Adirondack chairs, long a staple of vacation destinations and backyard firepits, have received a makeover in recent years. See how slight design changes have resulted in modern Adirondack chairs perfect for MCM outdoor spaces.
Modern Adirondack chair designs include rocking chairs, love seats, and even dining sets and seating groups. Many manufacturers offer matching footrests as well as side and coffee tables. I basically want all of them, and am happy to bring you my top picks.
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Short on time and looking for modern Adirondack chairs with quick shipping? Check out these top picks:
- Polywood Modern Adirondack Chairs: These top-rated chairs ship via Amazon Prime in many colors, available in some areas for next day delivery. I personally own these in white and ordered them from Amazon.
- Flash Furniture Charlestown Poly Resin Adirondack Chair:wood-toned resin chairs with Prime shipping and great reviews
- POLYDUN Adirondack Chair: bright and standard colors available in several colors with Prime delivery
- Looking for chair sets for a firepit or seating group? Check out Flash Furniture’s Charlestown Adirondack in white in sets of two or sets of four
In this Guide to Modern Adirondack Chairs
History of Adirondack Chairs | Modern Chair Design & Materials | Polywood | Design Within Reach | West Elm | Target | Room and Board | Outermost | Budget Styles
History of the Adirondack Chair
But first, a tale for around your firepit: the unassuming Adirondack chair has a bit of a storied past. The first Adirondack chair was created by Thomas Lee around 1903. Lee was searching for comfortable but sturdy seating for his vacation home in Westport, New York. He decided to create a chair himself, and designed several prototypes for his family to try. Their favorite featured wide armrests, a high back, and a slanted seat, and was a simple design which could be made from a single plank.
According to legend, Lee offered his hunting buddy Harry Bunnell, a local woodworker, the design so that he could make extra income over the winter. Bunnell began making the chairs for locals and secretly applied for a patent on the chair in 1904. His design was altered slightly and included the footrest we know today. Bunnell produced these chairs for the next 25 years under the name the “Westport chair.” Meanwhile, though, Lee’s descendants weren’t happy with his decision to share the design.
Bessboro Builders, a supply and furnishings company in Westport, NY, produces the “Westport Thomas Lee Chair,” which purports to be an exact dimensional replica of Lee’s original chair. I think it looks a lot like the modern designs below!
Modern Adirondack Chair Design
While the original chair called for a single, knot-free plank for the chair materials, later carpenters adapted the design to make it easier to produce. Over the years, most Adirondack chairs started to be made of multiple slats of wood in both the seat and the back.
Today’s modern styles feature a straight edge rather than a curved fan that forms the top of the chair back. They can be found in both natural wood as well as recycled plastic materials in an array of colors.
The Best Modern Adirondack Chairs
Check out this roundup of the best Modern Adirondack chairs including links to shop online.
Polywood Modern Adirondack Chairs
In the 1990’s, the Polywood brand began using recycled materials to create high-density polyethylene plastic for outdoor furniture. Their weather-resistant, fade-proof Adirondack chair is now available in a modern design, with a traditional flat back or a curved back panel for extra comfort.
Polywood also offers matching footrests, side tables, and coffee tables, as well as cushions. It’s hard to believe these chairs are made from recycled milk jugs and detergent bottles!
Design Within Reach Modern Adirondack Chairs
Modern furniture fave Design Within Reach offers an Adirondack that is waterproof, fade-resistant, and maintenance-free. It has a slightly sleeker design and also features a hidden bottle opener under one arm! DWR Adirondacks also come in both standard size and a larger version that adds an extra inch in height and width, and two inches in depth.
A second design, the Lollygagger, has an even more pared down design: a solid panel for the seat, and a two-section angled back. The Lollygagger doesn’t offer a footrest, though, while their Adirondack does. DWR’s chairs are made by Loll Designs, which developed a way to repurpose recycled plastic waste as a durable, all-weather, maintenance-free alternative to plywood for municipal skate parks and outdoor furniture.
Finally, DWR offers a version by Loll Designs of the original Westport Chair that started it all, designed by Thomas Lee in 1903.
DWR Adirondack Chair and Bench
- Shop on Design Within Reach: Modern Adirondack Collection, the Lollygagger, and the Westport Adirondack Chair
West Elm Modern Adirondacks
West Elm has a few options of understated modern Adirondacks that will offer a classy seating option for your outdoor seating area. Their Pitched Teak Wood Outdoor Chair with Ottoman is my favorite pick for beside the pool.
West Elm’s next entry on this list is coastal inspired. Made from moisture-resistant, sustainably-sourced eucalyptus wood, the Portside chair has simple lines and a rustic finish. It’s sold in singles or sets of two. There is also a footrest available, and tables in the same Portside line with a matching finish.
West Elm also offers a Modern Adirondack made from poly lumber plastic and a metal armrest.
- Shop on West Elm: Pitched Teak Chair + Ottoman, Portside Outdoor Adirondack and Modern Adirondack
Crate&Barrel Modern Adirondack Chairs
Crate&Barrel offers several Adirondack designs and accessories like footrests, side tables, coffee tables, and covers.
Their sculptural “Paso” chair is offered in both teak and poly lumber materials, all with a deep recline, streamlined double-slat seat and back, plank-style rear legs, and broad armrests. Left unfinished, the teak chair will weather to a silver grey, or it can be treated to preserve its original finish. The finish is care-free, both weather and UV-resistant, with more traditional colors like black, white, sand, slate grey, and sunset red.
C&B’s Vista II Adirondack is offered in an array of traditional and summery colors, including Lemon, Lime, Aruba, and Pacific Blue. With footrests and tables in the same stylish hues, Vista II is a perfect choice for a coordinated or rainbow seating set.
- Shop on Crate&Barrel: Paso Teak & Poly lumber Chairs and Vista II Chairs
Moore Collection at Target
Target has a collection of chairs in the same recycled materials that offer weather resistance, color stay technology, and low maintenance. The design is simpler, with two back panels and a flat front skirt rather than the curved ones available at other retailers. They also come in at a lower price point. Moore is available in many muted and bright colors as well as an adorable love seat, with an option of a matching side table (but no footrest).
- Shop at Target: Moore Chair and Loveseat
Room and Board Emmet Collection
The Emmet Collection at Room and Board features modern Adirondack chairs, footrests, rocking chairs, sofas and even a porch swing. Their chairs have a simple two-panel back design and a flat skirt, and the sofas come in both regular and tall sizing.
This collection is a great option if you want a matching seating area with cushions. Room and Board’s chairs are also made by Loll Designs (like DWR above).
Outermost Modern Adirondack Chairs
The founder of Outermost Home wanted to return to the elegant, dynamic form of the original Westport chair. Outermost’s chair is crafted of solid mahogany, notched for structural integrity, and finished using stainless steel fasteners. It’s available in natural, blue, grey, and custom colors.
Budget Modern Adirondack Chairs
Looking for some wallet-friendly options? Check out this roundup of budget modern chairs including plastic folding Adirondack chairs. Sites like Overstock and Wayfair also offer deals on open-box items. Click on each photo below to shop.
Original Vintage Westport Chairs
If you like estate sales and antique stores, keep an eye out for the real deal! Bunnell’s original Westport Chairs are identifiable by the patent number (US79477A) stamped on the back. They’re a hot collector’s item, though, so if you find them expect to pay in the thousands!
Ready for an outdoor makeover? Don’t miss my guide to the best mid-century modern patio furniture, including links to shop vintage and modern styles online!
Pin these Modern Adirondack chairs for later!
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