Sling chairs -How to find them & why you need one.
A handy guide to sling chairs & why I love mine
If you’ve been following my DIY kitchen makeover, you’ll know I was looking for a modern accent chair to put in the kitchen next to the DIY fridge surround after I’d changed the layout of the space – cue sling chairs!
This new location offered a lot more room for using the dining table but meant there was a sling chair-sized gap to fill in the kitchen. I researched sling chairs for a while and thought about the best style to use in the newly decorated kitchen. I decided that as there are lots of off-white, textured surfaces (mainly in the form of fluted MDF panels), LOTS of microcement and some black in the oven glass and granite worktop under the DIY coffee station, a simple modern armchair with a bit of black, not too fussy, more on the sleek minimalist side of things would work best so the Zinus sling chair was the perfect choice. .
I’d seen the By Crea chairs ages ago and they look really nice, but were waaay over budget at about £800 each! I’d even looked at whether you could make one, but I’ve not yet mastered a soldering iron so I decided to try and find an affordable version to buy instead. Sling chairs are not just limited to outdoor spaces—they also make a stylish and functional addition to your interior design. With their sleek design features, ergonomic support, and versatility, sling chairs have gained popularity as an indoor seating option. Whether you’re looking for dining chairs, lounge chairs, or casual accent pieces.
What are sling chairs?
Sling chairs are lightweight, versatile pieces of furniture featuring a sturdy frame—commonly an aluminum frame—and a stretched sling fabric for seating. These chairs are a staple in outdoor furniture collections, but also work brilliantly inside modern homes as you’ll see shortly.
Which modern accent chair did you buy?
In the end, I plumped for this simple, sling-style, modern accent chair from Zinus (available on Amazon, Wayfair, Mano Mano & The Range) that won an Ideal Home award the week after I bought it (great minds, right?!). It came as a flat pack, so I had to build it, but luckily it was really straightforward and included good instructions. I made a reel for Instagram showing the build process as a stop motion in case you’re interested, you can watch it here.
How much did your Zinus sling chair cost?
My Zinus sling chair was a bargain as only cost £93. I’d been tracking the price on Amazon for months and when it dropped below £100 for the first time I nabbed one!
The Pros of Indoor Sling Chairs
1. Modern Aesthetic
Sling chairs bring a contemporary touch to interiors, thanks to their clean lines and minimalistic appeal. They pair effortlessly with modern decor themes, such as industrial, Scandinavian, or mid-century modern styles. The metal finishes and sling fabric come in a range of colors and textures, allowing customization to suit your space.
2. Ergonomic Design
The sling seating provides natural lumbar support, making it an excellent option for spaces where comfort is a priority, such as a reading nook or home office. Unlike traditional chairs, the fabric adapts to your body, ensuring extra comfort for extended sitting periods.
3. Lightweight and Portable
One of the key benefits of aluminum sling furniture is its lightweight nature, making sling chairs easy to move and reposition. This feature is especially useful for multipurpose rooms or rearranging furniture for guests or special occasions.
4. Low Maintenance
Sling chairs are incredibly easy to maintain indoors. Most sling fabrics can be cleaned with a quick wipe using mild soap and warm water. Their durable construction makes them resistant to everyday wear and tear, perfect for busy households or commercial spaces like waiting rooms or cafes.
5. Versatile Applications
Sling chairs can be used across various indoor settings. Use them as stylish dining chairs, casual accent chairs, or even as a sleek alternative to traditional armchairs in your living room. Their adaptability also makes them an excellent addition to bar stools or lounge areas.
The Cons of Indoor Sling Chairs
1. Limited Padding
While the sling seating provides ergonomic support, it may lack the plushness of cushioned chairs. For those who prefer a softer seat, you may need to add cushions or select models with padded sling fabric. That’s the great thing about the Zinus model though, it comes with two huge, padded cushions making it super comfy and allowing you to really sink into it.
3. Not as Cozy in Cold Weather
Sling chairs tend to feel cooler to the touch, especially in chilly indoor environments. To counter this, consider layering them with a throw blanket or using them in well-heated spaces.
4. Weight Capacity
Some sling chairs, especially those with lightweight aluminum frames, may have lower weight limits compared to more robust indoor seating options like fully upholstered chairs or wooden armchairs.
FAQs About Indoor Sling Chairs
Are Sling Chairs Comfortable?
Yes, indoor sling chairs are highly comfortable due to their form-fitting comfort and supportive sling seating. They are particularly well-suited for casual seating, dining, or lounging.
