How to Effectively Play with Dining Chair Styles

The Summer Home Ladderback Arm Chair is traditional yet also shabby chic.

You could be planning to match dining chairs with the table or you could be setting up an eclectic space; no matter what your plans are, the right dining chairs can help set the mood and tone in the dining room.

To understand how you will be able to experiment or play with the layout for your dining area, you must first learn these fundamentals –

The Four Dining Chair Types

The first type is the armchair. This is typically seen at the head of a dining table. Pieces with armrests are seen as more formal. The contrasting kinds can be used to make a statement. There are also pieces that are manufactured to match side chairs.

An armchair can come with upholstery or it can be all wood, metal or plastic.

The next type is the side chair. This kind of chair is an armless chair that sits along the dining table sides. This is the reason why they are referred to as a side chair. The more formal dining areas can have side chairs that are set at the head of the dining table.

A side chair may also have upholstery on its seat though, more often than not, they are not fully upholstered.

The third type is the parsons chair. This chair can be paired with any interior design. It can be simple with clean lines or it can be upholstered and fitted with lovely fabrics. You can have leather or linen, tufted or patterned pieces.

The upholstered or non-upholstered dining chair can be used as traditional and elegant or contemporary and sleek. You can easily switch patterns and styles. You can also have slipcovers made for these.

Five Popular Dining Chair Styles

Traditional dining chairs usually come with ornate designs. Usually, traditional pieces come with neutral color palettes. There is also a tendency to blend with the symmetry in the room as well as the accessories that are placed there.

Notice how traditional chairs work together with the wall sconces, window treatments, candles, and just about every piece of decorative element in the dining area.

Another style is the contemporary style. This is often made of metal, plastic or bent wood. If you see a streamlined, organic-looking piece paired with an equally linear dining table, then what you see is the contemporary style chair.

The third style is the Shaker or Missionary dining chair. This piece features clean lines minus the usual ornate details of the traditional pieces. The Shaker dining chair has horizontal or vertical lines as chair backs. These are often made of wood. There are also pieces that showcase curved panels.

The fourth style is the ladderback dining chair. Based on its name, the ladderback features wooden slats that sit horizontally at the back of the dining chair. This is considered a traditional design depending on the detailing and materials used. This can also be fitted into many decorative styles including transitional and country farmhouse.

Lastly, the Windsor dining chair is an English style piece. It comes with spindle back and legs. The back can either be hoped or bowed. These dining chairs are built with solid wood. Make sure that the backs and legs have been pushed or drilled into holes.

As opposed to standard dining chairs, the Windsor dining chair does not have continuous back legs.

Fine Furniture Design Dining Room Rhode Island Windsor Side Chair 1022-826

Shopping for the Right Piece

The different types of chairs come with many factors that you need to consider. At the top of the list is the material used to build it. Check also the framework. To have a general idea on how sturdy your dining chair is, give it a little shake. It should be able to withstand a simple shaking motion. A creaking sound is a telltale sign that it won’t last long.

Tags: chair styles, chair types, dining chair, dining room chair, dining room furniture, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, styles of dining chairs, types of chairs

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 7th, 2017 at 8:57 am and is filed under Dining Room Design, Furniture, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.