Design Buffs Are Obsessed With These Airy Outdoor ‘String’ Chairs – and I Found One Hiding at ALDI for Just $50

What if I told you that, for less than the cost of an entrée in NYC, you could sit on one of the most quietly cool outdoor design trends of 2026 – right in your own backyard? Never mind outdoors; even inside, revivals of the Acapulco chair (the Mexican lounge icon of the 1950s) are everywhere right now. And no, I didn’t discover this one on a resale site or at one of my favorite under-the-radar city boutiques, but at ALDI.

For just $50, the unassuming retailer's outdoor string chair captures that endlessly airy silhouette many of us – having likely earmarked it in a glossy architectural monograph – were otherwise prepared to pay many times the price for. In fact, I could easily see it fitting into the al fresco living room setups I spotted across Mexico one winter ago, where Costa Careyes villa decks were dotted with pairs of these cord chairs, waiting for sun-drunk guests to sink into them between swims.

Admittedly, the barely-there construction of this style of outdoor furniture doesn’t exactly scream 'nap time,' but having lounged in similar styles myself, I can confirm they’re surprisingly comfortable, operating a bit like an optical illusion.

I see a lot of Acapulco-style imitators, and I have to say that for the price, ALDI’s silhouette here is unusually good. It’s not quite circular and not a perfect oval either, but something slightly off-kilter in a way that reads design magazine from the jump – which is important, as anything overly familiar is shorthand for big box, and nothing cheapens a backyard faster.

Of course, a bare-bones construction like this doesn’t demand much in the way of styling. Buy two, add an outdoor cushion if you feel so inclined, maybe a side table, and call it a day. If it’s particularly sunny, fine: throw in a patio umbrella.

I can’t promise a $50 chair will turn your backyard into a resort. But if you want something that tips its hat to that easy Mexican aesthetic – while keeping your outdoor space light, airy, and unfussy – this feels like a very chic place to start.

Discover More Outdoor 'String' Chairs

It’s hard to beat the $50 price tag on this ALDI gem, but if you’re after something a little more substantial to carry you through many seasons, these Acapulco-style outdoor seats are worth a closer look.

Real curators know the chicest finds often come from the least assuming places. Discover more backyard ideas on a budget – done right, and no guest will be the wiser.

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