Beyond Muskoka chairs: 10 other types of seating perfect for summer

Now don't get me wrong, I do love Muskoka chairs, especially when repeated in abundance. Still, there are so many other ways to make a statement with seating.

A little bit out there, but still familiar, is the Acapulco chair. It may be more beachy than it is cottagey, but a couple of these on a dock will scream style and vibrancy.

One of my favourite dock or deck chairs is the sling chair. Not only does it allow ultimate lounging, but you have endless style opportunity with this chair. You can go neutral and toned down with your fabric choice and it will blend in nicely. Or, you can select vibrant and fun fabric designs to punch things up and make the chairs a focal point. The best part about these chairs is that if you get sick of the fabric, it’s easy to replace and make the chairs a long-lasting component of your deck or dock.

The day bed is a little more than a chaise longue, but not quite a bed. It can easily tuck away into an unused section of a large dock or deck, and it will undoubtedly be the new favourite place to read. The best part is, you can make one yourself. With a couple of pieces of wood, foam, and fabric you have yourself a luxurious addition to your outdoor space.

Why not make it even easier? Reuse some wooden pallets, buy a few outdoor cushions, and without even hammering a nail, you have a stylish place to relax.

If you're like me and you prefer to swing, there is the hanging daybed. This is a little more involved, as you need to support it structurally, regardless of what your “handy” brother-in-law tells you. If he’s like mine, I would play it safe and stick to the Muskoka chair.

Sticking to the swinging theme, we can't leave out the good old standard swing chair. Now, try to move past your immediate vision of the 1970s “over-wickered” and “over-rattaned” pieces that you know and despise. Hanging chairs have made a stylish comeback and this chair is proof.

Another alternative to the Muskoka chair is built-in seating. This option is not as easily added to a deck or dock, rather it is something to consider when creating the initial plan and should be incorporated early on. This type of seating is definitely not for cottagers who like to constantly change the layout of spaces (yes, I’m speaking for myself). But one of the major benefits of this style of seating is that you never have to worry about it blowing away.

But for those of us who need to change things up regularly, there are plenty of cheap and cheerful options. There are stackable ones, too, for when we need to store them to try out another look. This type of chair is also easy to clean, low maintenance, and can be left outside—just be careful because a good wind will send them flying.

Watching a movie outdoors is such a novelty and I guarantee you wouldn’t enjoy it as much in a Muskoka chair as you would in these luxurious chaise longues. Unfortunately, they probably aren’t any better than the Muskoka chair for keeping the bugs at bay.