Choosing the right dining chairs can make a huge difference to the overall look and feel of a room. Whether it’s modern dining chairs, or more traditional upholstered options, there are many ways to create a cohesive and inviting dining area with the right pieces.

How to choose the right dining chairs

Whether it’s a casual breakfast space or a formal dining area, the options are endless when it comes to the types of dining chairs available. The dining chairs are arguably the most important element in a dining area so it’s worth considering a few things when selecting the best chairs for your space.

In terms of functionality, considering the height of the chair with the height of the table is vital. Too high and the chairs won’t work; too low and they will make for uncomfortable dining. There is no set rule on the best height for a chair however, a good place to start is aiming for around a 30cm gap between the height of the seat of the chair and the tabletop. 

Once you have an idea of the right height of dining chairs, the next step is to work out how many are needed, and how many will comfortably fit around the table. It’s important to make sure there is enough space between each chair for people to easily sit and move around the table.

Comfort plays a large role in deciding the best dining chairs for any space, but it is often balanced with aesthetics: do the chairs add to the overall decor? Are they statement pieces or envisaged as furniture that should blend into the background?

In many cases, comfort is important, and there are many types of chairs that offer differing levels of comfort along with various other advantages or disadvantages. Considering who will be using the dining area and how often is generally a good place to begin. 

Will children be using the space? Are there likely to be many spills? If the answer to this is yes, it may be that a more durable fabric or material is the best option to allow for spills to be easily wiped away. Often, wooden dining chairs are a sought after option in family situations. 

Conversely, if a dining area is part of a formal entertaining space that will be used less frequently, it may be that a different type of material is chosen. Leather is a popular option for formal dining settings, along with upholstered dining chairs. 

How to style dining chairs

Whether it’s a mismatched aesthetic or a very formal one, there are many creative ways to style dining chairs to invoke an added sense of personality and individuality in a space. Playing with colour, texture and pattern and selecting different chairs that come together to make a statement is a great way to inject a real sense of character in a space. Whether that’s by mixing materials such as rattan, cane and wicker with modern dining chairs, or selecting different fabrics for upholstered chairs, there is unlimited design scope in terms of styling a dining area. 

Layering dining chairs adds an additional design element. To achieve a cohesive yet eclectic layered look, selecting ‘head’ chairs and ‘side’ chairs is a good option. A head chair can be more of a bold statement, larger in form, or incorporate a bright or geometric pattern or texture. Accompanying side chairs make less of a statement. Using ‘head’ chairs at either end of dining table adds an element of punctuation; defining the ends of a dining area while the side chairs are typically smaller in either size, texture or pattern. In many cases, mixing styles such as oak dining chairs with retro chairs and upholstered chairs can work well when creating an eclectic, layered setting.