All Things Cedar's Chair Lineup Explained: Red Cedar Adirondacks vs. Teak Dining Chairs

All Things Cedar actually runs two fairly different chair lines under one brand, and it's easy to miss that if you're just scrolling through their chairs and rockers collection without noticing the material split. One side is red cedar, built in classic Adirondack and Muskoka shapes. The other is teak, built more like traditional outdoor dining and lounge furniture. They're both solid wood, but they serve pretty different purposes.

Red Cedar: The Adirondack and Muskoka Side

The Athena Muskoka Adirondack Chair, the standard Folding Adirondack Chair, the Athena Rocking Chair, and the Children's Adirondack Chair are all built from red cedar in that familiar wide-armed, slanted-back Adirondack silhouette. Red cedar is naturally rot- and insect-resistant without any chemical treatment, which is part of why it's held up as an outdoor furniture material for generations. These chairs read as classic porch and fire pit seating — the kind of chair you picture sitting in with a book, not pulling up to a dinner table.

Teak: The Dining and Lounge Side

The Teak Dining Chair, Teak Arm Chair, Teak Stacking Chair, Teak Folding Chair, Teak Steamer Chair, and Teak Chaise Lounger are a completely different style — straighter lines, built for sitting upright at a table or stretching out flat on a lounger rather than reclining in an Adirondack seat. Teak is denser and naturally higher in oil content than cedar, which is why it's the standard material for premium outdoor dining furniture worldwide; it weathers to a silvery grey over time if left untreated, or can be oiled periodically to keep its original honey-brown tone.

Stacking and Folding Options Solve Storage Differently

If you need to store chairs seasonally, both lines have an answer, but they're not interchangeable. The red cedar Folding Adirondack Chair collapses flat, same as you'd expect from any folding Adirondack-style chair. On the teak side, the Stacking Chair and Folding Chair solve the same storage problem differently — stacking chairs nest on top of each other for a dining set, while the teak folding chair works more like a traditional folding dining chair. Pick based on which style of seating you're actually storing, not just which mechanism sounds easier.

The Chaise and Steamer Chairs Are for Lounging, Not Dining

The Teak Chaise Lounger and Teak Steamer Chair are worth calling out separately since they don't fit neatly into either "Adirondack" or "dining chair" categories. A steamer chair reclines with an adjustable back and a slatted design that originated on ocean liner decks, while the chaise is built for lying flat. Both are a different purchase decision than anything else in the lineup — they're about lounging specifically, the way a Nautical Chaise from Polywood would be in a poly material.

Maintenance Looks Different Depending on the Wood

Red cedar in these Adirondack pieces is usually left natural or lightly finished and ages gracefully with minimal upkeep. Teak needs a bit more of a decision: oil it periodically to maintain the warm color, or let it weather naturally to that silvery patina most people associate with teak garden furniture. Neither is wrong, but it's worth deciding which look you want before the chair's been sitting outside for a season, since reversing a weathered teak finish back to its original color takes real sanding and refinishing.

Picking Between the Two Lines

If you want classic porch or fireside seating, the red cedar Adirondack and Muskoka chairs are the right call. If you're furnishing a dining set or want something built for sitting upright at a table, the teak line is the better fit, and the chaise or steamer chair covers lounging specifically. Browse the full All Things Cedar collection or check our dining sets if you're building out a full table setup rather than adding individual chairs.