How to select the right dining chair

by Marylou | May 24, 2017 | Design | 7 comments

Dining chairs can be a real conversation starter for your guests, a way to bring your guests together in a comfortable, stylish way to enjoy a delicious meal or even just a morning coffee and chat.

In this week’s blog post, I wanted to share with my readers some of my favourite, classic and iconic dining chairs, as well as how to choose the right dining chair.

My designer tips on selecting the right chairs

Aesthetics…

Firstly, one needs to consider the space, whether it is formal or informal, such as a space in the kitchen. The aesthetics of the chair are important, they need to work in with the design and style of the room.

I love to place an antique or timber table with classical chairs that have a contemporary element like the iconic wishbone chair, as seen below from my Harbourside Living project. Or, I also love how a Ghost chair looks around an antique or oak table.

how to select a dining chair for your home

Designer Marylou Sobel, Photographer Maree Homer

Functionality…

When considering the functionality of the dining chair, the comfort level definitely needs to be considered, which includes the comfort of the seat itself, then the seat height, the back of the seat and then the height of the seat back.

The relationship of the chairs to dining table is also very important, as you want to be comfortable and able to eat with ease when sitting at the table.

In a classical or french interior, both high backed and low back chairs work. In a contemporary interior, one would usually opt for a low-backed chair for effect.

Slipcovers are a great idea for a fully upholstered dining chair, very effective and there are endless possibilities with regard to choice of fabric and style of cover. You may already have slip covers on your chairs that you have grown a little tired of, and having new ones made is always easier and more cost effective than buying new chairs, as seen below. If the fabric is washable, then they can be removed easily and in most cases, they are machine washable or dry cleanable when in need of maintenance.

Designer Marylou Sobel, Photographer Maree Homer

The basics…

A great tip to remember is that the average height of a dining table is between 72cm-76cm, whilst the average height of a dining chair is a seat height between 40cm and 45cm.

Traditionally carvers, which are chairs with arms, were placed at the two ends of the table. It is still done today, even with modern chairs. But it is perfectly fine to have all the chairs the same. In some instances, I have used carvers all the way around a table- I have included an example of this below; chairs are outdoor and modern in design, the table is made from aged oak. In other instances, all the chairs around a table are without arms.

Designed by Marylou Sobel, Photographed by Maree Homer

I have mixed different styles of chairs around a table as well as using different coloured fabrics on a group of dining chairs. The options are endless.

Modern or contemporary table and chairs are usually lower than the antique tables and chairs that you might source.

Some of my favourites…

The Wishbone

Designed in 1949 by Hans Wagner

The Thonet Chair

The Ghost Chair

The Louis Ghost chair by Philippe Starck
Iconic Louis XV armchair, Baroque design
Designed in 2002

The Febo Chair

The Valeria Chair

The Platner dining chair

Interior Design above by Marylou Sobel

how to select a dining chair

Designed in the 1960’s by Warren Platner
These stunning chairs can come in different fabric and colour options.

The Elephant Chair

how to select a dining chair

The Elephant Chair is Italian designed and made, by designer Michael Geldmacher.
The chair is available in a couple of different leg finishes, design options and colours.

Below are some traditional French chairs

English Regency Chair

Do you have a favourite, or know of an iconic chair which I didn’t include?

Share your favourites with me, leave me a comment below.

An invitation to collaborate

Contact our Studio to discuss your project.

Stephanie Nadel

Assosciate Interior Architect

What makes Stephanie Nadel’s success story so remarkable is that she has come so far, so fast.
Stephanie, the Associate Interior Architect at Marylou Sobel Interior Design, has gained more experience, and handled more responsibilities in the past ten years than many other design professionals take on in their careers.

Stephanie, a multi-talented full service professional, carried out a wide variety of commercial and residential design tasks while she was based in London. She worked for three prominent interior design firms, as well as on her own, and served clients around the world.

In the process, she helped complete within 12 weeks the design and installation of a penthouse suite on The World, the luxury residential yacht that circumnavigates the globe. Prior to this Stephanie lead the full refurbishment of a lavish, Grade II listed, five bedroom home in the Hampstead Garden suburbs in London.

During her five years in London, she worked with Gensler, the world’s largest collaborative design, planning and consulting firm; MoreySmith, a leading design and architecture studio, and Fiona Barratt Interiors, an award-winning luxury design firm.

Assisting with projects for those firms, launching her own residential practice, and interacting with vendors worldwide provided her with project management, creative problem solving, sourcing, technical and other skills that benefit her clients today.

Stephanie earned her Bachelor of Interior Architecture degree at the University of New South Wales.

While she is adept in several aspects of design, she’s particularly interested in the challenge of refurbishing existing spaces. “I enjoy the problem solving that’s involved with existing buildings,” she says. “Although it is always a privilege to design alongside a team to create new and innovative structures, I love creating meaningful design from older properties and taking inspiration from heritage details.”

7 Comments

Glenice Lightly on June 28, 2017 at 6:04 PM

Your advice re dining chairs was very helpful. I purchased hurriedly as we do a lovely round table with oak top and white chunky legs. The chairs are linen with curved back not so high but fully upholstered in natural.
I feel they were a mistake as the table seems blocked off by the upholstery. Not sure now whether to change for the cross back wooden chair or a taller upholstered in colour to give it a lift. Am I right in thinking this way?
Reply
- Marylou on June 28, 2017 at 9:09 PM
  
  Hi Glenice, thank you for your kind words and for getting in touch with me. Without seeing the sinario it’s difficult to give the correct advice.
  If you would like my help please get in touch with me and we can go from there.
  Kind regards,
  Marylou Sobel
  Reply
Sam Kwok on February 26, 2019 at 6:02 PM

Turn your outdoor living space into a cozy and attractive dining area. Plus Outdoors have a beautiful and affordable range of outdoor dining furniture.
Reply
Andersons Timber Furniture Newcastle on April 23, 2019 at 10:12 PM

I think buy dining chairs according to the theme of dining table. If the chair is unmatched with table then gives ugly appearance. Thank you for your unique ideas.
Reply
JOHN MILLER on September 12, 2021 at 4:19 AM

Beautiful round up of dining chairs. I’m having a hard time picking a favorite. Loving all of them.This might be my new aesthetic for my dining room. Thank you so much for sharing!
Reply
Marylou Sobel on September 13, 2021 at 1:10 PM

Its a great pleasure! Thank you for taking the time to give me such positive feedback.
All the best, Marylou
Reply
Marylou Sobel on September 13, 2021 at 1:12 PM

It’s my pleasure. Thank you for the great feedback.
All the best, Marylou
Reply