Bali Chairs and Armchairs: Handcrafted Seating for Every Room
Seating is where people actually experience furniture. A dining table can be admired from across the room, a cabinet appreciated from the doorway — but a chair is assessed by sitting in it. The proportions, the height, the angle of the back, the depth of the seat, the surface of the material against your back and arms. These are the things that determine whether a chair is a daily pleasure or a daily compromise. BaliSouk's chair and armchair collection is designed and built with this understanding — every piece has been developed not just to look right, but to sit right.
The collection spans dining chairs in teak and rattan, armchairs for living rooms and reading corners, lounge chairs with upholstered seats, accent chairs that function as statement pieces in bedrooms and studies, and outdoor chairs for terraces and pool decks. Every piece is handcrafted in Bali by artisans who work with solid teak, natural rattan, and woven fiber — materials that develop character with use rather than deteriorating under it.
What makes Balinese chair-making distinctive is the integration of structural and aesthetic considerations at the design stage. Rattan doesn't just look good — its slight flexibility absorbs impact in a way that rigid materials cannot, making woven rattan chairs comfortable for extended sitting without requiring thick upholstery. Teak doesn't just look substantial — its density and grain stability mean a teak chair frame doesn't flex, creak, or work loose at the joints under years of regular use. The materials do work that design alone cannot achieve.
How to Choose the Right Chairs for Your Space
- Seat height for dining chairs: Most dining tables are 73–76cm high. Dining chairs should have a seat height of 44–48cm to allow comfortable seating with legs at a natural angle. Always check the seat height specification against your table height before ordering.
- Armchairs vs. side chairs for dining: Armchairs at a dining table take up more width — typically 60–70cm compared to 45–55cm for a side chair. At a large table, mixing armchairs at the heads and side chairs along the length creates a natural hierarchy that reads as considered.
- Armchair proportions for living rooms: An armchair that's too deep will feel like a sofa — comfortable but not responsive. An armchair that's too shallow feels perched rather than settled. Seat depth of 50–60cm works well for most adults. For reading chairs, slightly deeper and with a higher back is preferable.
- Material choice by use context: Solid teak dining chairs are durable and easy to clean — appropriate for kitchens and dining rooms where food and liquid contact is likely. Rattan armchairs are better suited to living rooms and studies where comfort takes priority over cleanability.
- Upholstered vs. non-upholstered: Non-upholstered teak and rattan chairs are simpler to maintain and more durable in high-use environments. Upholstered seats add comfort for extended sitting — our cushion inserts and seat pads are removable and washable.
- Outdoor chairs: Ensure any chair intended for outdoor use is specified for outdoor conditions. Our outdoor teak chairs are built and finished for exposure to sun, rain, and humidity — not all chairs in this collection are outdoor-rated.
Styling Chairs in Your Interior
Dining room: A consistent set of dining chairs reads as formal. Mixing two chair designs — matching chairs along the sides and a different armchair at each end of the table — reads as designed and considered. With BaliSouk's natural material palette, any two pieces from this collection will work together because they share a material language.
Living room accent chair: An armchair in rattan or teak placed at an angle to the sofa creates an invitation to conversation that a second sofa doesn't. Style with a small side table and a floor lamp — this composition works in every type of living room from minimal to eclectic.
Reading corner: A high-backed armchair, a floor lamp positioned above and behind, a small side table for a drink and a book. A jute or wool rug to define the zone. This is one of the most satisfying compositions in interior design and one of the simplest to execute.
Pair with Coffee Tables, Dining Tables, Textile, and Outdoor Furniture.
Materials: Teak and Rattan in Every Configuration
Solid teak is used for chair frames where structural rigidity and durability are primary requirements — dining chairs and outdoor chairs in particular. Teak's density and natural oil content mean that a teak chair frame doesn't flex, absorb moisture, or deteriorate at the joints under years of use. Surfaces are sanded to a smooth finish and treated with food-safe oil — relevant for dining chairs where food contact is likely.
Rattan is used for the seat and back surfaces of many designs, and as the primary structural material in our rattan armchair range. A skilled rattan weaver creates a surface that is simultaneously visually open and structurally strong — the weave tension distributes load across the whole structure rather than concentrating it at single points. This is why well-made rattan chairs remain comfortable and structurally sound for decades.
Some chairs combine teak frames with woven rattan or cane seating surfaces — combining the structural rigidity of teak with the visual lightness and comfort of woven fiber. These combinations are particularly effective in dining rooms where visual weight needs to be balanced against structural requirements.
Care and Maintenance
- Teak frames: Wipe with a damp cloth for everyday cleaning. Apply teak oil annually to maintain colour. For dining chairs, clean promptly after food contact — teak oil provides a degree of stain resistance but is not impervious to prolonged exposure to food acids.
- Rattan seating surfaces: Dust regularly with a soft brush. Clean with a barely damp cloth. Avoid excessive moisture — rattan absorbs water and can distort if saturated. Keep rattan chairs out of prolonged direct sunlight to prevent brittleness over time.
- Upholstered seats: Remove cushion covers for washing according to label instructions. Most BaliSouk seat covers are machine washable at 30°C. Allow to dry completely before replacing to prevent mould development in humid environments.
- Joints: Check periodically that all joints remain tight. Tighten any loose screws. Joint issues within five years of normal use are covered by our warranty — contact us if you experience any structural movement.
What Buyers Are Looking For
Buyers searching for teak dining chairs or rattan armchairs are often motivated by a specific aesthetic vision — the warmth and texture of natural materials in a space that currently feels too cold or too uniform. They want pieces that look good and feel good — that invite people to sit and stay rather than perch and move on. BaliSouk's chair collection delivers this: genuine natural materials, handcrafted construction, appropriate proportions, and a 5-year warranty that covers structural integrity.
BaliSouk Chairs: Handcrafted in Bali, Delivered Worldwide
Every chair in this collection is made by Balinese artisans with specific knowledge of teak and rattan construction, inspected before shipping, and backed by our 5-year structural warranty. We ship worldwide with appropriate protective packaging for individual chairs and full dining sets.
5-Year Warranty
All BaliSouk chairs and armchairs carry a 5-year warranty against structural defects including frame failure, joint movement under normal use, and manufacturing faults. Normal surface aging of teak and rattan is expected — structural integrity is guaranteed.
Worldwide Delivery
We ship chairs and armchairs worldwide. Individual chairs typically ship within 1–2 weeks. Full dining sets ship in 2–4 weeks with appropriate protective packaging. Contact us for destination-specific timelines and costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the dining chairs come with cushions?
Some chairs include seat cushions and some do not — check individual product listings. Matching cushion covers and seat pads are available separately in our Cushion Coverscollection.
What is the maximum weight capacity of the chairs?
Our solid teak chairs are constructed for standard residential use. Contact us if you have specific load requirements for commercial or hospitality use.
Can I buy a mix of chair designs for the same dining table?
Yes — and we often recommend it. Our natural material palette ensures any two chairs from this collection will work together visually. Contact us for specific pairing recommendations.
Are the chairs stackable?
Some designs are stackable and some are not — check individual product listings. If stackability is a requirement for your use case, contact us and we'll identify the appropriate options.
Are outdoor chairs available in this collection?
Yes — we have outdoor-rated teak chairs specifically built for weather exposure. Check individual product listings for outdoor suitability. These are also available in our Patio Chairscollection.
Explore Related Collections
Coffee Tables, Dining Tables, Stools & Bar Stools, Outdoor Furniture, All Furniture.
