We love things that look expensive, and we really love things that look expensive but aren’t (like things for kitchens, bedrooms, and bathrooms). You can get extremely cheap chairs and extremely expensive ones, but we set ourselves a limit of $150 (or thereabouts, making exceptions for a few that were too good to exclude or sets of chairs that break down to $150 or less per chair). Whether you’re looking to spruce up a dining table, a bar counter, or a living room, any of the options would be a good way to put those overworked Ikea chairs out of their misery.
Living-room chairs
This mid-century-style accent chair has a bent plywood back and a comfy upholstered seat.
You could buy a similar-looking chair made with leather at CB2 for $500 — or get this one for around a quarter of the price.
If you’re all set with living-room seating, we think this velvety scoop chair, which comes in 20 colors and patterns, would look elegant in the corner of a bedroom.
Jute is a woven natural fiber that gives any space a warm, tropical feel. Here’s an easy (and inexpensive) way to incorporate it into your space.
This denim and jute pouf is casual and design-y, and made from the same kind of textile as some of our favorite washable rugs.
Armchairs
The seat is big and cushy, but the slim wooden legs and light-colored fabric let it blend in without being too visually dominant.
This comfy upholstered armchair comes in 41 colors, so there’s definitely a color that goes well with your space.
Dining-room chairs
This dupe of the Wishbone chair, one of our favorite splurge-y dining chairs, is favorably reviewed and costs a fraction of the price of the real deal.
Another elegant option is this set of two rubberwood chairs, which we think would look quite nice around a circular table.
These upholstered bucket chairs are comfortable enough to hang out in around the dinner table for hours.
For a larger dining room, these tufted-leather chairs feel like sitting at a restaurant banquette.
These Cesca dupes have an upholstered seat instead of rattan, so you’ll save money on the inevitable repairs.
If shabby chic is more your taste, these dining chairs have some big Rachel Ashwell vibes for a fraction of the cost.
These acrylic Ghost chair dupes will match anything and are easy to clean — plus, they’re stackable.
Staining or painting this set of two highly rated unfinished hardwood chairs would make the perfect DIY project.
Stools
These Bentwood stools look a lot like Alvar Aalto ones (the way to tell the difference is that Aalto stools have three legs and most dupes have four) — but for a fraction the cost of one Aalto stool, you’ll get a whole set.
An abstract, hourglass-shaped stool that doubles as an end table. It’s made from durable ABS plastic so it can live outside, too.
If you’re looking for barstools, these are a nice, streamlined option that would suit most décor.
Here’s a faux-leather option with bent-wood legs that swivels. It also happens to be less than a quarter of the price of this very similar West Elm stool.
These woven stools, a dupe of the circa 1940s Risom chair, come in both 24- and 30-inch heights, so you should be able to find one that works for your space, whether it’s a countertop, home bar, or kitchen island.
Outdoor chairs
This set of cheery chairs come with a small matching table, ideal for a balcony or rooftop. And since they fold up, they’re easy to stow away and pull out during a (indoor) dinner party for extra seating.
If you have a bit more space to spare, this steel rocking chair will bring Palm Springs to your own lawn.
A classic lawn chair from the Strategist home catalogue that’s perfect for backyard BBQs.
An Adirondack chair that looks more design-y than average. It’s also weather resistant and made with stainless-steel screws, so you won’t have to worry about rust or mildew when it rains.
For the traditionalist, here’s a solid-wood Adirondack chair perfect for backyard hangouts.
These Danish-style folding wooden chairs seem destined to be pulled around a fire.
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