The 9 Best Butterfly Chairs
Special Honors
Big BKF Buenos Aires Butterfly Chairs This company helped set the industry standard for high-end butterfly chairs when they started in 1999. Today, all their units are artisan-made with hand-selected, genuine Argentine hide sourced from grass-fed cows. The company is based in the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires, which is renowned for the quality of its leather goods. Browsing the options available on their website, you'll notice natural range marks, scars, and wrinkles which speak to the authenticity of the hides they use. As you may expect, these only develop more character as they age, too. bigbkf.com
Cuero Design Butterfly Chairs This company's premium catalogue boasts high-end materials that give its chairs an edge over a majority of its competitors, most of which are focused on making budget-friendly, middle-tier products. Cuero's chairs may cost an arm and a leg, but they're made well enough to last a lifetime — and perhaps longer — serving as potential family heirlooms. Whether you're looking for a plush, grey-sheepskin seat; a supple, Italian-leather one; or even a less costly, more simple, hemp canvas cover, they have multiple options, each with its own appeal. cuerodesign.com
Editor's Notes
September 07, 2020:
To suit various style sensibilities, we've kept options that range from casual to handsomely elegant, so there's one for your dorm, home library, living room, porch, and more. In fact, some are versatile enough to tag along with you on outdoor adventures; these include the Byer of Maine Sling and the Helinox Chair One. The Byer of Maine model is attractive, with a reliable wood frame and a green cover that complements the wood perfectly. The Helinox version has a more utilitarian vibe; it would make an excellent camping chair, and replaces the Alite Designs Monarch, as Alite Designs has seemingly gone out of business.
If you're looking for something on the more luxurious side, the Deco 79 Modern and the MH London Saxon make fine choices. They're eye-catching but sized small enough to make an excellent alternative to large armchairs, in case you're pressed for space, but require seating.
At the other end of the elegance spectrum are the Mac Sports Portable and the Disney Frozen 2, which replaces the Urban Shop Mongolian — it was removed over concerns about the durability of the fabric. Both the Mac Sports and Disney models have a kid-friendly look, and both feature a folding frame, so you can move them as needed.
August 02, 2019:
This update features selections ranging from budget-tier to high-quality, costlier models. If your priority is comfort and function, we'd point you to the Algoma Natural, the DormCo Glacier Grey, or Alite Designs Monarch, the latter of which is probably the most comfortable and convenient seat we came across.
If, on the other hand, interior decor is your priority, we'd highly recommend the leather and animal-hide chairs we've compiled. These include the Artncraft Leather, the Amerihome Natural Tan, the lovely Festnight vintage, and any of the chairs made by Madeleine Home. All of these are fashionable enough to arouse envy in houseguests, and the higher-rated ones rival the comfort level of the aforementioned Alite Designs Monarch. Touting modernist design aesthetics, these look like something out of a decor magazine, and can all be had for pretty reasonable prices.
When opting for one of the faux-fur models, keep in mind that they often attract dirt, hair, and debris pretty easily, and you may not want to go through the hassle of occasionally having them cleaned. Still, if these plush-style seats appeal to you, then check out the aforementioned Dormco Glacier Grey and the Urban Shop Mongolian.