Director's chairs have been in fashion since when Hollywood had just started making films. Back in those days, seating that was lightweight, portable, and comfortable was needed on the set. Chairs that had wooden frames and canvas seats are seen as the most convenient chairs around. When it's time to pack up and move on to the next location, these chairs can be easily folded and stacked.



I. Benefits

- Easy to carry

- Very movable

- Provides extreme comfort

- Ideal for movie directors

- Has a lot of style

II. Chair History

Then in the Seventies, going to concerts has become the passion of the generation. Concerts held outdoors were a regular, so was the need to have your own seats. Director's chairs were a big hit for regular concert-goers. Easy to carry, easy to assemble and disassemble, and lightweight, these chairs were the best seating answer for concerts and various outdoor events. Since then, it has become a staple not only in outdoor events and movie sets, but also in homes, gardens, in the libraries, in waiting halls, everywhere.

III. Directors Chair Buying Tips

1. Look At The Frame

Look for the chair that has a good frame that could give a solid support base. Generally, most of the director's chairs have cross frames that are X-shaped. If you are starting with having director's chairs, you could begin with these X-shaped chairs as the structure is solid and durable. Most chairs come in various wood choices: walnut, black, varnish, or white.

2. Check The Canvas

Most chairs available have sling seats as well as backs as canvas. Shop around for a chair that has a flexible and adjustable seat and back. Some canvas comes in different colors. Look for a chair canvas that could be replaced at an instant. This feature is particularly helpful, for example, when you want to change the color and tone of your house or rooms and want to change the colors of the seats and backs of your director's chairs as well. In the 70s, in fact, some of the most popular items in a catalog from Lillian Vernon were director's chairs that had been personalized and come in pink or blue. The blue one had been embroidered and had sailboat motif. The pink one, on the other hand, had the pattern of ballet slippers embroidered at the back. Most chairs today come in different color choices: royal blue, black, burgundy , red, navy blue, white, hunter green, periwinkle blue, carribean green, khaki (tan), and natural..

3. Check The Material

Newer versions of director's chairs have been made of polypropylene frames that are ultra lightweight. Some even had their own cases plus shoulder strap ready to be carried around. Instead of canvas as back and seat, some are using rip stop nylon which is definitely lighter compared with the ordinary canvas. Plus, it dries quicker and is more comfortable and cooler to sit on. Now, if you have director's chairs but have grown old through time, don't worry. If you feel that your old chairs are still usable, here are some tips to make them look new.

- Remove the chair's old covers. The frame should be washed using a detergent that is mild for you to get rid of any excess or accumulated dirt.

- Once you have a dry frame, sand the frame's edges using sandpaper of medium grade. This will give the frame a weather-beaten effect.

- Use the old covers as your pattern in making new chair covers. Cut out new ones from denim or any other material. Do not forget to neatly hem the cutouts' edges.

- You could purchase an alphabet stencil or make one from your computer. Print out the letters or if you are using stencil, make sure that you take great care in cutting out the letters using a knife

- If you are to use a stencil, draw the word first on a paper so that you could estimate the space it would take up on the back of your chair.

- Put the chair flatly on a surface and firmly attach the stencil on it using a masking tape. Cover the nearby areas with paper (newspaper, among others).

- Before you spray, make sure that the area surrounding the stencil is protected well.

- Instead of applying on heavy coats on your chair's back, put a number of light coats, until all the letters have been completely filled in. You could also use fabric paints or pens to draw a design.

- For added accent, you could randomly put diamante beads and sequins on the design. After your decoration, put back the covers to the chair's frame.