Review of Serena & Lily Riviera Chairs

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When I bought my Serena & Lily Riviera chairs about a year ago, I scoured the internet looking for any insight on these chairs. I had basically already made up my mind that I was going to buy them haha, but I needed to know that I was actually making the right decision…..because they are quite the investment! And to my surprise, I couldn’t find one blog post. Not one post about them! Sure people featured them in lovely images, but I was looking for someone to tell me the good, the bad and the ugly.

So I knew that after I had them for an extended period of time I needed to share a Serena & Lily Riviera chairs review. I was actually lucky enough to see them in store before I purchased them. I could feel them, touch them, ask the sales associate questions, etc. But I know they don’t have many stores around, which is another reason why this blog post is so important!

Pros of the Serena & Lily Riviera Chairs

Very Pretty & Aesthetically Pleasing

First up, they are extremely pretty and very aesthetically pleasing. The look of them is what initially drew me in. They make a big statement without being too overpowering. Simple and sweet, but with a big impact, which is exactly my style.

They Come in a Ton of Colors

They come in a ton of colors. And every year they seem to add a couple new ones just to throw you off and make you want to re-do your entire home haha. How beautiful is this coastal blue color?! Updated 1/15/2024- They just added this absolutely stunning hydrangea color. I mean, it can’t more perfect! If I were to buy them today, no doubt I would be purchasing hydrangea. And I also adore this new grass/white color. So chic! Updated 5/14/25- This new sage color is absolutely gorgeous. I had to do a double take because it looks so similar to the grey, but it is a beautiful green.

Initially, I thought I wanted the all white, but decided against it because I really liked the mixed colors and the variations. And all white seemed like it would get dirty easily (Note- after having these chairs, I would confidently buy the all white now).

And then there was the navy/white combo, which I was thissss close to purchasing. After a lot of thought and debate, I decided on the fog/white combo. It was just enough of a statement, but still blended in. And the colors would easily transition to any décor colors if I ever wanted to change it up. The navy is stunning, but it packs a big punch and I just wasn’t ready for that just yet.

Very Comfortable to Sit In

After recently working from home for a couple of months now because of COVID-19, I can say how comfy they actually are. I sit in them daily for 8+ hours and I’ve never had a backache from them. If you are considering them as a desk chair, I say go for it. Your bum fits perfectly in them and they offer all the support you need.

Timeless Design

These chairs will never go out of style. I have to imagine you will be seeing these for years to come.

Super Easy to Clean

They are so easy to keep clean and new looking. I take a wet rag to them and everything wipes right off and very easily at that.

Durable & Sturdy

Serena & Lily knows how to make a chair. And its no wonder that these chairs are as popular as they are. They are very well made. I could tell that the second I took them out of the box. They are sturdy and solid feeling, which makes you feel a lot better about spending so much money on them!

Cons of the Serena & Lily Riviera Chairs

Price

These are quite the investment. But I truly feel like getting the real thing, in the long run, is worth it. They have a lot of dupes these days, but nothing is as beautiful as the original. All furniture is an investment and a chair is something that you don’t want to go cheap on because they will be so uncomfortable. I decided I would splurge on my chairs and save on a table. This is the one I ended up going with.

Could be Hard to Clean with Kids

I know I’m sort of contradicting myself because I say above how easy they are to clean- and they are! But I could see how that might not be if you have kids. The fabric is woven which means food and many other things can easily get stuck in the grooves. The other night I spilled a little spaghetti sauce on them. And while it came out super easy and quick, I found myself really digging and having to scrub a bit in between the woven part. Maybe I’m just the crazy one over here haha, but I want to keep them looking nice. The best solution if you have kids is to throw a towel over the chair before they sit down to eat. That’s what I eventually plan to do!

Edit to add- now that I do have a toddler, I think I was wrong in saying this. They are super easy to keep clean. You just have to scrub a little! She has smeared blackberries, raspberries, spaghetti sauce, you name it all over these. And I just take a wet rag and wipe them down. It is a little difficult to get into the grooves, but it can be done. Sloane sits at one of these chairs every night for dinner and while she isn’t always the neatest, they still remain looking like new even five years later. I can confidently say these are a great option even if you have kids.

Ordering Online

I was lucky enough to see them in person at one of the stores (if you are ever in Chicago, its a must see!). And now they have a store in Birmingham, MI which is stunning! But I decided to purchase them online- during a sale. They have sales usually around all of the major holidays, so if you are wanting to purchase these- I highly recommend buying them during a sale. You can save a substantial amount of money.

Shipping them was super easy and they came packed beautifully. I was the crazy person and inspected them like crazy when I first received them. But there was not a knick or dent on any of the six chairs that I ordered. If you are worried about them being damaged upon arrival, from my experience, you shouldn’t have any doubts.

Are they worth it?

Overall, I have to say that yes, they are 100% worth the price. And I’ve never been happier with a furniture purchase than I have with these. I’ve now had them for a little over a year and I still look at them in a loving way haha. Sounds weird, I know. But I get sick of items quickly and re-style and redecorate my home all of the time. So for me to still be in love with them over a year later says a lot. Eventually, I would love to add the matching counter stools!

My Updated Dining Room

The images above were from our apartment in Chicago. We have since moved to MI (over five years ago!) and now I finally feel like my dining room is complete. Yes, it takes forever to decorate a home! So I wanted to share my Serena & Lily Riviera chairs in this space as well. All these years later and I still absolutely love them. They still look just as good as they did the day I bought them. I’m not even joking. The quality is incredible. And that’s even after letting my daughter (who is now five) sit on them, get food all over them, paint and do crafts on them, etc. We are not easy on them at all and they have lasted well beyond what I would have thought. A great investment!