When planning a dining room, there are many things to consider: the size of your space, whether you’ll need room for other furniture, and how much storage you’ll need. But don’t forget how your table and chairs will work together—that’s an important detail too! For any design style, it’s easy to pair chairs with different tables. However, if you’re going for something more specific (such as a farmhouse style), there are more rules to follow when choosing what goes together. Read on for tips on pairing chairs and dining tables in different styles.
1. Choose the Right Styles to Mix
Don’t mix styles that are too different. A traditional chair with a modern table and a rustic dining room table paired with sleek leather chairs may differ. Choose furniture pieces with similar finishes and materials to create continuity between them and keep your overall look cohesive. If your dining room is filled with antique pieces, don’t add anything modern.
2. Choose Round or Oval Tables
Another advantage of using round or oval tables is that they’re more versatile. Round tables are great for small spaces, and oval tables can seat a large group. If you want to use your dining table as the focal point of your room, then it may be best to go with an oval table that takes up less visual space. On the other hand, if you have a small area but still want a big impression in your dining room, opt for a round table instead!
3. Give Yourself Different Options
Dining tables come in all shapes and sizes, so choosing one that fits within the space you have available is essential. A small round table can sit comfortably in a nook or corner, but if you have more room, think about investing in a rectangular or square table with leaves that expand when needed.
If you love matching chairs, look for dining sets with coordinating pieces like china cabinets or sideboards (or even end tables if there are additional seats). Alternatively, if you love mixing styles, consider pairing different chairs from different sets together at the head of each place setting by using them as bookends.
4. Try to Match Materials When Pairing Chairs and Dining Tables
You should also consider matching the materials of your chairs with those of your table. Matching finishes, such as wood or stone, is a good idea – but only if it’s done well. It can look great if you have a dark wood dining room set and then put white chairs around it. However, if you don’t take the time to match all aspects of the finish (such as veneers), this will look tacky and cheap instead of stylish.
Consider matching metals and glass finishes, too – these are often less common but still worth considering! For example, metal frames can be paired with metal bases or even simple glass tables.
5. Pay Attention to Proportion and Scale
Proportion and scale are often used interchangeably, but they have very different meanings. Proportion refers to the relationship between two parts of something, while scale is how big an object is compared to another object or space.
For example, if you have a tiny dining table with four chairs around it and a huge living room with a small table and chairs, your living room will look smaller than it is (and vice versa). You can use proportion and scale to make rooms look larger or smaller by simply changing the size of elements like tables and chairs.
The good news is that you don’t need to match your chairs and table for it to look good. You can confidently mix dining sets as long as you choose the right style, material, and finish!
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Written by Geraldine Orentas
