photo by Zeke Ruelas | from: ginny’s dining room reveal
There are three approaches when it comes to dining room furniture: matching chairs, matching side chairs + different head chairs, and an eclectic mishmash where no two chairs are the same. Frankly, there are no wrong answers, it’s just a style choice. So…to match or not to match is the big question. Maybe you like the idea of contrast, or you want the people sitting at the ends of your table to feel a little bit special, or you just have so many amazing chair choices that you don’t want to pick just one. (We wouldn’t blame you, there are so many great chairs out there.) So how do you put them together? That’s where this handy post comes in.
In many traditional dining sets, the chairs at each end of the table are styled a little differently: they usually have arms, and are sometimes larger or more ornate to reflect the importance of that position at the table. These days, we don’t take seating charts as seriously, but a little contrast is still a nice look, so for this guide, we’ve chosen to pair up armchairs and side chairs. Of course, you can also use these principles to pair side chairs with other side chairs, or armchairs with other armchairs (if you just really love arms).
Before we get to the shopping bit, let’s take a look at a few real-world examples of mixed chair pairings. Like Ginny’s up top, where two time-honored classics come together. Eames shell chair, meet bentwood. These styles have a lot in common: they’re both light and understated. But there’s an element of contrast, too: the wood tones of the bentwood chairs are a nice balance to the smooth whiteness of the shell chairs. Together with the modern pedestal table, a crowd of shell chairs on their own could feel a little too space age-y, but paired with the bentwood chairs, they’re just right.
This dining room is a bit more traditional, with upholstered head chairs paired with side chairs that have a rustic vibe. Besides adding a rustic/industrial element to the space, the side chairs also help to lighten up the room. A whole table of upholstered chairs (especially around the hefty trestle table) might feel a bit heavy or stuffy, but pairing them with lighter side chairs creates a nice balance, while making some allowances for comfort. (Because we get it, not everyone wants to sit for hours on a hard chair.)
The Curbly’s dining room is a great example of how to work within the same color palette but bring in contrast, tension and visual interest with mixed silhouettes and materials. This room brings together two chairs you might not think to put together (one very modern, the other vintage). But here’s why they work together: the wood and metal set up a pleasing contrast to the upholstered chairs at the head of the table because proportionately, they are both still visually light and “leggy,” plus the cohesive color palette brings everything together in a way that feels like they always belonged around the same table.
In last year’s Feel Good Flash Makeover (if you haven’t seen the video yet from that post, run don’t walk, and grab your box of tissue on your way over), Emily and the design team paired super sensible black wood chairs (for the kids) with a cozy upholstered armchair to bring in a little softness (for momma after a long work/parenting day…and maybe for homework time sans spaghetti sauce looming disasters). The light blue works to balance the darker chairs, and both silhouettes are visually light and hit at about the same height.
Here’s a look Emily created to showcase Target’s spring collection a few years back, with lots of seating choices that all work together for a super eclectic vibe (even with some of the pieces leaning traditional). For anyone who isn’t brave enough to go with three different chairs, here’s what else would work from this look: rattan chairs + slipper chairs (for a bit more of a funky pairing), or slipper chairs + bench (this one is more “family” friendly and traditional), or rattan chairs + bench (which will come off boho but refined).
Do you love clean lines and elegant, understated looks? Do you lean a little more mid-century or industrial? If you’re not about fussy materials or overly artistic silhouettes, this is the board for you.
1. George Armchair // Alba Dining Chair | 2. Prouve Standard Chair // Green Dylan Dining Chair | 3. Remy Arm Chair // Masey Wood Dining Chair | 4. Slope Dining Chair // Henry Chair | 5. Coppice Armchair // Bentwood Chair | 6. Bertaux Armchair // Clark Dining Chair
Okay, so admittedly #1 would get PRICEY, but we aren’t going to pretend we understand everyone’s decorating budgets, so we left it on the board because it’s just so dang cool if you have, um, $3,000 to spend on dining chairs. I’m really digging #2 and think it would really jazz up a super simple table. Plus the green upholstery is a great way to bring in color if say, you don’t want to paint your walls but are craving a little sumptin’ sumptin’. The Windsor-style black chair from #3 is a pretty classic frame, but when paired with a fluffy leather-like upholstered chair, it’s all of a sudden a little bit edgier. For a really mid-century modern friendly pairing, #5 is where it’s at.
If you’re drawn towards the unusual and the quirky and your taste tends to be a bit off the beaten path, then these unexpected pairings will be a perfect fit in your dining room.
