get that glittery purple eye shadow to learn that no (NO!) it’s not gonna work, and you should probably try something else.

What oops moments have you guys lived through lately? Any other furniture switchouts or upgrades going on? Between our new kitchen stools and these guys we’ve deemed this phase of home-making: “turning a corner.” It seems like we’re finally refining things, working out little nagging issues, and bringing in more texture & natural tones (which we loved in our first house) to mix with the pops of color that we’ve fallen more in love with since moving into our current house. It’s actually pretty normal for us to take a year or two to get our bearings, so needless to say, it’s pretty fun to be making those “that’s it!” tweaks in a few rooms that we use all the time. We knew we’d get there someday. Never mind those five other untouched rooms that we have yet to start. Haha.

Comments

  2. JP says

    Um, I’ve never left a comment here before, but ya’ll – Great job. For real. That is one million times better – kittens & milkshakes all around!

    Reply

  3. lupita says

    The new seating additions in your home make everything look more substantial. :) The moment I saw the picture of your dining room, I though, “Oh my god, yes!” These chairs work so beautifully with that table and space. You guys just upped it a few levels. Go you! :D

    Reply

  4. Krista says

    I really like your recent additions of natural finishes in your home- i.e. wicker chairs and stained wood stools. The mix of natural finishes and a few painted pieces makes it much more homey and interesting.

    Reply

  5. Caitlin @ Desert Domicile says

    Yet again, I have chair envy haha They look so good with your table and your dining room – well, your whole house actually! – is starting to look like a beachy retreat! How much more do you have to do in the dining room besides refinishing the floors?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We need a giant chandelier! And a cabinet on that bare wall to the left of the opening to the kitchen. And maybe a rug down the road. But it’s getting there!

      xo
      s

  6. Alecia says

    Looks fantastic!!! Really loving the new chairs. I can totally see a fiddle-leaf fig tree in the corner near the bookcase and kitchen wall, and a show-stopper pendant light over the table… :)

    Reply

  8. hillary says

    I love the new chairs! I think they fit the large space better, and they are really welcoming as the first sight when you enter your home…kind of a transitional living/dining space instead of a “sit up straight and mind your manners” dining room. They also work really well with the rustic table!

    I’d probably hoard the other two chairs, though. They seem like they might be a fit in the sunroom or future playroom with a cute cushion or two, and if one of the dining chairs suffered some unfortunate mishap you’d have a replacement waiting in the wings. But that’s just me and I do understand not wanting the extra clutter!

    Reply

  9. Tracie says

    Good for you guys! Over Labor Day weekend I finally gave up trying to make my “project” mid-century modern table work in favor of an antique set. Now I’m ready to craigslist the old table and let it find a great forever home: http://middleclassmodern.blogspot.com/2012/09/duncan-in-house.html . I was so excited about the set that after I finished moving around all the furniture I forgot to prop everything back into position. The bookshelf looks crazy!

    The new chairs look so cozy, and they really help warm up your dining room. And for holiday dinners your wooden folding chairs on the patio are really awesome, and I bet would work well in a pinch.

    Reply

  11. Emily says

    I am loving this evolution. A hard lesson to learn, but a good one. I bought 4 dining chairs with upholstered backs and seats (complicated upholstery, mind you) thinking I could DIY myself some awesome chairs. Two years later and I’m selling the chairs, as is. I never got the courage to try it myself, and I wished many times I had simply bought chairs that I liked as is rather than apologizing to guests for our ugly chairs. Anyway, these new chairs are awesome! I’m seriously loving all the natural tones you’re bringing in. But please, can you still cryogenically freeze your chairs? I think that’s just what your blog needs. ;)

    Reply

  13. Anna says

    Nice change! They look so cozy. Sure you will stay longer chatting after dinner with your guests!

    I’m picturing a little older Clara doing her homework there, when outside is dark and cold and inside is warm and welcoming.
    Does Burger approves them?

    Reply

  14. Emma (Broke Ass Home) says

    Sherry & John-

    LOVE the chairs! And with a toddler it’ll be so nice to be able to spray them down. I agree with other people though, I’d be tempted to find a home for those other two chairs (like the new deck or something) just in case something happens to one. Never hurts to have extra USEFUL things!

    Reply

  16. Liz says

    So fun! They look great! I had a similar moment this weekend. We’ve been living in our house for about 1.5 years and never could get the layout of the living room right. It’s a very large room but it’s a lot longer than it is wide and for some reason the furniture layout had me completely stumped. This weekend I got completely fed up with it and begged my husband to move our furniture around, drag pieces in and out of other rooms, (I’m 8.5 months pregnant so moving tons of stuff around isn’t really an option for me right now!) and finally got it just right. Now I’m in love with our house all over again. Woo Hoo!

    Reply

  17. Suzy Bryan says

    It so pays so be patient & not rush design. Love, love, love the wicker chairs….like you said brings so much texture to the room now. Bringing the outdoors in. I have found outdoor rugs are also so much more affordable than your typical area rug. Can’t really tell the difference. Another score at Target…gotta love it!

