How To Choose The Right Dining Chair.

Dining rooms come in all shapes and sizes – casual breakfast nooks, formal dining areas and everything in between. But the most important element in a dining area is your chair. Is it the right height for your desk? Is it comfortable for the fun types you love to do? Is the fabric durable? There are many questions that need to be answered before choosing the right one, and we are here to guide you through the process.


                    


       1. Size

Measuring is essential when shopping for furniture, especially when it comes to seating in your dining room. Standard seat height is 45.5 cm (18 inches) and standard table height is 76 cm (30 inches).

                         

When measuring, be sure to consider the skirt of your table, the wooden panel that connects the legs up. Not all tables have skirts, but if you do you'll want to make sure there's enough room for the knees!

Once you've chosen the right height chairs, you'll want to figure out how many chairs can fit at your desk. Allow 61 cm (24 inches) of space per chair. A 182 cm (72 inch) long table can accommodate 6 comfortable chairs, a 243 cm (96 inch) comfortable table for 8 people and a 300 cm (120 inch) table for comfortable 10 people. Of course for a pinch or for large parties, you can squeeze in a little more, but you can use your table every day. Convenience, a large gathering is hosted only once a year.

2. Comfort

There are many factors to choose between upholstered and non-upholstered chairs, and both have their advantages. A chair like Tonet can be easily wiped down, so you don't have to worry about spills. An unupholstered chair is often narrower and easier to fit around a smaller, tiny table. However, if you like to host a long and slow dinner party, you may want to choose an upholstery that will be more comfortable if you spend time after meals.

An upholstered chair is the most comfortable option if you have a large desk or a large room, but be sure to leave 17.5 cm (7 inches) between the arm of the chair and the table.

3. Fabric and Finish

If you like a mixed and harmonious look, you need to think strategically about the finishes. You don't want them to complement each other but be a perfect match. Consider adding both a coherent element and a contrasting element. Contrast makes the space more exciting and interesting, while consistency avoids the feeling of breaking the fence.

                         

For example, we used a different table, side chairs and chairs in the dining room above. The table has a whitewash finish and the chairs have a brushed oak veneer. Then we have a fully upholstered banquette with a skirt. This works because even though the wood finishes are different, they both have a rustic, weathered vibe. Next, we chose a fully upholstered chair, rather than a completely third finish. A chair with a third type of leg would be too much. Instead, a skirted banquette separates all the wood and softens the dining area.

4. Head Chairs and Side Chairs

We love a layered and eclectic look, and chairs are a great way to add more pattern and personality to your space. This is your opportunity to add a bold fabric, unusual shape, and heavier style to ground your dining table. We generally recommend choosing a chair that is heavier than your side seat, and this is for two reasons.

                  

At the end of the table you will typically have more than 61 cm (24 inches) of space that you allow for side chairs. Most tables are 75 to 101 cm wide, so your head chair may be slightly wider than a side chair because you will only be using one chair at that 75-101 cm.

The head chair determines the beginning and end of the table. Head Chair is like an initial and a punctuation mark at the end of a sentence. They show the start and end and look good visually. Dining halls are usually long and narrow.

 5. Feasts

For dining venues or rooms where you are cramped, a banquette can solve many problems. Because it's often pressed against a wall, you can squeeze your desk into a narrower room or take advantage of a corner. It also makes it easier to squeeze more people around the table because you're sitting closer on a banquette than in a chair.

Bold cushions, storage benches, and fully upholstered banquettes add so much function to a small space.

6. Personality

We use our dining rooms most in the evenings and on special occasions and are therefore the perfect room for individual gatherings. Since it is not a room that you will use every day, you can play with the color and pattern a little more. Chairs are the perfect way to layer unusual patterns, shapes and colors.

7. Mix and Match in an Open Floor Plan

Open floor plans can be deceiving because every piece of furniture should be related since you see everything at once. But they don't necessarily have to match.

Above, we chose two open floor kitchens with stools and chairs that fit almost perfectly. It's a pulled-together look that always works, but there's no right or wrong answer.

8. Extra Seating

It's normal to think about big holidays when furnishing our dining rooms, but we take a different approach. That said, if you have a family of four, make your dining area comfortable for four people so you use it every day. Table leaves, folding garden chairs and side chairs are great tools for hosting larger gatherings and can be stored away for everyday use.

Discover more How To Guide to decorate your space or browse all the dining chairs from our catalogues.