Ask the Strategist: So, I Bought a Cane Chair. Now What?
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In our advice column,Ask the Strategist, we take yourmost burning shopping questionsand survey friends, call up experts, and draw on our own personal experience to answer them. If you have an online-shopping question of your own, please send it to strategist@nymag.com with the subject Ask the Strategist. We’re here to help.
I caved and bought a cane chair. It’s absolutely beautiful, and I wouldn’t dream of returning it. But it’sveryuncomfortable, especially when I’m sitting in it all day long. Is there an attractive seat cushion that will give me some relief without taking away from the aesthetics of the chair?
Cane chairs seem to be having a moment, though maybe, as our friends atCurbedpointed out a year ago, they’ve never stopped having one. Whether you’re in the resale market seeking outvintage furnitureor simply browsing Urban Outfitters, the classic woven rattan chair is everywhere. And while they’re beautiful and timeless, if you’ve ever had the pleasure (?) of sitting on one of these fine specimens, you know that their longevity has nothing to do with their comfort. First popularized by Marcel Breuer’s Cesca design in the late 1960s and ’70s, the cane chair is perfectly fine if you’re only sitting on it at mealtime, but any prolonged use (say, for instance, as a pandemic-eradesk chair) can be downright unpleasant.
As a fellow cany, if you will, I feel your pain — quite literally. I purchasedtwo cane chairslast month for mydining table, which, for the last year, has doubled as myworkstation. After a week of sitting on one for eight hours a day, I was in agony. They were far too beautiful to return, so I started researching chair cushions in earnest. And though I haven’t settled on a pair just yet (I’m writing this from my chair covered in aBarefoot Dreams blanket, which helps only a little bit), I’ve turned up 12 options that will provide you some relief without completely throwing off your aesthetic.
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When I first started looking for a cushion for my cane chair, my mind immediately went to sheepskin (who doesn’t like sheepskin?), and I landed here. The soft texture of this seat cushion will create a nice contrast with the rough cane, and the neutral color won’t take away from the natural tones of your chair. This set of two from Article is made from 100 percent New Zealand and Australian sheepskins and will give you about two inches of extra support.
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If your cane chairs are around adining table, white sheepskin might feel a tad risky. This one is also 100 percent real sheepskin — but in black, so you can count on fewer trips to the dry cleaners, which is the recommended way to keep both of these intact.
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You could also opt for a sheepskin rug and drape it over your chair. This is both stylish and functional — not only will it cushion the seat, but it’ll add a layer of coziness to the back of the chair too. WriterLauren Roloves her sheepskin rug from Overland. “As soon as it arrived, my toddler dove onto it and started rolling around like a dog, literally giggling with glee at how nice it felt. We were both immediately obsessed,” she says. This is smaller than Ro’s runner, but the perfect size to toss over a chair.
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For a more traditional look, there’s this tufted chair cushion. The color will seamlessly blend with the seat of your chair, and if you’re worried about the seat cushion slipping off, this one comes with chair ties to help keep it in place.
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For a slightly more modern version of the above, this one is almost exactly the same but without the traditional tufting.
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If comfort is your primary concern, this beloved cushion from Strat-approved mattress company Purple might be your best bet. “It was like I was held up — nay, massaged — by a thousand interlaced fingers: firm with just a bit of squish,” says writerMia Leimkuhlerof the first time she sat on one. “I can sit for several-hour stretches without ever feeling uncomfortable or out of whack.” The cushion cover isn’t particularly great-looking, but if you’re not leaving it on display, this is a solid option — and if Mia’s testimony is any indication, your butt will thank you.
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On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, this round leather seat cushion should fulfill all your aesthetic desires while keeping you comfortable to boot. It’s handmade out of ethically sourced leather from India and gives an extra three inches of squish, making it the thickest cushion on this list. Leather will give you a pleasant contrasting texture, and because it’s a natural hue, it’ll match the chair. A leather cushion this luxurious feels like a perfect match for such a coveted chair.
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Unlike the sheepskin cushions above, this one has a tighter pile — more shearling than shag — and it doesn’t need to be dry-cleaned (you can just wash it by hand with wool-friendly detergent). Because it is a chairpad, not a cushion, it’ll only give you a half-inch of height, but us canys know it’s better than nothing.
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These chair pads easily roll up for storage if you don’t want them on display all the time, and you won’t have to carve out a space to store them since they’re so compact. Plus, they’re 100 percent linen (filling included!), machine washable, and, according to the description, more plush than they look.
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Not only is the knitted design of this cushion extra cozy, but it also reminds me of the cane design on my chair (and probably yours, too). This one provides an extra 1.5 inches of comfort and has chair ties for extra security. Even better, it’s machine washable.
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Taking the knitted look to the extreme is this massive merino-wool version. The material is naturally soft, hypoallergenic, and antibacterial, and it can be dry-cleaned or hand-washed. It comes in dozens of colors, and you can buy blankets, pillows, and evencat bedsto match.
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If you’re looking for a pop of color, these felt pillow pads should do the trick. This one’s available in 28 different colors, and per the seller’s recommendation, you can just vacuum it clean.
The Strategistis designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the bestacne treatments,rolling luggage,pillows for side sleepers,natural anxiety remedies, andbath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
