Plastic chairs indoors: New styles and colors sit well inside - Western Eye

Sunset, May, 2002 by Jil Peters

A sudden need can open your eyes to new possibilities. That's what happened to Jennifer Kelsey, who bought the six bright orange plastic chairs for her dining area, shown above. "Because I was under the gun to throw a birthday party for my sister and I had no seating, I was on the lookout. Also, my boyfriend, who is a production designer, had told me that a variety of attractive stackable chairs were now available. I happened upon them at a Home Depot Expo Center." The vibrant hue makes a decorative accent in an otherwise neutral room. Kelsey sums up the attraction: "Everyone's so busy, but you still want quality, and these chairs looked great, were affordable, and were readily accessible."

Hemant Shah and Danielle Conrad had a similar experience. They were furnishing the breakfast nook of their San Francisco house (right) when a contemporary pale green plastic chair caught their attention. Its clean and simple lines are consistent with the lines of their other pieces, and its airy look makes sense for a casual, everyday eating area.

Using plastic chairs indoors is a trend that has been building for the past few years. According to catalog and Web furniture retailer Design Within Reach, new materials and technical innovations have led to increases in durability and design possibilities. Plus, they are easy to dean, lightweight, and versatile, and many cost less than $150 each.

Resources on the Web

An increasing number of plastic chairs are available via the Internet. The following sources specialize in contemporary furniture, including some plastic chairs: * www.designwithinreach.com * www.oriacdesign.com * www.umbra.com