Looking for new furniture for your dining room? My #1 recommendation is to not go with a set where the table, chairs, and any other furniture pieces are the exact same style. Instead, mix it up including using different styles of seating around the dining room table. There are a few reasons why I love the idea of having different end chairs than side chairs for dining rooms – first of all, it gives the space a more collected, well designed feel rather than looking like the chairs and table were purchased without thought in a single trip to Pottery Barn. The other reason is for practicality – if you have kids, using wood side chairs (where the kiddos sit) and larger upholstered end chairs is a great way to keep a high-end look without being worried about spills every time you sit down at the table. Our side chairs are simple ladderbacks from HomeGoods that have the type of seat that can be unscrewed for an easy change-out of fabric if they get stained:
For end chairs, I chose curved wingback chairs that soften up the space (and are adult-only seating!). They are also great chairs to bring into our family room when we want additional seating for guests.
So for both design and practical purposes, using two types of dining chairs has worked well in our home:
When mixing different types of chairs in a dining room, look for end chairs that are at least as tall, or preferably taller, than the side chairs. A few gorgeous dining rooms are great examples of the beautiful feel that mixed seating can bring to your space include {this mix of chairs from a kitchen featured in Lonny}, {this dining room that mixes contemporary and traditional}, this gorgeous dining room by LLH Designs that you can see more of {here},
and this fun mix of tall patterned wingback chairs with open-back side chairs:
Using a sofa, bench seat, or banquette on one side of the table can also be a beautiful look such as in {this Southern Living Idea House dining room} as well as these beautiful spaces:
Lindsay, Xo Lindsay says
April 15, 2013 at 1:32 pmLooks great, Kris!!!! I love a mix of chairs at the table.
MIchele Vaccaro says
August 9, 2017 at 9:53 pmHi Kris! I love to follow you and you have so much great design tips. I agree with mixing up the DR seating which is what I have too and only allow kids to sit on our bench on one side where adults sit in the upholstered seating.
I am working with a client now and was just suggesting the gray Arhaus Slip covered chairs you featured that are major markdown for their HUGE custom built DR table- 5.5 feet x 11 feet to be exact! I was thinking of suggesting a 109″ sofa on one end since they like the idea of Settees, but too small on longer end and would block view if used as captain seats. I love the lower slip covered chairs on the opposite side of the picture of the sofa for kids to sit on (they don’t like benches). Where can I find the lower back chairs you posted in this photo. There would be perfect! Looks like the slip covers can be removed to wash if needed.
Kris Jarrett says
August 15, 2017 at 11:22 pmHi Michele,
Unfortunately I don’t know the source for those but have you looked at IKEA’s HENRIKSDAL chairs – they’re perfect for kids since you can take the slipcovers off and wash them. Good luck finding something – sounds like a fun project – that table is huge!!