Can Inflatable Outdoor Furniture Ever Be Chic?

For the recurring series, That’s Debatable, we take on a contentious issue of the day and present two spirited arguments—one in favor and the other emphatically opposed.

INFLATABLE FURNITURE CAUSED A SENSATION when it hit the mod design scene in the 1960s, and seems to have been inflating and deflating in popularity ever since. During its brief resurgence in the 1990s, the genre was associated less with style pioneers than tween girls and dorm rooms. Yet some style watchers say the trend is once again having a moment, especially in outdoor furnishings.