In Grandma’s day, newlyweds started out their marriages with a matching dining table and chairs. You never had to wonder if the pieces worked together. But the results were so predictable, they induced drowsiness faster than the tryptophan in a turkey dinner.
Today mix-and-match dining sets are in vogue. They’re more interesting, but also more challenging to put together. So before you invest in a set of dining chairs, make sure they’re going to work with the table, the room — and even the size of your guests.
Design
Although it can be chic to pair traditional chairs with a contemporary table, and vice versa, try to find pieces that share a common design element. If the table has a sinuous leg, look for a chair with the same line in the leg or back, or choose upholstery with swirls on it.
Dimensions
Twenty-two inches is a good standard width for an armless dining chair, but you can go larger than that if your dining table or dining room is especially big and would dwarf a normal-size chair.
Seat Height
Eighteen or 19 inches is an ideal height for a dining chair seat. As a rule of thumb, try to allow a minimum of 12 inches between the top of the seat and the top of the table. Dining tables generally stand 29 to 30 inches high.
Portability
Look for a dining chair that is easy to move in and out from the table. Chairs with a slatted back are easy to grip, because there is a void for your hand between the frame and the slat.
Upholstery
Sooner or later, someone is going to spill something on your chairs. How much are you willing to worry about it?
For easy care, stick with leather (real or imitation), Ultrasuede, cotton blends or a commercial fabric. Avoid multilevel fabrics or ones with a heavy nap, like chenille and velvet — they’ll show wear. Manmade fibers such as rayon or polyester are best when combined with natural fibers.
This article was taken from: https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/18567463/list/smart-shopper-how-to-choose-a-dining-chair
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