Flower Love
You choose a fantastic dining table that will leave people breathless, but the hunt for an ideal dining room is far from over: you still have to grapple with choosing the right dining room chairs and finding pieces that will fit both tables and your personality.
The good news, however, is that there are plenty of options to suit all tastes, from mid-century lovers to minimalism lovers.
Give us a few minutes and read our tips on choosing the right dining room chairs:
Dissolve the myth of the right chairs
How do you choose the right dining room chairs? Sounds like fun, but it’s usually a confusing experience.
Today’s fashion dictates that chairs are interesting rather than appropriate. So choose chairs that don’t go with your table. Unless the chairs have any historical or emotional value to you, the table must be given priority.
size
Image source: Studio William Hefner
Many shoppers neglect the importance of size, as choosing a model or color is a much more glamorous part of the process.
The truth is that choosing the right size is far more important and you need to determine it beforehand so that you know what to look for.
In addition, the size of your table is not the only criterion to consider: you also need to think about the space.
Unless you plan to constantly lengthen the table, plan on adding space in the room for additional chairs.
Armless dining chairs should be about 8 inches wide, but you don’t have to stick to the standard if you already have an oversized dining table or a large room to place them in.
The minimum width should be 17 inches, otherwise there would not be enough room for the derriere. The ideal depth for comfortable sitting is between 20 and 24 inches.
height
Image source: Paul Moon Design
The height is usually standardized, which takes at least some of the strain off your shoulders.
Measuring yours is not a bad idea, however: you still need to factor in the distance from the top of the apron to the floor so you can select chairs that will actually fit under that table.
The space between the seat and the apron should be at least 7 inches to give guests enough room to comfortably place their legs.
Armchairs versus armless chairs
Image source: KH Window Fashions, Inc.
There is nothing wrong with any of them; It’s just a matter of taste, style, or need.
If you did it as you normally would, you’d have to put armchairs on the heads and armless ones on the side, but that’s not essential in modern and personalized spaces. Just go for the ones you like more.
If we had to vote for a more popular option, we’d say armless chairs are vastly fancier right now, but there’s no reason for you to follow this trend if space doesn’t allow it.
Round and oval chairs
Image source: Taste Design Inc.
Shapes, as well as sizes, depend on the space and the overall style that is applied. Round and oval chairs are an interesting choice that looks best with a similarly shaped table.
The secret is to keep the shapes in balance to ensure harmony throughout the space.
Common design elements
Interior design these days is far from strict, which allows you to use your creativity, mixing immiscible pieces and turning them into cute sets.
However, if you’ve decided to combine traditional chairs with chic and traditional tables, look for at least one common design element.
It might be a twisted leg, lining pattern, identical upholstery vertebrae, or something similar that comes to mind.
Suitable for various decorative elements
Image source: Riach Architects
People are so focused on the relationship between their chairs and tables that they neglect the fact that a dining room can look balanced even when chairs are visually connected to another element.
Colors are a great way to create a visual connection between the chairs and the rest of the room, for example yellow chairs combined with cheerful pendant lights.
The color does not have to be exactly the same: Even strong contrasts can make the connection work!
Stern looks
Image source: Dodson and daughter interior design
As already mentioned, strict and precise combinations are no longer absolutely necessary. However, if you want your home to be a single style paradise, stick to the same colors and materials.
You can still add variety by choosing chairs with leg styles other than the tables (e.g. carved and plain) or by simply painting the chairs to add flavor to the scenario.
Wearable items
Image source: Gregory Roth Design
You will already struggle to take the table out when renovating or moving. So make sure that chairs don’t cause similar problems.
Look for batten backs as these are the easiest to move around (you can grab them through the cavity between the batten and the frame).
At the same time, look for something lighter that doesn’t require two people to remove. Upholstered chairs are usually the heaviest. So avoid them when you want to move furniture.
Ancient flavors in modern scenarios
Image source: Culbertson Durst Interiors
When designing a modern dining room, add a little vintage flair with cute decor clips.
Contemporary spaces can benefit from historical lightning, such as the success of bringing Cherner chairs from the 50s into modern dining rooms. With a unique element like this, your dining area will never look dull or boring.
Benches against chairs
Image source: Sally Wheat Interiors
The hottest decoration hint right now is to replace chairs with side benches. This is especially popular because it looks equally good in country houses and modern warehouses.
A key benefit is that you can always push an extra person onto a bench, but you have to keep in mind that benches can interfere with common food.
Benches are also welcome in rooms in which the table should be the focus so as not to disturb the view of long chair backs.
Finally, benches are a good idea as they come in all heights and sizes with or without backs and cushions. The choice is just endless.
pad
Image source: Hard Brownlee & Associates Interior Design
The upholstery is comfortable and beautiful at the same time. But how willing are you to clean it every time someone spills something on the chair?
If you want to maintain the look without worrying too much, choose an easy-care natural material such as leather, suede, off-the-shelf fabrics, or cotton blends.
Stay away from multi-tiered fabrics like velvet or chenille as these will remind you of their better days, even if nothing about them is spoiled.
Simple and casual
Image source: Cynthia Lynn Photography
Your home is your private haven – a place where you arrive tired and stressed and want nothing more than to relax and spend pleasant moments with your family. So why should you opt for an extravagantly elegant solution?
A dining room feels a lot fresher, with soft colors and elements inspired by nature, and it will most likely create a positive energy at any family dinner.
Quality comes first
Image source: Cardea Building Co.
You need to assess the quality before selling a beautiful item:
- The structure must be solid. So try to confirm this by moving the chair and gently rocking it. None of the arms, legs, or back should sway or feel loose.
- Sit on the chair and check that it is comfortable. This is the best way to ensure that you are buying a single piece, not a few blocks of wood glued together.
- The surface must be smooth. Any splintering or getting stuck, however small, will be a problem in the future. So check it out carefully before deciding on anything.
- Vintage chairs and original antiques may be the proudest moment of your décor, but they are rarely in serviceable condition. At the same time, the price may prevent you from making changes. If you want to admire something and sit on it at the same time, make sure it can support the weight of the average adult.