Tips On How To Mix Up Your Dining Room Seating

Gone are the days of formal dining room suites with a table, chairs, china cabinet, and hutch all carbon copies of each other. Eclectic style is what we're aiming for — complementary, mixed pieces and attention-grabbing items — it feels modern, easy, and full of personality, and allows you to mix and match your favorite pieces or unique items of furniture.

It's simple to create a relaxed, custom design from furniture store staples. Consider using fewer matching chairs and replacing them with upholstered ends; some sets are available with a bench instead or check the showroom floor for seating displayed with another suite. Beautiful, second-hand tables can be picked up for little money, leaving only the chairs to worry about. Architectural Digest recommends ensuring matching elements between different furniture items to convey a sense of consistency, whether it be color, material, age, or style. It's fusion dining and we're sharing how to partake.

One of the easiest ways to create contrast is to cover upholstered chairs in two different colored fabrics. The sunny yellow end chairs add just the right amount of energy needed to enliven this dining room, but because they are the exact same shape as their green counterpart, the whole feels quiet and cohesive. The classic wood farmhouse table pairs nicely with the Danish modern chairs on slender legs.

To go with completely different materials, a similar silhouette and style help to tie chairs together. In this layout, the scale and shape are repeated. The rounded cameo back of the transparent chair is mimicked in the scrolling, rounded back of the black chair, their legs are elegantly canted, and they both have arms. Above all, they share a delicate bearing and smoky color palette; notice the simplicity of the pedestal table base, so as not to compete.

Bring in softness and comfort with upholstered end chairs; they can be a similar size as the side chairs or slightly larger. Linen skirted wing chairs and modern captain's chairs are popular choices and provide visual impact. Their height and textural fabrics introduce a gracious drama to the space. Narrow and stylish occasional chairs from the living room can even be repurposed as additional seating when necessary.

A bench offers a versatile function in a dining room as it seats more people, and is more flexible, than chairs. An added benefit is the clean presentation, with no backs to punctuate the air above, and because of this they easily tuck underneath when not in use. That being said, one can opt for a bench with a back, which is better for support and safer for small children. Placement can be on only one side or both sides of the table, depending upon the look desired, the seating requirements, and the space available.  

Ottomans provide the same benefits as a bench while being softer and more comfortable. Make sure they offer the spring needed to dine comfortably for long periods. With less support and no back to lean into, they're better options for infrequent seating rather than everyday dining. They look casually elegant, and are an opportunity, like upholstered chairs, to bring in pattern and color; coordinate or contrast with textiles already in the space, or in a room nearby.

Construction material can be a consistent element among chairs, which are most commonly made from wood. However metal, upholstery, or mixed media are also popular.  Black painted wood and natural cane become the glue that holds these various silhouettes together. A set full of the end chairs would feel heavy and bold, whereas combining them together strikes an intriguing note. 

A built-in banquette is streamlined and chic. They're often well-crafted and custom upholstered, so you'll need a carpenter or strong DIY skills to implement one. Alternatively, opt for a sofa as the ultimate luxury seating with no carpentry skills needed. You'll need a supportive piece of the right height, and a stain and moisture-resistant fabric, making food spills less of a concern. Select chairs that complement the style of the sofa. This set-up works well in rooms that share functions, such as a library or dining room.