Plastic and ceramic have their outdoor benefits, but I just love the look and feel of wood. Slatted seats mirror decking, and also help with drainage. Whether you prefer aged and rustic or new and stained, there's some good-looking options this season from the catalog shops.
1. Café base with a boardwalk seat, these metal and wood stacking chairs add pizzazz to your patio. Tavern armchairs, Pottery Barn, sale $159.
2. These chic stools look crafted from ship building leftovers. Inside or out, their rustic good looks add character to a space. Reata counter stool, Anthropologie, $198.
3. For a more modern look, warm wood slats pair with sleek chrome in an easy to maintain option. Chelsea bench, CB2, sale $149.
4. Cantilever chairs are experiencing a revival, and with attractive, affordable options like this one in steel & acacia, we hope it continues. Vinö armchair, IKEA, $59.99.
(Images: as linked above)
Ellen's Thirties Style Small Space
Juan's Garage Turned Modern Guest House
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Commercial Flour Sa...
How to Cook Moist & Tender Chicken Breasts Every Time
Recipe: Thai Ginger Chicken Stir-Fry
These chairs are pure eye candy! Love the mix of materials.
Huh? Yes, wood is pretty but it doesn't make a very good chair seat for outdoor furniture. It's hard to dry thoroughly after a rain, unlike plastic or metal, and a clear waterproof finish will start to peel pretty quickly if left outside.
The CB2 bench actually has plastic wood-look slats, not wood as you state.
The Anthropologie stool with it's rope-wrapped frame and weathered wood seat will be a damp, unusable mess for many hours after a rain.
One of the others says to keep it dry if possible. Aside from the CB2 bench, none of these are very practical outdoor options unless you have handy storage and don't mind stowing them when not in use.