What Are the Cons of Sling Chairs?
The main drawbacks include limited cushioning, potential fabric wear, and less warmth in colder environments. Despite these, they remain a stylish and practical choice for many indoor applications.
Are Sling Chairs Good for Your Back?
Absolutely! The sling fabric adapts to the contours of your back, offering natural lumbar support. This makes sling chairs an excellent option for dining or lounging, particularly if you value good posture and comfort.
How Long Do Sling Chairs Last Indoors?
Indoors, sling chairs typically last 10–15 years or more with proper care. Cleaning the sling fabric and aluminum frame with mild soap and a damp cloth can help preserve their longevity, especially in high-use areas.
Tips for Choosing the Perfect Indoor Sling Chair
- Prioritize Quality Materials: Look for chairs with durable sling fabric, which resist staining and wear.
- Match Your Decor: Consider metal finishes or wooden frames that complement your interior design.
- Think About Functionality: Opt for models with an adjustable back for added versatility, especially for lounge or work areas.
- Explore Versatile Uses: Pair sling chairs with a dining table for modern seating or use them as standalone accent chairs in living rooms or bedrooms.
Are Indoor Sling Chairs Right for You?
If you’re looking for lightweight, stylish, and easy-to-maintain furniture, indoor sling chairs are an excellent choice. Their modern look, ergonomic support, and versatility make them a great addition to any home or commercial space. Whether you need dining chairs, chaise lounges, or accent seating, sling chairs can blend seamlessly into your indoor decor.
What size accent chair should I buy?
This is a significant factor in your decision about which accent chair to buy. I’ve got this wrong many times and have chosen chairs that are too big for the room. We currently have two very nice but far too large armchairs in our front room from eBay a few years ago, where I got carried away with what a bargain they were! In time, we hope to move to a larger house where I’ll place the chairs in a larger room and they’ll be fab – they’ll need recovering by then of course, because they’ll have had a decade or so of children climbing over them and eating snacks in them (argh!).
When it comes to buying accent chairs, and that goes for modern armchairs or otherwise, you need to check that the chair is in proportion to the rest of your furniture, that there is sufficient room around it to move about and not feel cramped and that the room isn’t too stuffed full of furniture that it’ll feel smaller.
Is comfort important for a modern accent chair?
I feel like the obvious answer to this question is yes. However, some factors need to be considered here because there can be an element of a trade-off between style and comfort. How often are you going to use this chair? If it’s going to be your go-to snuggle-in for the night armchair that you slump into after a hard day then it’s very important that it’s extremely comfortable as you’ll rue the day you bought it every evening otherwise.
However, if you are purchasing an occasional chair that is going to complete a gorgeous vignette in the corner of your room that will likely only be sat on when you have several guests then style might win over comfort! I should add that I’m not suggesting you buy a modern armchair that is uncomfortable or desperately impractical unless perhaps if it’s supremely beautiful!
How important is quality in a modern accent chair?
Quality is one of those tricky things that it’s hard to set rules about without considering other factors. In an ideal world, we’d only ever buy the very best quality items that have been handmade by local artisans and will be passed down the family for years to come. In real life, budgets are tight and sometimes you really do just need a nice chair that’s reasonably priced, suits your style and that you’ll love for a good few years before putting it on Facebook marketplace and selling it.
One way to get better quality items than you might otherwise be able to afford new is to buy vintage or preloved. You can get some amazing armchairs in secondhand shops that might need a bit of TLC, but have ‘good bones’ and that kind of quality of craftsmanship shines through. When it comes to buying pre-loved modern armchairs you eBay is a good bet as is Facebook marketplace (although with the latter, you might need to travel to get the best bargains, unless you have uber stylish neighbours where you live that are prone to regularly refreshing their furniture).
If you are buying new, then ultimately, it’s your budget that dictates the quality you can afford, although price and quality don’t always correlate, so it’s worth doing research to check that you aren’t just buying a ‘name’. Looking for online customer reviews is a good way to get a feel for this as well as finding out about the company’s manufacturing process, do they import everything from China or are they made in the UK. Do they use sustainable materials and do they have programs to reduce waste and limit their impact on the environment etc.
Can you have two different chairs in a room?
Yes! In fact, you should aim to mix chairs and sofas where possible to avoid that matchy, matchy look that is considered to be a bit dated these days. If you look through magazines and rooms created by interior designers, you’ll notice that one of their tricks is to bring unusual chairs into a room to add character. Armchairs will often be made of or covered in a new material or texture for the room to create interest and personality.