1. Castine-Striped Dining Chair // Maple Bentwood Dining Chair | 2. Wire Frame Dining Chair // Zeke Indoor/Outdoor Dining Chair | 3. Bendt Dining Armchair // Workshop Chair | 4. Hoffman Side Chair // Carson Bench | 5. Malou Chair // Emmerson Reclaimed Wood Bench | 6. Antonio Acrylic Chair // Marte Dining Chair
In pairing #1, the slipper chair is pretty voluminous in that it has no openings, so putting it together with something much lighter and simple is the key to a balanced marriage, while in #2 it’s less about opposites and more about a similar airy, wiry frame (with the yellow adding a nice punch to the more industrial West Elm chair). And because we LOVE a chair + bench mashup, #4 and #5 come into the mix but with very different aesthetics. Oh, there probably isn’t a more “opposites attract” pairing than #6: lucite and white upholstered mixed with all wood and caning, but somehow…it works because it screams “I’M COMFORTABLE WITH TAKING RISKS” and who would dare question such confidence?
Creating a “luxe” look isn’t all flashy metals and bling. It’s actually a lot more subtle than that (but every pair here has a velvet chair because what’s a glam vibe without some sheeny velvet?). Another pillar of “modern luxe” is interesting silhouettes that feel a little more special and art-y. Let’s take a look.
1. Ibis Dining Chair // Dasilva Upholstered Dining Chair | 2. Azalea Grey Mink Chair // Cerchio Chair | 3. Silver Lining Armless Dining Chair // Elim Velvet Dining Chair | 4. Rust Orange Velvet Chair // Haylee Mono Rattan Chair
The velvet colors here could all be interchanged with anything that works for your decor. For #1, I’d go with the black metal chair as the side and the rust armchair as the head, but in #3, I think the green velvet as the side chairs and the white CB2 chair as the head chair would be SUCH a killer look. There’s also something really nice and balanced about #4, with the persimmon-colored beetle chair and the rattan bucket seat…they work well together because their bodies are similar in shape so it’s less of a blatant style clash.
We highly suspect that this is where most of you will feel comfortable. It’s definitely the most “livable” aesthetic, and look, not every piece and every room in your home has to be this big statement or risk. This “Soft Neutral” is exactly what it sounds like: quiet flaxes, heather grays, varied wood tones and straight up comfort. If you find yourself drawn towards classic looks, check out these armchair and side chair pairings, which will fit seamlessly into a more traditional interior without feeling stuffy or overdone.
1. Bacci Chair // Logan Dining Chair | 2. High Back Dining Chair // Dane Dining Chair | 3. Ercol Originals Stacking Chair // Shaw Walnut Bench | 4. Alastair Arm Chair // Owen Metal Frame Chairs | 5. Melrose Dining Chair // Windsor Bench | 6. Natural Linen Armchair // SKOGSTA Chair
The prices on this board really run the gamut, from that nearly $1,300 Rejuvenation bench (that’s SO STUNNING with the chair we paired it with) to an under-$50 IKEA chair (that could easily have come from some boogie boutique somewhere in LA for 10x the price in terms of look…maybe not material or craftsmanship). While #1 is a good coupling of mid-century styling and curves, #2 actually works because they’re opposites (one is sharp and angular, the other is soft and sinuous). Both those chairs from #4 are SUCH great prices and when paired together, they elevate each other. And uh…that blonde wood bench from Target at #5 is so good, I’d say if you don’t have room for it in your dining room, grab it for another area in your home because it’s so good (and under $250).
Okay, you made it this far, and now you’re probably wondering…wait…what about tables? While we didn’t include them specifically in this round up, we have written two different chairs + dining table power couples posts so you can get some idea of how to pair things (like this one and this one). Also, did you know we have all our current furniture pieces (including dining tables for the sake of this post) curated in our SHOP page? Head here for a TON of picks at a variety of price points.
***Thank you so much to contributing market researcher Nancy Mitchell for helping us to pull this piece together.
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To match or not to match, that is the question. As the principal piece of furniture in a dining area - alongside the table - dining chairs play an essential role in the overall look, feel, and experience of the space. A new or upcycled set of dining chairs is an easy and relatively low-cost trick to instantly update a dining room. However, the wrong look can date it just as quickly.
Current home interior design trends suggest matching chairs and tables are a thing of the past, but will the eclectic dining room look soon become passé, or is it here to stay? What are the pros and cons of dining chairs matching the table? And what should we look for when shopping for dining chairs? We asked the experts their opinion.
Sophie Flaxman
Freelance journalistSophie is a home interiors writer and all-around design aficionado, currently studying interior design at London's KLC. For this article, she weighs up whether matching dining tables and chairs are still a design faux-pas, with the help of some design experts.
