Dining Chairs Buying Guide
Choosing the right chair
Dining chairs are the obvious accompaniment to your dining table, and as such, you'll need to ensure that they are equally well-manufactured and long-lasting.
Nonetheless, if there's one thing that has changed in recent years about the buying habits of customers of dining chairs, it is that many no longer seek to match theirs with their table, instead making the most of the opportunity to flaunt their individuality and style.
But of course, whether you choose matching or non-matching chairs is a decision that is entirely your own!
Here at Furnishing Homes, we sell most of our chairs in pairs.
Types of dining chairs
Nonetheless, despite what we have said above, there does of course still have to be at least some degree of continuity of colour or design in the chairs that you choose.
You may achieve this by:
- Choosing dining chairs made out of the same wood as the table
- Matching common design features - for example, mimicking tapered table legs with tapered chair legs
- Echoing the shape of the table in your chairs - for example, if the table is square, purchasing square shaped seats
Our online store stocks every type of dining chair, from upholstered and padded chairs to wooden chairs made out of oak, acacia, fruitwoods, pine and redwood. We even have various leather dining chairs for you to choose from.
Dimensions
It is obviously vital to consider the dimensions of your dining chairs - and when you do, you should take care to consider the size and comfort of your guests.
You should choose a chair that is no less than 17 inches wide, although we would recommend a width of between 20 and 24 inches for maximum comfort.
Seat Height
The height of your chairs can make a big difference to the atmosphere of your room, with tall backed chairs adding more drama and their low backed equivalents making for a more informal and relaxed atmosphere.
The traditional dining chair height is 18 or 19 inches, and we advise you to allow 12 inches between the top of the table and the chair seat.
Portability
You should consider who will be using the chairs, as well as how. For ease of manoeuvre, slatted back chairs are the best option, being the easiest to grip. This makes them a much better option for children or those with mobility difficulties than covered back chairs.
Upholstery
It should be affordable to maintain the dining chairs that you choose. If you're looking for chairs that you can simply wipe clean, then it's hard to think of a better option than a leather, wooden or woven chair, whilst fabric covered seats are some of the less recommended seats in this regard.
Although luxurious, fabric chairs will probably make necessary the purchase of a stain guard, particularly if you have children.