    Reply

  24. Bethany Annechino says

    I have to assume someone else comments about it (but can’t be sure because there are already so many comments and weeding through them all sounds like a nightmare), but…

    Is this a “twinkie” thing where you and Katie now have some kinda matchy furniture? These remind me so much of the chairs that she has at her place. It’s the adult version of matching clothes or jewelry!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Haha- it’s so funny you say that because I called her and said “I’m on the wicker dining chair train with you, choo choo!” I love her chairs too (seeing them in person, they’re even more amazing).

      xo
      s

  25. Tara says

    I love reading your blog and am glad to see you guys embracing natural wood! Sometimes there’s a little too much “painted stuff”… these chairs and the new barstools look great!

    Reply

  28. linda says

    Excellent choice. I have similar shaped wicker chairs on my screened porch and am just about to spray paint them with Orb. We love lingering around the table, especially with company. More comfy than our indoor dining room There are fabulous outdoor fabrics should you ever want to recover the cushions just to mix it up. Easy to do.

    Reply

  29. angel says

    You guys! I finally had my mind made up for what chairs I will put in my new dining room and now you’ve gone and thrown me for a loop. LOVE THESE. I would have never ever thought of this idea (I laughed at the golden girls comment because that’s my feeling on wicker too) but they look perfect for your space! Oh and I am drooling over those stools. As for the comment about the shelves looking “junky” I respectfully DISAGREE.

    Reply

  30. Sandi says

    The table really looks warm and inviting with all that wicker love hugging it. And it really does play well off your CL kitchen stools and your vintage piece by the front door. I might be interested in purchasing the extras if you don’t already have a taker and I am local. In any case, congrats on a great find!

    Reply

  32. Jen@The Decor Scene says

    LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! These are perfect for the space. You have found the right chairs for the table. They look happy together. Nuts the chairs are now $399. Boo! :( I was going to buy them for the $249. I’ll have to keep an eye on them for now and see if it changes again. ;) I would love these for our Sunroom.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I can’t believe that price change! I don’t understand it because they’re outdoor chairs, so I’m stumped why they would drop and then go back up? Can anyone who works at Target or somewhere similar weigh in on why that might happen? I’m so curious!

      xo
      s

  33. Megan L says

    LOVE THEM, they look great!! Wait, did I miss something with the new stools in the kitchen?? How the heck did I miss that?!!?

    Reply

  35. Jessica says

    Hi Sherry and John,

    This is only loosely tied to today’s entry, so no need to post (love the new chairs, btw!)…

    If you ever need subject matter for a blog entry (ha!), I would love to read one devoted to how you go about listing and selling and even buying all that you do on Craig’s List. I am curious how you approach the process, especially having strangers coming to your home to look at items you are selling, if you vet them first somehow, how you establish a comfort zone, etc. I often think there is much I could/would list on Craig’s List, but I worry about having people I don’t know coming to the house, so that tends to stop the process before it even gets started!

    Would love to hear your always well-articulated thoughts on the matter!

    ~ Jessica

    Reply

  37. Katrina says

    The chairs look fantastic!! I’m so glad you switched the old ones out, they just weren’t working and I felt always look a little dinky compared to your table

    Reply

  38. Sarah@SBrandesDesigns says

    As much as I love the shape of parsons chairs (saving up to be able to buy a new dining set next year & parsons chairs definitely on my wish list) I have to admit that the size & shape of these chairs make your table look more properly scaled for such a large room. It is funny how there are 2 less chairs, but this look just seems so much more substantial. Great improvement.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hahaha- heck no! He’s going gray a little bit, and we spent some time in the sun – so that’s a mixed and matched gray + sunned look. Haha. I think it’s cute.

      xo
      s

  42. Chris says

    It’s probably just the wicker — but these remind of the 70’s hanging wicker egg chair my grandparents had in their house. Which is great — I remember you wanting/liking the egg style chairs. They look great around the table — love that table too!

    Reply

  44. Kylie says

    Ugh, I feel you. Why do we work so hard to make something right when we knew it was wrong in the first place? I finally took down the floating shelves in my dining room, on which I’d been shuffling mismatched junk for the past year, and replaced it with a ginormous mirror. It looks amazing and I feel silly for wasting all that time trying to make them happen. I love your chairs!

    Reply

  45. Amanda says

    Outdoor anything is great for the kitchen. I used an outdoor rug under my table and it’s made clean up so much easier. I have 3 boys under five and I’ve scrubbed anything from chocolate milk to ground in jelly with soap and water and it’s still looks brand new, not to mention there really affordable. Love your chairs!

    Reply

  46. Annie says

    HALLELUJAH! HOORAY! The ugly parsons are GONE! ;)

    I’m so with you on trying to make something work. It’s a GREAT quality to have. But also good is knowing when to quit.

    The new chairs are perfect. They tie the kitchen and dining room together. Cool paint and accents with warm wood tones in chairs/stools, married with crisp white.

    Lovely job, guys!!

    Reply

  48. Nicole @ Post Grad says

    Love the new chairs! They are soooo much better. It’s funny – I hadn’t thought the others were really all that off before, but now looking back, I can see they just weren’t right for the table, the room, your style, etc. Yay for such a great find!

    Reply

Stuff We Love

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *