Dining Chairs That Offer Up Comfort, Style and Everyday Livability

They are the seat we turn to for long, leisurely meals, hearty conversations, and work-from-home days spent at the table. And when chosen just right, a solid set will help us sit taller, feel more comfortable, and generally enjoy our dining and living room companions that much more. As the heart of many an open-plan home, all comes back to having a well-suited set of dining chairs in the mix.

So when it comes to putting our dining space together, it all starts with a well-rounded pick for dining chairs that fits your table, lifestyle, and overall design perspective.

Why Your Dining Chairs Are Way More Important Than You Think

Excluding the sofa and possibly an everyday lounge chair, the dining seat is likely to be much more lived in than the rest. It needs to be versatile enough to break bread or toast a mimosa, wake up over a coffee, or spend the evening hours tucking into dinner. Uncomfortable seating will send you to your feet in a flash, and likely mean you and your guests won’t dally as long as you’d like to at the end of a meal. In terms of perspective, dining chairs also establish the tone of the table and ultimately the room. It will dictate whether you have a formal or relaxed space, or in the case of coastal style chairs or bistro chairs, might offer up a regional serving or international flair.

Creating a Happy Harmony Between Form and Function

All the best dining chairs offer up functional form and all-day comfort, and that starts with proportions. The right seat height should generally align with your table height so that you can sit with your feet planted on the floor and not strain too hard to reach your plate. And we don’t have to tell you how spot on support can feel after a few long hours at the table. Upholstered dining chairs are always a favourite, as they add a sense of warmth and softness to the table, while wooden chairs offer up something additional to the mix in matters of form, function, and overall framing of the space. We like a mix of both types of materials, as a wooden dining chair is easy to spritz off and keep clean, while living room-ready upholstery is a quick way to strategise getting a little more comfortable at the table.

Materials for Your Style of Life

There’s nothing better than an all-wood dining chair when it comes to durability and zero fussy maintenance, but we’d argue an upholstered selection wins out in matters of comfort. Your best bet for living room-level cosiness comes in good choices of resilient material and ample knowledge on how to clean your dining chairs, and keep your seat from looking like a colonial-era science experiment. It goes without saying that woven and natural chairs are always a wonderful way to continue to keep the space in its most relaxed disposition.

Mix and Matching Dining Chairs for a Thoughtfully Curated Look

While the rise of the all-matchy, matchy dining set has, and will always continue to be a valid, versatile approach, it’s not your only option at the modern-day table. Many design enthusiasts have taken to mixing and matching dining chairs around the table, like switching up upholstered end chairs with a set of metal chairs or classic wood chairs when the moment feels right. A roomy set of two armchairs is a great way to continue to bring shape and scale to the table without overwhelming your space.

Proportions and Clearance for Everyday Ease

Just as important as aesthetics are seating requirements. A comfortable dining chair relates to the space it occupies. Cramped quarters leave minimal room to function and disrupt the visual line in a room. Take care to choose a proportion between table dimensions and chair size, and then allow ample room for sitting and getting in and out of the chair. Space between chairs will allow guests to sit and exit easily without interfering with guests in the seats next to them. Keeping things in proportion brings ease of use and offers natural movement in the continuity of the dining room.

Having Dining Chairs For Years to Come

Dining chairs can last for many years. Simple, timeless shapes, quiet neutral colours, and a well-constructed chair can outlive many fads. When you select the proper size and shape chair for your table, you will be able to use it in the future with many different tables and styles. If you choose a chair that is comfortable and in the right proportion to its table and room, then you can rely on it to be your substantial dining companion: supporting all the meaningful tableside meals that come your way!