When choosing dining chairs for your kitchen table, the process can be tricky. After all, there are so many things to consider, from colours to styles to comfort and pondering the question of 'Do Dining Chairs Have to Match the Table?'. Some companies take the stress out of the procurement process by offering dining sets, which saves time and requires minimal effort from the buyer's end—which is much needed when one is in the process of moving into a new home or renovating an existing space.
We all know the difference dining chairs can make to our mealtimes; stylish vignettes can feel inviting and inspiring, and for frequent entertainers, aesthetics are a deciding factor. Comfortable dining chairs can be the reason for laughter-filled conversations around the dining table. Overlooking comfort can result in family members scattering around the home in search of more plush seating.
When considering kitchen chairs for your table, it's best to start by considering your needs before you embark on a long journey of procuring the right ones. There's no shame in taking your time with these types of decisions; after all, your dining chairs will be with you through many of life's key moments and can be a hefty investment, so it's important to make carefully considered choices.
Pictured: Refectory Pine Dining Table, painted in Pointing
The Best Chairs For Farmhouse Dining Tables
Farmhouse and rustic style dining sets connect your home to nature—something that we crave more than ever, because we know the link between our environment, our wellbeing, and our overall health is critical. It's a style that makes you feel quite calm but it's not boring.
A Farmhouse Dining Table in my view is one that follows Rustic Interior Design Principles: soft edges, organic materials, traditional craftsmanship, and an aesthetic deeply rooted in the countryside set this style apart from its Scandinavian and Minimalist counterparts.
Here are my top picks for Farmhouse Dining Tables.
Farmhouse Fiddle Back Chair
The classic fiddle back chair is widely recognised in England, dating back to the Queen Anne period of furniture and decor styles. This design's distinctive style features an ornate backrest crafted in the shape of a violin. Its soft corners and contoured edges create a cosy and welcoming feel, which amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life, is just what we need in our homes.
I find that this style of chair suits older homes best, such as Georgian and Country homes. The 18th Century details in the backrest add a traditional touch, and the Fiddle Back works wonderfully in our darker shades, such as Medium and Dark Oak.
All of our Farmhouse chairs work best with our Traditional Farmhouse Dining Table, which comes in two wood materials, oak and pine. It's more open than our Refectory and Caledonia Dining Table, which have a contemporary flair, and so it creates a dainty feel. In smaller rooms, this wooden dining table doesn't make the space feel cluttered by allowing light to bounce around the room as much as possible.
Pictured: Farmhouse Fiddle Back Chairs in Dark Oak and Traditional Oak Dining Table painted in Farrow's Cream
Farmhouse Slat Back Chair
Another classic design, the Slat Back chair is a simpler style, stripped of the ornate spindles that are present in our other Farmhouse designs such as the Fiddle and Spindle Back Chairs. The Slat Back Chair is designed with comfort in mind, rather than aesthetics. It works well in a variety of settings, from the traditional farmhouse to contemporary new builds, and its slats are gently arched in the form of one's back, perfect for leaning back in at mealtimes.
Pictured: Farmhouse Slat Back Dining Chair in Medium Oak
Windsor Chair
Coming about in the 18th Century, the Windsor Chair is best known for its steam-bent arched backrest. It's a beloved classic in both rural and contemporary settings. The height of the backrest sits just high enough for sitters to be comfortable, but when it's tucked under the table, it doesn't fill the room and overpower the table.
A few Windsor Chairs down the sides of the table with one on each end offers a relaxed dining experience.
Pictured: Windsor Dining Chairs around a Traditional Pine Dining Table
The Best Chairs for Trestle Tables
Streamlined and contemporary, trestle tables have an architectural quality to them, with their distinctive A-frame or X-frame base design making a bold statement in any dining space. When paired with the right chairs, they create a perfect balance between modern functionality and timeless style. The key is to choose chairs that complement rather than compete with the table's strong architectural elements.
Sleek lines and thick cuts of wood are what I look for in chairs when considering pairs that work well with this style of dining table.
Scandinavian Dining Chairs
Scandinavian-style dining chairs coordinate well with our Caledonia Trestle Table, and I prefer them in a natural wood colour which matches the top of the table rather than painted. I think the ratio of natural materials to paint is more balanced that way.
Spindle chairs soften the straight edges of this style of dining table, which in turn creates an elegant and relaxed dining experience. The chairs don't overpower the dining table, and the right colour can create a striking statement.
Pictured: Scandinavian Dining Chairs around our Caledonia Trestle Table
Chandigarh Rattan Armchair
Alternatively, I recommend leaning into the architectural feel that trestle tables have. The Chandigarh Rattan Armchair is a great choice in this instance. Inspired by Pierre Jeanerette's iconic design, this chair combines clean lines with natural materials. The V-shaped legs echo the trestle table's architectural form, while the woven rattan seat and backrest add warmth and texture. The result is a harmonious blend of form and function that complements the table's modern aesthetic while maintaining a welcoming, organic feel.
I favour this combination, and this dining set combination is what I have at home. The room is quite narrow, and I wanted to accentuate the tall ceilings. These chairs tuck under the table nicely, and their shorter backrests allow my Lombok table top's beauty to be exposed and admired. I think this combination is so sophisticated and introduces a mid-century modern charm.
Pictured: Chandigarh Rattan Armchairs around our Caledonia Dining Table with a Lombok Teak Table Top
The Best Chairs for Round Dining Tables
When concerned with round dining tables that have a pedestal, I like the idea of chairs that feel light and airy, and when they're tucked under the table, you can still see the elegant details in the pedestal.
Warminster Dining Chair
I think chairs that are quite tall and chunky make the dining area look awkward and overpowering. One dining chair that works quite well is the Warminster Dining Chair. It's attractive and offers relaxed dining, and I like how well its petite form complements small round tables like our Cheshire Round Table. If your pedestal is chunkier than that of Cheshire's, then our Scandinavian Mandal Dining Chair matches those proportions better than Warminster does.
Pictured: Warminster Dining Chair, Medium Oak
Scandinavian Atom Dining Chair
The Scandinavian Atom Dining Chair has proportions slightly larger than that of Warminster, which, for some, results in a comfier dining chair. I like how the spindles of this wooden chair converge into the backrest, creating a smaller silhouette, which works well with round dining tables as they're not overpowering the table. It also has a sturdier construction than the Warminster Dining Chair, as there are more spindles involved and the seat is made from a thicker piece of wood.
Pictured: Scandinavian Atom Dining Chair
Abington Dining Stool
I personally like the playful vignette that dining chairs and stools have around a table. For those with young families, children love dining stools. They can glide on and off easily and typically don't require the additional backrest supports as much as our senior friends do. Dining stools can also be pulled up to the table when we have extra guests to accommodate and can, in some cases, be used as a side table. Our Abington stool is a great addition if you have less space to play with.
Pictured: Abington Oak Dining Stool