About Dining Room Chairs
The repetition of any design element, whether with color or accessories or furniture, is the first thing to catch the eye. This is why dining chairs, in their groups of six or eight or twenty, can make such a strong design statement in the home. The shape and style of dining chairs alone can create an imposing or opulent impression for guests or a cozy and inviting one. Selection of fabrics can help the seating flow seamlessly into the rest of the room or draw attention to itself with bold colors, patterns or detailing. Dining chairs are available in a myriad of designs to suit a variety of tastes and lifestyles and help create a home as unique as its inhabitants.
Function
Dining chairs provide formal seating in the dining room for family and guests. Typically larger and more comfortable than kitchen chairs, dining chairs can also be used for additional guest seating in the living or family room. Use dining chairs next to end tables in bedrooms, hallways and entryways for comfortable, attractive seating that takes less space than a traditional upholstered chair or recliner.
Identification
Dining chairs fit with a standard 30-inch high table and are typically made of sturdier and more expensive materials than kitchen, bistro or bar chairs. Chair backs are higher, seats are wider and legs are more substantial or ornate. Traditional dining arrangements have armchairs at the head and foot of the table and four or more side chairs flanking them.
Types
Dining chairs can be made out of a variety of solid woods, wood composites and veneers, rattan, metal and even acrylic. Styles range from traditional and colonial to country, contemporary, Victorian and modern. Dining chairs can be plain with square backs and straight legs or rounded with ornate scrolling at the top and feet.
Chair backs are usually open with vertical or horizontal cross-pieces providing support, but they can also be solid or fully upholstered. Chair seats are often upholstered for comfort, but some modern or Shaker styles have smooth wood or acrylic seats. Armchairs, for the ends of the dining table, can have straight, rounded, ornate, upholstered, open or closed arms.
Fabric materials and designs help define the style of dining chairs. Smooth fabrics with plain or geometric patterns work well for modern furniture, small prints or plaids for country chairs, and brocades and leathers for formal and traditional dining chairs. Pieces can be personalized with custom fabric to match existing furniture, textiles and decor in the home.
Geography
Styles of dining chairs are nearly infinite, and individual tastes vary in every region, but there are trends in design depending on location. Rural homes are more likely to have country and Colonial style dining rooms. Coastal residences in the US and elsewhere in the world often have more casual dining chairs made of rattan. Traditional Japanese dining rooms have low tables with chairs that have a back and cushion, but no legs.
Spanish style antiques are heavy and opulent, but modern Spanish homes are more likely to contain simple, straight wooden chairs in the dining area or on the terrace. Danish seating is typically of a smaller scale, modern in design and made of light wood like beech or teak.
Considerations
Select chairs that fit the size of your dining room. Write down the measurements of the available space. If there is an existing dining table, measure the height, width, space between the table legs and distance from the table edge to the wall. Bring measurements and a tape measure to the store. Find chairs that will all fit comfortably under the table and slide easily between the table legs. There should be room enough to draw out the chair without hitting the wall or other furniture, and space for guests to get in between the table and pulled out chair.
Consider the size and stature of family members and your usual guests. Look for taller backs and wider seats to accommodate larger guests, as well as sturdier materials. Try out the dining chairs yourself. If the chair is uncomfortable or feels unsteady, look for a better choice.
Choose a dining set that matches the other furniture on the same floor, particularly in an open floor plan. If you prefer modern dining chairs but have a traditional house, select modern pieces in the same wood tone as the existing furniture. When custom fabric is an option, choose a more traditional fabric to offset the modern shape of the chairs. Conversely, highlight the dining area with a traditional design of chair in a distressed finish or contrasting wood tones to the rest of the house. As long as one key element ties in, you can play with other aspects.
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