Dining Chair Guide

Some people don’t think much when choosing dining chairs. They just buy the set that comes with the table. And that’s fine.

However, no rule says you have to do just that. When you free yourself to choose any chairs you like, you open up a world of possibilities. Soon you’ll discover you can change the entire personality of your dining room just by bringing in a different set of chairs.

In fact, when you start to look around, you’ll find that there are so many types of dining chairs that it’s hard to know where to start. To help you narrow your choices, here’s a list of some popular dining chair styles, along with the flavor they bring to a room.

Arm Chairs and Side Chairs

A classic dining table arrangement has two armchairs and four side chairs, with the armchairs at the head and the foot. Solid wooden dining chairs are common, but they can have upholstery or leather seats and backs.

The sides make armchairs larger and add character and perspective to a dining room. While dining table armchairs are often elegant and support a formal room, that doesn’t have to be the case. You can deploy armchairs in a casual look.

Side chairs usually match the armchairs, but they don’t have to! Consider adding a distinctive twist to your dining experience with side chairs from a different set. Having six side chairs and no armchairs is another way to strike the casual demeanor. If those six are stylish and upholstered dining chairs, you can have a refined look without using a head chair at all!

No matter what your combination, whether you have six chairs or some other number, there are plenty of choices in construction and style.

Chairs with Solid Backs

You might think of these dining chairs as formal and traditional, but in fact they can support many different style statements.

• Parsons chairs are tall, straight, armless and fully upholstered chairs. The lines are clean and simple and support modern and contemporary dining rooms particularly well. The lack of arms makes small to middling dining rooms look larger.
• Wingback chairs have a distinctive silhouette with small wings extending from each side of a high back. They’re usually found in formal dining rooms. They often have nailheads to emphasize their traditional aspect. They have a cozy feel despite their sophistication.
• Tufted back chairs have upholstered backs with buttons and tuft detailing. They can be just about any shape and style and all offer cushioned back support.
• Wicker chairs are happy in a dining area with a casual cabin or beach look.
• Keyhole chairs have rectangular backs and a central rectangular cutout. Though not truly solid backs, they have a similar feel. They’re found in modern and contemporary dining rooms.

Chairs with Open Backs

Open-backed chairs are the practical workhorses found in average dining rooms all over America. Since most don’t have upholstery, they’re a practical and easy-to-clean choice for families with children. The variety of styles and designs in this category is almost unlimited.

• Ladder back chairs derive their name from the ladderish look of their horizontal back slats. Often they’re tall and narrow. They can be traditional but also work well in a rustic setting. Extra thin or extra thick slats can carry a contemporary look.

• Slat back chairs have vertical slats rather than the horizontal ones of ladder backs. This classic design is perhaps the most common dining chair look. Because there are so many variations, the slat back is at home with any design style.

• Mission chairs are a type of slat back chair. They usually have square legs and there’s often an underseat apron with a slight arch. They have a sturdy, practical look and work well with styles that avoid excess ornamentation.
• Bow back chairs have a back outlined with a single piece of wood bent into a horseshoe shape. They’re filled in with vertical slats that may be steam bent for lumbar support. They work well with an early American motif.
• Windsor chairs are a specific type of bow back where the back and leg are pushed into drilled holes. This simple, classic style goes well with traditional and rustic themes.
• Splat back chairs have a wide central vertical column, called a splat. Splats can have scrollwork and interesting shapes. These chairs can be simple but are more often ornate and formal.
• Cross back or X-back chairs look exactly as the name suggests. They are simple, modern and at home in most dining rooms.
• Press back chairs feature a back top rail with pressed images. They’re pressed from a steel plate rather than carved. They have a traditional, early American or rustic personality.
• Queen Anne chairs are intricately carved, busy and elegant. They’re typically cherry wood with a dark reddish stain. They often have the double-curved cabriole legs. Many have elaborated splats and there’s some crossover between Queen Anne and the splat back category. They are formal and traditional.

Other Dining Chair Styles

If you want something that few other homes have, here are a couple creative choices for modern dining chairs.

• Barrel back chairs have a bowl-like backrest you can sink yourself into. They’re often cushioned or stuffed. They’re suitable for industrial and minimalist rooms as well as modern and contemporary.
• Cantilevered chairs are a gift from the 70s that’s never disappeared. Two metal legs at the front continue into a U-shaped base. They’re flexible and bendy and can have solid or upholstered seats and backs. They go great with industrial style.
• Dining benches aren’t technically a chair, but benches can be added to your seating mix to add versatility to your table. They are available in a wide range of styles and colors.

Whether you use a mix of armchairs and side chairs, whether you go with an identical set or deploy a more creative combination, there’s a universe of chairs to select from. The hardest part might be choosing only a couple!

Get more dining room design ideas:

Big Ideas for Small Spaces: Dining

Dining by the Numbers

Dishing Up: Dining Room Upgrades