I’ve had lots of dining room chairs over the years! And now I have a basement full! I may love to change them out a bit more than the average home decorator, but I bet you would LOVE new dining room chairs too, right? Let’s look at how to choose the perfect chairs and lots of my favorites!
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Today I’m sharing some things to think about when choosing dining room chairs that are perfect for you! And please check out all the great chairs at the end of this post!
You will love them!
FUNCTION OVER FORM FOR DINING ROOM CHAIRS
A dining room chair must be comfortable! I know we all want beautiful chairs but comfort is always first.
Have you ever sat on an uncomfortable chair in a restaurant (remember those days)? I have and it is miserable. So make sure you and anyone sitting at your table are comfortable!
One thing you might not think about is the room between a person’s legs and the bottom of the table! If a chair is too high for the table, sitting can be quite uncomfortable. Ouch!
So make sure there is 10-12 inches from the seat of a chair to the bottom of the table to be comfortable!
You best friend when deciding on any furniture is tape measure! Use it!!!
DINING ROOM CHAIRS DO NOT HAVE TO BE MATCHY MATCHY
Please, please please choose chairs that are different than your dining room table. LONG gone are the days when everything matches. Thank goodness!
I love the look of side chairs and head chairs being different too! Mixing up your table and chairs creates a one-of-a-kind look! It’s your personal stamp on your dining room!
In our StoneGable home we had two side chairs that were the same and two head chairs that were the same and a bench. I loved that look!
Just make sure mismatched and fabulous chairs are all the same seat height.
Most chair seats are 17-19 inches off the floor. But seating like benches and other chairs not particularly meant to be dining room chairs can vary widely!
The bench in our StoneGable dining room was lower than the other chairs, so when we had company we switched it out for chairs that matched the other side chairs.
Can you see one in the foyer? It’s ready to jump into action!
CHAIRS NEED TO FIT AROUND THE TABLE
Dining room chairs need to fit comfortably under a table! Ideally, each person around the table should have 20-24 inches of their own! That means the seat width + room on each side = 20 to 24 inches.
Now we never have that much room for everyone when we are celebrating with our family. But we love to be cozy!
And when we can have friends and neighbors back in our home again I try to follow the 20-24 inch rule!
THE CHOICES ARE MANY
Okay, now let’s talk about the fun stuff! The style!
Oh, there are so many amazing choices and styles of chairs to put around your table!
Here are a few things to think about to choose your perfect dining room chairs…
- choose a color or colors that work with the color palette of your dining room
- patterns should work together and work with the patterns in your dining room without getting too matchy matchy!
- you want fabric that can hold up to spills
- slipcovers are a good option for chairs that get lots and lots of hard use
- choose wood tones on chairs that work together
- the style of the chairs need to complement one another
FINDING THE PERFECT CHAIR
Now you know how to choose the best chair for your dining room or kitchen table!
Beautiful chairs are not hard to find! Here are some that I just LOVE!
MORE TO KNOW ABOUT DECORATING
You might like these other decorating posts filled with lots of tips and ideas!
YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BALANCE
EVERY ROOM MUST HAVE A FOCAL POINT
WHAT IS RYTHM IN DECORATING????? AND WHY IS IT SO SO IMPORTANT
With all the upholstered chairs on the market now, it is easy to break up a dining set. They are more comfortable than wood chairs, which allows you to sit for long periods enjoying good food, conversation and the company of family and friends.
When we moved into our open concept home I sold my dining set and purchased a round table ( so much better for conversing with all) and six upholstered chairs that I had covered in a beautiful fabric to coordinate with what else is going on in the great room. I love the look. It’s softer and more current.
I love your lessons on decorating. Thank you for sharing!
Your new table and chairs sound divine! God bless you in your new home, Joanna!
Thank you for this post; timing couldn’t be better! I too am getting ready to sell my Ethan Allen cherry dining room set. Love your chosen samples, but wish I could try them out for comfort. Am building a new open concept home which will not be read until March, so I look forward to your informative posts.
Your suggestions are right on! I’ve made two mistakes over the years with my chairs. Upholstered that took up more space than plain wood for those “cozy” times with family when every inch counts. And secondly, having chairs that are too heavy to move in and out. I would go with lightweight chairs as a priority next time.
Heavy chairs and the type of rug a chair is on are very important to consider! Great comment Maria!
I have learned so much from you and appreciate your warmth, faith and desire to share with us! My question is what I should with our cherry dining room table, 6 chairs and hutch. Sell? Paint? Giveaway?
I am new to your site and must say I LOVE IT!!! When purchasing dining room chairs what kind of fabric would you recommend? (Linen, Polyester or Cotton)
Whatever you like make sure the material is a performance fabric and resits stains. Or get them scotchguarded. I would signal you off of linen. It gets wrinkly!
I love the small round table !! Where can I purchase? Thx
Hi Nancy, the table is not that small. It can be expandable. Here is a link to see more about the table:https://rstyle.me/+yxd_AnUm2uMmu63FaRGNHg
Would you share where your Stonegable side chairs are from? Looking for something to work with my round table but with a upholstered seat.
Thank you!
Hi Sara, they came from Wayfair ages ago. They are now out of stock. However, there are lots of similar chairs on Wayfair. Happy hunting!
Donna…..would so much like to have new dining room chairs and bar stools. My table is an oval
medium oak pedestal. Currently I have matching oak chairs and bar stools. Our home has a great room design. Oak kitchen cabinets with a creamy white island. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Alice
Hi Alice, I’d break up the dining set. Keep the table, get new upholstered head chairs, paint the side chair to work with the upholstery and recover or add a fabric chair pad to the bar stools. Eventually, you might want to have the oak cabinet painted. Hope this helps.