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Dining Chair Buying Guide
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Categories :
Dining Room
Dining chairs can be one of the most taken-for-granted furniture items in our homes—even though they serve one of the most important functions. Having a comfortable and alluring set of dining chairs can be the difference between just rushing through meals, or turning the mealtime ritual into the most enjoyable part of the day—a chance to slow down and savour every bite, while reconnecting with our loved ones after a crazy day.
If buying a new set of delectable dining chairs is on your menu for 2023, we’ve got you covered with all the essential advice, tips, and inspiration you need to choose dining chairs that will re-energise your space and turn it into the go-to spot in your home.
How To Size Up A Comfortable Dining Chair: 5 Important Things To Measure
No matter how pretty the packaging may be, there’s nothing more important than comfort when choosing any kind of chair for your home that’s going to be seeing some significant bum-time. But what are the essential things to look for in a dining chair that won’t prove to be a pain in the proverbial butt?
If you want to ensure your diners hang around for second’s, be sure to measure these 5 important dimensions of a dining chair you’re considering buying:
1. Seat height: Tree-trunk rugby players and tiny humans aside, the average adult needs about 30cm of room between the chair seat and the table top to sit and dine comfortably. Dining table and seat heights can vary, so start with the height of your table, and subtract 30cm to get your ideal chair height. Be sure to add a little extra leeway if your table has a wider apron.
2. Backrest height: Having dining chairs with decent lower back support is important whether you’re just in relax mode, or using your dining table as a multipurpose workspace. Aim for a chair with a minimum backrest height of 30-40cm to help keep you in a positive posture.
3. Chair width: Consider the size of your diners to ensure your chairs will be wide enough to offer a comfortable fit. A seat width of 40-45cm (excluding armrests) is a safe bet for the average adult diner.
4. Chair depth: A chair seat that’s around 50-60cm deep will be comfortable for most adults. Extra depth seats can be a little awkward for shorter people, but you can usually remedy this with a back cushion for extra support.
5. Chair footprint – finally, you’ll need to ensure your chairs will fit around the table comfortably to give your diners plenty of elbow room. Whether you’ve got a 4-seater, 6-seater or larger table, you’ll need to work out the chair footprint your table can comfortably accommodate, while ensuring a gap of around 60cm between chairs.
You’ll also want to factor in at least a 90cm gap between your chairs and any surrounding walls or other furniture.
What Makes A Good Quality Dining Chair?
Buying a good quality dining chair doesn’t simply amount to price, of course. There are plenty of factors that go into the equation, and it’s usually possible to find a quality dining chair that fits in your budget if you know what to look for. While the build quality plays a crucial role, the most important factor to consider is the inherent durability of the material the dining chair is made from.
Metals, solid hardwoods, HDPE rattan and high-grade plastics all offer excellent durability, and can be found in a wide range of styles and price ranges.
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If you’re looking for an upholstered dining chair, you’ll want fabrics that are stain-resistant, fade resistant and easy to clean. For the best quality dining chair fabrics, consider authentic full grain or top grain leather, high grade treated polyester, or velvet polyester for that extra layer of ‘come hither’ comfort.
Choosing Your Ideal Dining Chair Material
When thinking about your ideal dining chair material, you not only want to consider durability and maintenance, but the material’s natural aesthetic qualities and how these will inform or fit in with the existing look of your dining space.
Let’s take a closer look at some popular dining chair materials to help you narrow down your choices:
Wood Dining Chair
Non-upholstered wooden dining chairs tend to have a more traditional aesthetic, but can range from formal and ornate designs to more clean, simple lines that will be at home in rustic, farmhouse or contemporary settings. French country style is another popular look in wooden dining chairs.
Fabric or upholstered dining chairs
Upholstered dining chairs offer a warmer, cosier feel that’s sure to keep your diners lingering a little longer. With the range of fabrics available, you can let your creativity run wild to add colour, texture or attractive patterns to your dining space. Chairs with extra detailing like button tufting will add an extra element of opulence, while a simple monochrome design with a rich texture like velvet can also make a solid statement.
Bear in mind that certain fabrics may come with more maintenance required, especially with kids and pets in the home. However, most fabrics come with treatment options to keep maintenance to a minimum.
Leather Dining Chairs
While they fall under the ‘upholstered’ category, authentic leather dining chairs are in a class of their own – and they’ll instantly bring that reputation to your dining space.
Sleek, luxurious and sophisticated, leather dining chairs will not only bring a timeless sense of style and comfort factor of your dining space, but are sure to remain a part of your home for decades with their exceptional durability and ease of maintenance.
Metal Dining Chairs
Metal dining chairs come in a wide range of sensibilities, from the ornate aesthetic of cast iron to the ultra-modern look of brushed chrome. Most metal dining chair designs these days tend towards clean, simpler styles which lend a more modern look to any space, while being more practical, lightweight and easy to maintain. Of course, metal also scores high in the durability department.
