Considering buying a dining chair? I'm glad you were here first. Because there are a few things to think about before you close your purchase order.
There is no denying that some of the items in your home are temporary. I love changing my décor every season (so sue me!), And am happy that specific pieces are rotated and replaced regularly (more on that here).
However, the dining chair is not one of the items that I recommend this method. Even in my interior design, I always advise clients to invest more wisely in dining chairs than other furniture. They're not something you want to replace every six months, mainly due to the cost involved in replacing four to six of them at once.
And so this guide has come (quickly!) To give you insight into what to consider when buying a dining chair. It will save you time, money, heartache and potentially back break. Yes, a bad chair can completely wreak havoc on your spine. Learn more about how to avoid that conundrum below.
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1. First Things First: Look and Feel
Before you even head to the store to try the dining chair, consider the look and feel you want in the space. A common mistake I see people make is buying chairs that don't fit their table. Even though I don't believe you should buy your table and chair in one set, the dining chair still has to tell the rest of the room (or the overall design of the house) in some way.
The reason I say should not buy your furniture in sets is that it brings too much material for one space. In a dining room with a wooden table and matching wooden chairs, you'll be stuck on a side cabinet or buffet to bring in. You have to match the table and chair or go in the direction of a completely different material.
Either way, it will not succeed. The first example is the wood overload. And the second makes the side panel protrude as if it doesn't fit. It was like a mistake. Instead, let all three elements differ in material and they'll feel intentionally different. It all looks like they belong to one space, but they will not be completely fit for the match.
So think about whether you want a Scandinavian feel, industrial vibe, sophisticated setting or country scenario. And don't be afraid to take a picture of your desk, bring it to your computer and mood up some of the chairs around it to know what it will look like. It really helps you visualize the room better!
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2. Now, Measure your Table Height
You know what style of dining chair you're aiming for - great! Now you need to measure the height of your desk. Not all tables are made equal, so you need to enter a store with your table height written out.
Doing this will allow you not only to ensure the seat under the table properly but when you sit on the dining chair, your feet also have enough room to sit under the table. Don't be afraid to bring the tape measure to the store, sit on a dining chair, then measure how high the head of your table will sit. Legroom is everything when you sit down for a meal, so you have to get it right.
On the other hand, you can have a slightly higher table height than most chairs, and some seats can have a low back that looks extremely dwarf around the table. This has actually happened to me in the past with one of my first design clients, so I say from experience (a shame). The living table is a bit classic and taller than most regular dining tables. When I received the delivered dining chairs, their backs almost slid directly below the table top. That's not a pretty look (for me or the desk!).
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3. Consider Your Weight
This is not an attempt to put you on a low-carb diet (a bread-free life is not worth living. Am I right?!). But it's important to be honest about your weight, as each chair will have the maximum total kilograms they can carry.
This is especially important because some plastic dining chairs can easily crack. And believe me, nothing is worse than a chair collapsed from below you or a family member and causing great damage to you or them. Again, this happened to me. A few years ago I bought chairs for $ 160 each at a local retail store and two backs cracked when you leaned back against them. And I'm at 75kg.
Some legs may also be bent under excessive weight, so make sure the legs are firm if you're on the heavier side. To be fair, some of the dining chairs are more refined and some are more sturdy. So just make sure you take that into consideration when shopping for them.
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4. How are the Legs Configured?
Chair legs are super important for a number of reasons. I mentioned you want to make sure they are sturdy if you're on the heavier side, but also think about the shape of the legs and how they'll move across the floor.
Are you putting a rug under your dining table? This post will help you to decide which one is correct. If you do, then the chair legs (if thin and slim like the ones above) can get caught in the mat and make getting in and out of the chair a nightmare. In this case, purchasing a dining chair with a cross-sole would be preferred over four legs. They will slide through the carpet a little easier.
Do the back legs of the chair taper out a fair bit? In a small space this could make getting around the table tricky and potentially cause you to trip on them.
I had an elderly client recently who alerted me to this; she couldn’t have tapered legs on her dining chair as they presented a trip hazard. So I had to specify legs that ran straight up and down. Definitely, something to consider depending on your age and health issues.
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5. Keeping your Tush Happy
An important part of the puzzle when buying a dining chair: luxury happiness. Your butt should feel like sitting on a cloud of feathers created by the angels. Well, that's how I feel when I'm at the table, after all.
A road test chair is required! I've never really bought a chair online unless I'm not going to sit on it much. And some people are. I don't regularly hold big dinner parties at my home, so my chairs only need to sit for up to 45 minutes at a time. So comfort is less important.
If you need a feeling of comfort, make sure you sit on a dining chair at the furniture store - and for a while. Lean back, lean forward, imagine you are eating at the table and make sure there is plenty of legroom above.
If you don't think you can sit in it for an hour, go ahead!
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6. What’s the Dining Chair Back Doing?
The back of the dining chair is just as important as the seat backrest. Of course, not just for the looks (we wanted it to look great), but for the comfort. Again, it's about thinking about you, your family, and your friends and choosing a back chair that's right for everyone.
For example, a chair with a rigorous 90 degree back may look nice and formal, but it doesn't work as well for an hour of relaxation or more on the table. A backrest chair, great, can make an older person uncomfortable as it does not allow them to fit into the seat without feeling stuck on the sides. The sausage chairs, which look great, can be a problem for people with back problems as the sausage chair doesn't provide much support.
The two-sided dining chair, which I love, can also only fit pretty slim people. So if you have some family and friends with a bigger frame, this is definitely one to avoid.
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7. Choose Materials for Your Lifestyle
I know, aren't the fabric chairs a luxurious gift from the decorative gods? I love them too. But if you have small children with messy hands, you may want to think about how easy (or brutal) fabric cleaning is.
Get it from a man with two cats; sometimes you have to choose the function when purchasing a dining chair. Or any furniture for that matter.
Some fabrics are difficult to clean. Others may take up more work than you can do. So don't be afraid to come to your furniture store with questions of cleaning cloth for staff. They will be able to answer your important maintenance queries.
If you don't like the idea of leather seats (although it's much easier to clean) then consider buying dining chairs with a coating that you can remove and wash. Alternatively, you could also consider chairs with a wooden frame but a smaller upholstery at the base. This padding can be leather - even if you don't love leather - as you won't see it once the seat is tucked in but it keeps the seat comfortable and cleanable.
