7 Easy Steps To Select Dining Chairs

Be it breakfast, dinner, or the in-between snack sessions, your day pretty much starts and ends in your dining room. It’s the only place where family meals, leisure time games, and gatherings occur. Simply put, families often use this area as a multi-purpose, versatile space.

So, we have established that you are likely to spend a good amount of time in your dining room. This means that your dining chairs set should be ergonomically designed to offer the utmost comfort and style. 

Zeroing in on the perfect dining chairs is an uphill task when you are moving into a new house or renovating your old one. This article will familiarise you with seven steps to select the perfect dining chairs for your living room, so read until the end.

1. Comfort over Aesthetics

Usually, people hinge their decision on a dining chair’s looks. But we would like to change that. Your comfort should be the #1 priority when it comes to your dining chairs. 

A comfortable dining chair must be at least 17 inches (43 cm) wide. That said, 22 inches is a decent width too. You can measure the width at the widest points – the backrest or/and the seat. 

You should avoid chairs narrower than 17 inches if you don’t want to compromise comfort. If your dining space is narrow, opt for armless chairs as the arms cover an additional space of 6 inches. Armless chairs prove to be the most comfortable when 24 inches deep and approximately 22 inches wide.

Additionally, adding an armchair to your dining room can prove to be handy if there’s an older person, pregnant woman, child, or sick person in your household.

2. Size of Your Dining Area and Your Dining Table

The second thing to consider when out shopping for dining chairs is the size of your dining room and your dining table. 

If you have a limited dining space, it’s best to opt for open back chairs. Simple side chairs without armrests and upholstery will do the job as well. In addition to taking comparatively less space, they make your small dining room look spacious. 

What if you have a large dining room? Go for voluminous upholstered chairs.

Again, the dining chairs you pick have a great deal to do with the size of your dining table. This is because your dining table dimensions will ultimately determine the exact number of chairs you can put around it. Usually, most square or rectangular tables require approximately 1 ft (30 cm) of space per person. But round tables don’t need to be this long.

Most dining room tables are around 29-30 inches away from the floor, and most chairs come based on this calculation. However, if your table has a height lower than 25 inches (64 cm), you should be selective while buying the chairs. 

A good rule of thumb is there should be a gap of at least 12 inches between the chair and tabletop for the best comfort.

3. Your Dining Room Culture

Think about your dining room environment before purchasing dining chairs. Your best bet would be chairs that complement your lifestyle.

Ask yourself:

• If you like to spend a great deal of quality time gossiping, playing, or discussing familial matters in your dining room?
• If your little ones love to read, paint or sit in the dining room?
• If you like to organize gatherings over a meal?

To put these points in perspective: 

• Low-back chairs will be a good fit if you are expecting casual gatherings. 
• An armchair or an upholstered chair will be perfect for your little ones. 
• On the other hand, if you need a more professional setting, buy high-backed chairs as they give your dining space a somewhat formal look. 

4. Trends

Your dining chairs should complement the décor of your dining room. But modern trends have made it desirable to go for a contrasting approach, meaning your dining chairs should be in contrast to the overall theme of your house. This will give your dining room a more modern look.

That said, your mix-matching should keep intact, if not better, the aesthetics of your dining room. For example, choosing different materials of the same color or vice versa is a great way to ensure diversity without tampering with the visual appeal of your dining room.

5. Maintenance

There’s always the possibility of your dining chairs getting stained. Or if you have kids or pets, there might be a potential risk of wear and tear as well. So, choose dining chairs that are easy to clean and maintain. Even slipcovers are a good choice.

Remember, darker shades are always preferable for dining chairs. And as far as material and upholstery are concerned, you can opt for either rattan, leather, or cotton blends.

6. Portability

Having easy-to-move chairs in your dining hall is always more desirable, especially if you have a large family — you never know what tonight’s seating arrangement is going to look like! In such a scenario, plastic chairs should do the job for you since they are easily portable. Open-backed chairs are also a great option. 

Note that if your chairs are upholstered or high-backed, they must be light enough to move around.

7. Affordability

If you are on a tight budget and don’t want anything with questionable quality or looks, wooden chairs can be a good option. These are the most commonly used dining chairs and give your dining room a simple but elegant look.

Endnote

We hope our guide above has helped you zero in on the aptest dining chair for your household. A dining area is a happening place, so it must be cozy and posh, and one of the only ways to ensure that it is is by picking suitable dining chairs.