The Adirondack chair gets its name from the Adirondack Mountains, the place where the first chair of this style was created. The Adirondacks were a popular vacation destination for wealthy industrialists like J.P. Morgan and Vanderbilt at the beginning of the 20th century and it is to these people that the comfort and style of the original Adirondack chairs appealed.

The first Adirondack chairs were made of hemlock and painted brown or green; these were called “Westport” chairs after the area in the Adirondacks where the carpenter who constructed them lived. These originals were signed by that carpenter and today can cost up to 2000 dollars.

The design has never lost the popularity it gained in the beginning of the 1900s and today many people all around the world, not just the rich and famous, count Adirondack chairs as part of their patio furniture. The style of the chair has actually even been incorporated in other pieces of furniture, such as porch swings, garden benches, the Adirondack rocking chair, and tables. You can even add Adirondack patio furniture such as settees and loungers. The popularity of the Adirondack style has led to the availability of a wide variety of Adirondack furniture for your outdoor living space.

The styles and designs in which the Adirondack chair can be found have undergone somewhat of an evolution, while still preserving the essential nature and feel of the chair. The original design included eleven flat pieces of wood, while modern chairs now sport contoured backs; many have rolled seats and backs that taper towards the bottom to match the curves of a person’s body and large, wide armrests.

These chairs are durable, attractive, comfortable, and solidly built. They are rustic yet distinguished. Materials that go into making these chairs now include pine, cedar, cypress, oak, teak, mahogany, treated lumber and even plastic. Each differs in its ability to resist scratches, insects, rot, and the elements in general. Mahogany is scratch resistant, while treated lumber is insect and rot resistant and it may be stained, painted or left natural. Cedar and cypress are strong and resistant insects and rot naturally. Pine is one of the easiest woods to work with, as it is soft; it gives a very rustic look to your furniture and is easily stained. Teak is a bit more expensive because it lasts very long; if you can afford it, using teak will ensure that your Adirondack chair lasts for quite a number of years.

Plastic Adirondack chairs are built in the same rustic looking and comfortable design as traditional wooden Adirondack chairs, though they are easier to clean and they are flexibly durable. Indeed, neither rot nor pests are a problem for this type of chair; a plastic Adirondack chair won’t mold, rust, crack, warp or be eaten away by insects. The plastic is treated with UV resistant colors, so your chair will continue to look fresh and new for years. These chairs don’t need the amount of care that wooden chairs need. They are available with curved, fan, or shell shaped backs.

Designs include closely spaced, narrow slats and traditionally wide Adirondack arms, which all make for the perfect relaxation spot. Materials are chosen to ensure that the chairs are lightweight yet durable, taking budget into consideration as well, obviously. A material like solid white pine, for example will make for a less expensive chair.

There are some styles, however, which do require you to spend a bit of money, though there are ways to cut costs. You can order a partially pre-assembled chair, which lowers price or you can order a completely unassembled chair which lowers price even more. There is also he option of purchasing Adirondack chair plans, which include Adirondack chair patterns, and wood and constructing the whole thing yourself. You can purchase plans at a bookstore, garden center, home improvement center, or even online. There are even free Adirondack chair plans. Though building an Adirondack chair yourself may not save you a great deal of money, it is a rewarding experience. Both the Adirondack chair plans free download option and the purchased plans are relatively simple and easy to follow. There are plans for folding chairs as well, which are a bit more complicated.

With minimal, but regular, care, even the wooden Adirondack chairs, Adirondack rocking chairs, and general Adirondack rustic furniture can endure harsh winters and summers without losing their quality. You may want to invest in furniture and Adirondack chair covers, however, just to be safe. Many chairs are now being built with a convenient folding design, so that you can easily fold the chair and store it during harsh weather.