Dining Room Chair Shopping Guide
There are a lot of benefits to owning a solid wood dining table and those very benefits translate over to solid wood dining chairs. From the beautiful grain patterns to the hand-built designs that are durable and long-lasting, these are great assets to your dining room. There are many wonderful chair options out there that we can’t wait for you to discover. We want to help you find the chairs that fit your dining room with this chair shopping guide. Whether you’re looking for bar chairs, standard dining chairs, or even benches – these tips will be able to be applied.
Number of Chairs Needed
Before you even began reading this chair shopping guide, you likely had a rough idea of how many people will sit at your dining room table throughout the day. The number of chairs you purchase should accommodate this number, future guests, your budget, and the size of your table. While you can’t prepare for every possible family or friend get-together in your future right now – it is good to consider if buying more chairs than what will fit your current family and social situation will be beneficial. The height, width, and arms of each chair will make a difference, too. When it comes to placing your chairs in a comfortable and visually appealing way around your table, we encourage you to read our Table Size Guide.
We’ve made this comprehensive article that lays out how you can set up a formal or friendly dining layout with any table. This guide is set up to help you see just how many chairs are too little or too much for your table. This may also help you decide if a bench is a good alternative for you to have optimal seating space in your dining room.
Note:
- Please keep accessibility for guests in mind. (If your dining room is small, you want to avoid pinching your guests between the table and the wall. You don’t want them rubbing elbows either. Also, if you or your guest are elderly, you’ll likely want to steer away from only using benches and opt for a chair with a solid back.)
How to Match the Style of Your Table
The easiest way to match solid wood dining chairs to a dining table is to buy a complete dining set. However, we are well aware that not everyone has the budget or desire to do this – especially if you already have a beautiful table at home. This means that the next best option is to buy a set of chairs that will pair nicely with your existing table. have style expertise, or virtually have no furniture style knowledge. Here’s our tips to help those not familiar with what style their table is:
Look at the base of the table.
- Furniture styles are often depicted through the silhouettes/shapes of the furniture. In a table, those details are most easily distinguished in the legs or base. Are the legs or pedestal simple and straight? This may be a Shaker or Mission-style table. Do you notice a lot of ornate detail and claw feet? This is likely a Traditional style table.
Take note of the materials and the color
- While hardwood is one of the most common and revered materials for a table, styles like Industrial are known for mixing in metal elements. Many styles are also known for gravitating to certain woods and stain colors. This will help you determine if you need cherry chairs, maple dining chairs, or another wood type entirely An example is the rustic style. This style often has a weathered or slightly unfinished look. The stains are usually light and warm-toned giving it a natural and creamy look. However, within the reclaimed rustic furniture sub-style, the stains are dark to resemble old barn doors and wooden barrels.
- Take a picture of the color of your table – many stores and furniture websites offer services to help you match colors as closely as possible before you order. They may even be able to help you identify the wood type by the grain pattern.
Learn about complementary styles
- If you find you’re struggling to find chairs that perfectly match your table, don’t be afraid to look into complementary styles. A great example of this is knowing your sub-styles. Modern styles have subsets: Mid-century Modern, Minimalist, and Contemporary. Many styles have subsets to explore, but that doesn’t mean different styles don’t look good when combined. Some modern designs share characteristics of simplicity with Shaker and Mission furniture that you may find fit a dining room layout that you like.
Still need help defining the style of your table? Explore our Style Guide. This guide is designed to discuss the typical styles of hardwood furniture out there. It should help bring more clarity to what style of chairs you should be shopping for.
Pay Attention to Quality. Expensive or Trending Isn’t Always the Best
As we reach the end of this chair shopping guide, we want to express the importance of recognizing the characteristics of quality chairs. High-quality chairs will be a long-term investment. They will serve you and those around your table through every stage of life. When selecting chairs that fit your table, you should look for these qualities:
- Durable materials that are visually appealing (Hardwood is one of the most popular options)
- Supportive backs and seats (Paying attention to the height and curvature of each part of the chair.)
- Solid manufacturing (No noticeable compromised/broken pieces, loosely stitched upholstery, or missing hardware. Chairs feel solid under pressure without shifting or wiggling.)
With each of these characteristics, the easiest way to spot them is in person. However, that doesn’t make online furniture shopping a bad option. Any in-store experiences you’ve had in the past will help you be wise while shopping online. Pay close attention to the images, product descriptions, and dimensions.
Shop for Chairs Today
We hope you’ve found this chair shopping guide helpful. The possibilities for a beautiful dining space are endless. Our goal is to help you make your home a welcoming space for your guests and family.
If you’d like to explore our chair selection here at Amish Outlet Store, we’ve got a wide variety of styles to choose from. All our Amish dining room furniture can be customized with your choice of stains and other design options. None of our products are mass-produced and each is different. This means that you have the freedom to put your unique stamp on your purchase.
Looking for a complete dining set?
Please check out our helpful resources and Dining Collection options:
- Shop for Dining Sets
- Read our Table Size Guide
- Read about Why You Should Shop for Amish Chairs