(Image credit: Scheer & Co)
‘Matching chairs and tables are often a good choice with traditional styles,’ says Killy Scheer, interior designer and founder of Scheer & Co. ‘If the furnishings are ornate or highly detailed, matching can ensure a cohesive look.’ Chaya Krinsky, head designer and co-founder of TOV Furniture agrees, especially if you want to achieve a formal, classic, or period aesthetic.
‘Many shoppers consider matching dining chairs a fail-safe choice because they don’t have to worry about how it will look when it arrives,’ adds Chaya. While it may save you time and energy scouring the shops for the most suitable option, the proof of the “one and done” method is in the pudding - as they say. Interior design is more than just a lovely table or pretty set of chairs. A home’s decor should be as unique and interesting as its owner, offering insight into their personal and private world. So, what would a set of mass-produced, just-off-the-showroom-floor dining furniture say to guests about its inhabitants? We’ll let you answer that!
For Killy and most designers, the “matchy-matchy” look is an interior design crime. ‘We tend to steer clear of "sets" -- buying an entire living or dining room suite from the same place, all with the same style.’ Though she does cut dining chair and table duos some slack, ‘matching chairs to a table isn't risky -- it's when the table and chairs match the sideboard and console table, and the lighting is also in a similar style.’ Plus, Chaya argues matching dining sets can quickly look dated, ‘when you match exactly, specifically woods, I find it gives a non-contemporary look that can age the space, overall.’
(Image credit: Bryan Ferry. Design: Home Studios)
Dining chairs don’t have to match a table but should combine. Chaya recommends using the style of the dining table as a starting point. ‘If you have a mid-century modern table, then maybe pair it with a set of chairs that play into that style, without completely matching,’ she says.
Chaya also suggests playing with contrasting textures, finishes, and colors to create visual interest. ‘If you are mixing & matching, I love for either the dining table to be dark and the chairs light, or vice versa,’ she says. ‘I also love mixing different materials, like a wood table with a plush upholstered chair or a metal table with a wooden chair that might have a metal element in it.’
Avoid mixing wood finishes, ‘there are so many different species of wood that look completely different. The likelihood you do it well is low,’ says Chaya. Too much of the same material can feel overwhelming, and various textures are far more visually appealing and stimulating to the senses. ‘Overall, my rule is to mix an element of major texture with a flat element. That's how I do it in my own home, and I think it is really successful,’ concludes Chaya. Killy applies the same technique to her work: ‘if we're mixing chairs and tables, we ensure there’s a good contrast in the finishes. Too close, and the difference could look like a mistake.’
(Image credit: Aaron Leitz. Design: Lisa Staton)
In short, no! There are three main possibilities when it comes to choosing chairs for your dining table: a neat, sophisticated single-style dining chair; a casual-looking, eclectic mishmash of different dining chair styles; one style for the side chairs and another for the seats at the head of the table (although that only applies to rectangular and oval-shaped dining tables).
‘It’s really fun to mix and match patterns and shapes of chairs,’ says Chaya. ‘Although, they should have one matching factor in either shape, style, or color for consistency.’ Killy likes to bring in head chairs that don’t match the rest of the dining chairs, ‘I just make sure there is cohesion in either the finishes or upholstery, so the end result looks intentional,’ she adds.
(Image credit: Matthew Williams c/o General Assembly)
‘Scale and composition are highly important. I consider furniture proportions and finishes,’ says Killy. It’s not all about looks! The scale of your dining chairs must also be compatible with the dining table size, as well as the material finish.
The first detail to address is the chair's height, allowing enough legroom space and an ergonomic seating position. This point is crucial when mixing and matching dining chairs to ensure all diners are seated at equal heights. As a general rule, there should be 10 to 12 inches between the underside of the tabletop and the chair seat. Dining chairs should also be able to be tucked under the table when not in use to maximize floor space and ensure the easy flow of the room. For an aesthetically pleasing look, ensure the back of each chair is taller than the tabletop by at least two inches.
The width and depth of the chairs are just as important. Dining chairs should slide comfortably under the table with a couple of inches of space between them and without bumping into the table legs or base of a pedestal table. If the dining chairs are too close, diners will feel uncomfortable and cramped.
Finally, regarding the material finish, consider how the dining chairs will be used and by who. If they’re for daily use or by kids in a pet-friendly home, a hard-wearing, easy-cleaning material is a must. Wood, (faux) leather, washable cotton or linen cushion covers, plastic, or acrylic are safe bets. Upholstered chairs in velvet or suede, for example, may be better left for formal dining rooms used on special occasions.
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