Classic high quality wooden seat for comfortability
Rattan Dining Chairs
Organic and synthetic rattan furniture has gained massive popularity over recent years. The wicker look creates an inviting, homely feel that works anywhere, but can lend itself particularly well to a tropical, beach-house or coastal style that’s perfect for casual entertainment areas, indoor and outdoor patios, and holiday homes. If you’re looking for the best in quality and durability, stick with HDPE rattan for a low-maintenance, all-weather option that can be used both indoors and out.
Dining Chair Debates: To Armrest or Not To Armrest?
Choosing to go with or without armrests on your dining chairs is a matter of personal style as well as the logistics of your dining space.
Armchairs will lend your dining space a little extra formality and even a flair of the dramatic—while adding a certain sense of comfort and luxury. They’re also a favourite with elderly diners, since the armrests double as a support aid when getting up from the table.
Chairs with armrests naturally take up more space, so you’ll need to make sure you can fit your desired number of chairs comfortably around the table, and that there’s enough room for the arms to slide under the tabletop. If you’re a little short on space but loving the dramatic armchair vibes, you can always use two armchairs at the table ends, and go with a similar armrest-free style for the remaining chairs (or mix up the styles if you want to experiment with a more eclectic look).
Should Dining Chairs Be Lighter or Darker Than Your Table?
If you’re trying to figure out what colour or shade to pick for your new dining chairs, it’s always best to start with the dining table as a reference point. The dining table is the main centrepiece, which means your dining chairs need to complement it, rather than be fighting for the limelight. Lighter colours naturally stand out more than darker ones. So it’s best to go for dining chairs that are either the same tone or a few shades darker than that of your dining table.
For a contemporary look, a lightwood table always pairs well with chairs in black or darker neutral shades for a pleasing contrast that will add dynamic and depth to your space.
3 Steps To Pick The Perfect Dining Chair Design
Comfort… quality… materials… colours… making all the right choices can get a little overwhelming, especially with the amount of dining chair options out there. So let’s break it down into three key steps you can follow to simplify the process of picking dining chairs that will hit the right notes for your needs, your space and your style.
1. Prioritise function first
Dining chairs have a key function to fulfil in your home, beyond looking pretty. So start with the question of how you plan to use your dining space. Is it a casual space you’ll just be using for meals with the immediate fam? (Go with a design that’s comfy and laid back).
Will it need to double up as a homework station or makeshift work-from-home space during the day? (prioritise comfortable and supportive seating). Do you plan to host dinner parties on a regular basis? (Maybe you’ll want something a little more luxurious and eye-catching to showcase your personal tastes).
Be sure to pick your chairs according to how you’ll be using your dining space the majority of the time, rather than ending up with an overfitted dining area your family will feel ‘intimidated’ to use on a daily basis!
2. Pair your dining chairs to your table
Once you’re clear on your dining chairs’ daily job description, it’s time to think about matching them to your table. (Pro tip: it’s always best to match new chairs to an existing table, rather than trying to retrofit a table to your chairs). The most important principle here is having the chair legs complement the table legs in style and tone.
A rule of thumb is that legs made of the same materials should match. For example, wooden chair legs should be more or less the same shade as a wooden table. On the other hand, if you’re pairing different materials it’s good to go for contrast. Dark metal chair legs pair brilliantly with a light wood table.
3. Pick a dining chair style that speaks to your space
Aside from the few basic principles we’ve mentioned, there’s no set formula to picking the perfect dining chairs—a lot of it comes down to personal taste and finding the balance of form and function that speaks to your space and how you want to use it. But it always helps to have a little inspiration on hand! Here are a few examples of how different designs can inform the look and feel of a dining space:
Low-back or rounded tub chairs will naturally create a more casual setting and are perfect for gatherings with friends and family.
- Use high back chairs for a more formal dining space where you plan to do some more serious entertaining.
- For a definite contemporary look, cantilever or sleigh-frame dining chairs will help lighten up the space around a dining table and make the whole area feel more relaxed and open-ended.
- Chairs with clean lines, minimal upholstery and solid colours naturally communicate a modern or contemporary feel.
- Pick chairs with warm colours and distressed surfaces for a farmhouse or rustic look.
- Open-backed chairs draw less visual attention, making them great for smaller spaces where you can keep the focus on your dining table and experiment with other visual flourishes to add interest to the space.
We’ve got heaps more inspiration to help guide you in buying the perfect dining chairs for 2023. Have a browse through our stellar range of contemporary, urban, rustic, beach house and French provincial style dining chairs and dining sets that are guaranteed to give your dining space a fresh lease on life and good taste!