Resort-style this, resort-style that. If there were ever a summer design buzzphrase, I do believe it would be that. And while it’s easy to get caught up in all the fringed umbrellas and chaise lounges promising to transport you to your coast of choice, it's often just one hero piece that really sells the R&R.
I just stumbled upon one of those vibe-shifting pieces at ALDI for $50. It’s a low-slung woven outdoor chair oozing mid-century coastal charm and a dead ringer for seats I’ve seen at high-design retailers for six (or more) times the price. In fact, it looks remarkably similar to pieces I’ve spotted on my most memorable trips to Riviera Maya and the South of France.
ALDI’s latest outdoor living addition looks like it could cost $300, easy. An affordable take on the vintage-inspired silhouette design obsessives routinely trawl secondhand sites for.
I picture this style happiest as a pair: setting a breezy tone on a porch or anchoring a patio with a wooden side table between them and an umbrella overhead. But even if you stopped there, you’d still get the ‘elsewhere’ effect. This low-slung, lounge-ready silhouette is in absolutely zero mood to fuss – apropos of everything we’re trying to accomplish this season.
While ALDI probably isn’t the first retailer that comes to mind when you’re trying to signal five stars, nearly everything ALDI gem we highlight seems to disappear in short order. Coincidence? Perhaps. Either way, I wouldn’t expect to see this high-summer hack to stay in stock for long.
How I'd Style It
A $50 woven chair leaves plenty of room in the budget. Here’s where I’d direct the remaining funds before you check out.
This summer's hottest backyard accessory? Solar lighting, easily. It’s environmentally friendly, requires no charging whatsoever, and, perhaps most importantly, asks nothing of you. Simply stake this five-pack into the grass and enjoy the crystalline glow from the comfort of your new mid-century chair.
While the obvious resort-style move might be a bold cabana stripe, some of the most interesting outdoor spaces I’ve seen lately are favoring a more irregular 1950s- and ’60s interpretation of the pattern. With its fade-resistant blend of blues, pinks, and neutrals, this rug is an easy way to wake up a tired patio corner and anchor a seating area.
Tropical resorts feel like their own kind of highly curated jungle. While planting dozens of exotic species in your backyard might not exactly be in the cards, a fabulous faux trellis like this captures the same effect – and is certainly more interesting than a bare wall. One panel will suit smaller patios or balconies, though these are designed to be layered should you feel inclined to think bigger.
Shop Chic Alternatives
ALDI isn’t the only place doing this hotel-worthy, woven look well. Here are a few other styles that caught my eye.
If you’re not someone who likes to commit to a single seating arrangement, this webbed style folds flat for easy mobility. You’d never guess it from the price, but it’s crafted from durable acacia wood – a material that should see you through many summers to come.
IKEA sales are few and far between, which makes this iconic SEGERÖN chair feel like something of a hidden gem. The petite powder-coated steel frame and handwoven rope construction feel airy yet substantial, making it an especially fabulous fit for smaller patios and balconies.
Perhaps the final boss of vacation chairs, this Lulu and Georgia design perfectly captures the intersection of whimsy and rusticity. Intricate wickerwork, a just-so recline, and a hand-hammered wrought-iron frame give it a timelessly easy charm. A forever piece, if ever there was one.
Don’t overcomplicate the whole hotel-fantasy thing. If I’ve learned anything as a style editor, it’s that the most transportive spaces rarely rely on more stuff – just stronger pieces. Our resort-style outdoor furniture roundup has plenty more where this came from.
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