Homesteading, or living off-grid, doesn’t have to mean that you don’t have beautiful as well as functional furniture. While it is important to choose furniture that is durable and stylish, you really need to make sure that you are getting dining chairs that will hold up against the elements. Particularly if you are not going to be using central heat or air conditioning, you’ll need furniture designed to withstand such extremes.
Here are a few other things you need to keep in mind when you select beautiful dining chairs.
Choose durable materials and construction
When most people think about beautiful dining chairs, they automatically think of carved wood dining chairs. But wood may not be the most durable material for your climate. In regions with extra humid climates, wood furniture will take in moisture from the air and swell. Eventually, it will begin to rot and crack.
However, you can get your solid wood dining chairs treated against the elements by an expert woodworker. You should be able to find someone who can treat the dining chairs for you in your local area.
On the other hand, regions that are very dry are perfect environments for certain types of wood, particularly white fir. White fir will not only hold up well in dry climates, but it is also a natural pest repellent.
If you really want to make sure that your furniture will last but you want dining chairs that look somewhat cozy or elegant, synthetic resin wicker is the way to go. Resin wicker dining chairs look just like rattan wicker, but their synthetic nature means that they are even more durable for any climate or environment. They can also come with beautiful upholstery that makes you feel as though you are sitting on a throne while you are dining.
Upholstery matters
Some upholstery holds moisture, so if you are in a humid climate they aren’t going to be ideal. Just about any natural fiber is going to break down under the strain of long-term exposure to moisture. Your best bet here is to get a polyester upholstery that has been scotch guarded.
Polyester is an ideal upholstery option for homesteaders because it is extremely durable, heat and fire-resistant, and easily maintained. It also doesn’t get fabric dry rot like cotton, linen, bamboo, or rattan when exposed to humidity. Scotch guarding the cushioned seats of your dining chairs further protects them from spills and stains.
If you are determined to have only natural materials in your homestead, consider leather dining chairs. They will last the longest on your homestead because leathers and hides have always been used in such ways. You can treat the leather, suede, or other natural fibers with scotch guarding or similar treatments to help your natural textiles last longer. This is usually done to protect furniture from spills and stains, but it also helps decrease the likelihood of the upholstery getting fabric dry rot.
