4 Expert Tips To Choose Kitchen & Dining Chairs

You'd think a chair would be a chair. But kitchen & dining chairs actually come in a wide selection of types, from how their backs look to even how they store. Each of these factors can mean a difference in comfort and function. So below we'll look at the main types of chairs and how they fit into different preferences. 

Padded

This is one of the most common chair types. It's upholstered and has some sort of soft material underneath the fabric, usually foam. Sometimes just the seat will be padded, and sometimes both the backrest and seat will. If you don't like the feel of hard seats, choose a padded design for maximum comfort.

Cross back

These have narrow pieces that form a cross on the back of the chair. Choose these if you want the support, along with a classic woodworking style. Open chair designs can also create less of a closed-in look in a kitchen or dining room.

Slat back

This common style has a narrow flat piece going up the back of the chair. Either side of the slat is usually open within a thin frame creating the shape of the chair back. Choose this design if you want direct back support with a slightly open design.

Windsor back

These are the traditional chairs with vertical rods forming the back of the chair, which are usually outlined in a frame. Choose this style for a classic, rustic or country look. However, they're an austere chair that might not be the most comfortable if you have joint issues.

Solid back

This type of chair has a flat back. That back can support your whole back, or in more modern styles, might be more of a minimal flat piece that fits along the middle of your back. Choose these if you want back support and a classic style.

Stackable

If you plan to only have the chairs out for entertaining, choose a set that you can stack. Be aware that these are often meant to be used for short periods of time, so they are often hard metal designs.

Another major consideration should be which materials the kitchen & dining chairs come in. You have several main options, each of which imparts its own style and function. 

Wood

Choose a wooden chair if you're going for a classic, rustic or timeless style. A wooden chair gives a look like the furniture is handmade and is a classic addition to any home. It's common to find a chair in a variety of wood types, though rubberwood is a popular wood species used in chairs these days for its durability.

Metal

It's also common to see metal chairs, often with slat backing. Choose these for modern, casual or industrial spaces.

Upholstered

If comfort is your main priority, choose an upholstered style, which often has padding added. You might question whether having kitchen & dining chairs in an upholstered style is a good idea, seeing as it might be easy to drop something and stain them.

If staining is a concern, choose a fabric or chair that is rated as being stain-resistant. For instance, it's common to find chairs upholstered with polyester, which is a durable fabric that can be more stain-resistant than, say, velvet.

It may seem like you already have enough choices, but you should also consider the overall style of the chair and how that fits into your home's style.

• Curved/modern: This style covers any kitchen & dining chairs that have soft lines. These are usually minimal in style with low backrests. Some are made for comfort and others focus mainly on style. What they all have in common is they tend to look good in Mid-Century Modern styles.

• Sleek with neutral colors: This covers any chair that has stark lines in its design and is of a neutral color. These go well in modern, upscale or timeless designs.

• Geometric patterns: Chairs with geometric patterns are almost always upholstered. Choose these for modern looks that make use of geometry, classic styles or transitional looks.

• Bold colors: No matter the material, you can find a style in whatever bold color you want. Bold-colored chairs make great accent pieces when placed off to the side of a room. You might also want to include them in artsy styles.

• Country style: This encompasses any kind of chair with a classic handmade look. They're almost always made out of wood and often have a cross back or Windsor back. These were made for the country, rustic or classic looks.

• Transitional: This is any type of chair that fits in well with timeless looks. They usually have neutral colors and understated builds that can fit into any home. Look for this type of chair for transitional homes, of course.

Once you've narrowed down which type of chair would fit your home in terms of type, material and style, you should also think carefully about how many you'll need. This depends most directly on the size of the table you're looking to place the chairs around. 

• The smallest tables in the kitchen will often need one or two chairs.
• Larger round or square tables do well with four chairs.

Dining tables get a little more complicated, as they usually have the two chairs on each end, but how many chairs you can fit around the table depends on the length of the table. Measure how long the table is, and make sure you know how wide the style of chair you intend to buy is as well. A general rule is to give about 6 inches or more on each side of the chair to give room for elbow space.