Plastic (or resin) materials have some distinct and definitive advantages. First, it is possible to achieve a wide variety of looks with them. You would never be able to find a leopard-print wooden table, for instance. Because their coloring is intrinsic to their form, pieces of resin furniture do not require repainting or refinishing as wooden chairs or tables do.

Secondly, resin furniture is practically invincible when it comes to many of the most common accidental stains. A glass of red wine gone astray can damage a beech-wood table forever, but on a resin table the offending liquid is simply wiped away without staining. Resin furniture is likewise more resistant to chlorine bleaching, making it a particularly good choice for poolside use.

Finally, resin furniture is usually much more affordable than wooden furniture of similar quality. However, wood furniture has a similar list of advantages over resin furniture. While it is more expensive, for many it also carries an aura of “class” or “high-end taste”. Even the best resin chairs are still readily distinguishable from wooden chairs. Wood also ages more gracefully than resin if it is kept in relatively hospitable conditions.

Furniture made of wood actually will become more beautiful over time as the material ages, whereas resin will only become less attractive. Thirdly, wood is less likely to be scratched. Resin is actually very easy to scratch. A friend of mine accumulated dozens of noticeable scratches in a new resin chaise longue on the first day she had it, simply because the fasteners on her blue jeans were in direct contact with the plastic. Even if the same scratches were to accumulate on a wooden chair, it is possible to sand out any imperfections in wood. In contrast, there is no possible way to sand out problems in resin. In summary, whether wood or resin is the better choice is not possible to answer in the general case.

For a young mother looking for some cheap and lightweight chairs to put next to the family swimming pool, resin is the best answer. For an older gentleman looking for a refined set of dining chairs and table, wood is probably a better choice. To make the decision you need to weigh the pros and cons of each material as applied to your individual situation.