How To Choose Dining Chairs That Won't Make Your Table Look Too Boring

Before you purchase that dining room set, consider whether those matching chairs will add anything to your dining area's aesthetic. Some dining suites provide chairs and tables that are too matchy. It's a common mistake when redoing a dining room, but it makes the space less personal. While buying a dining suite like this is generally more convenient because you get your tables and chairs together, the color and texture of this setup doesn't bring a ton of excitement to the dining area. To avoid a boring dining suite, consider choosing chairs in shades, styles, or materials that are different from your dining table. 

Picking your own chairs gives you more control over the design and layout of the room. You'll get to flex your creative muscles, and it's the perfect opportunity to find chairs that will complement your table and other room elements without being drowned out by them. Follow some of these tips to make the search for interesting dining chairs a fun (not cumbersome) process.

Playing around with different colors and materials for chairs is an excellent way to add excitement to your dining table. One way to do this is to contrast dark and light shades. For instance, black upholstered chairs or chairs with a dark finish could pair well with a light wood dining table. Texturally, there are a lot of exciting options for the best type of dining room chairs, like leather, woven wicker, velvet, and traditional fabrics like linen and polyester. Metal chairs are also great for modern and industrial designs with wooden tables. 

Depending on your aesthetic goals, vintage chairs might provide a visually stunning alternative to modern dining chairs. When buying vintage furniture for your home, do your research on the pieces you hope to acquire and assess them for damage. You want your dining chairs to last, so while the chairs may be older, they also need to be sturdy. 

To this point, not all your chairs have to be the same style or come from the same place. For rectangular tables with a more formal feel, you could purchase separate chairs for the heads of the table. Armchairs are common for this placement. You could also mix and match modern and traditional chair styles. However, like their relationship to the table, it's important that the dining chairs complement each other, not clash. Mixing different chairs can provide an intriguing look, but if it's overdone, the end result can be overwhelming.

While you want to choose stylish chairs, it's also important to remember that their primary purpose is to provide comfortable seating at the dinner table. To ensure the chairs are the right fit, you'll need to consider the shape and dimensions of the table. Standard dining tables are around 28 to 30 inches in height, and standard seat heights range between 18 and 23 inches. If the chair has an armrest, you'll want to account for that as well. Ensure there are several inches of space between the arms of the chair and the bottom of the tabletop so the chairs can be pushed in. 

The shape of the table will also determine how many chairs and what type are appropriate for the space. For instance, round dining tables may not provide as much leg or elbow room as rectangular tables. Narrow, armless chairs can help maximize the space around the table to give your family and guests a comfortable dining experience. In terms of chair shape, square chairs provide a nice visual contrast to the curvature of a round or oval table. 

On the other hand, rectangular tables might require a few more seats and can benefit from various styles and shapes as long as arm and leg room are taken into consideration.