Make sure your purchase ticks all the right boxes for style, practicality and value
With 2023 on the social calendar, many South Africans are looking to renovate their dining rooms at home – especially as inflation and overstretched household budgets mean many families need to focus more on entertaining at home than eating out.
Upgrading to a new set of dining chairs can be one of the easiest and most effective ways to revamp the look of your dining room, without breaking the bank. But it takes a fair amount of thought and planning to ensure that your purchase ticks all the right boxes for style, practicality and value.
Here are the four main steps to take and the main pitfalls to avoid when choosing dining chairs for your dining room.
1. Start with the function and flow of your dining room
Dining rooms come in all shapes and sizes – from the more traditional dining room, to the versatile, combined dining room and living room found in many contemporary homes today. When choosing a dining chair, always start from the perspective of how you want to use the space, and the overall feel you want to achieve.
The style of your dining chair will not only create a more relaxed or formal atmosphere, but also play an important role in controlling the flow of the space. For example, open-backed or backed chairs tend to take up less space visually and blend in with the rest of the furniture, creating a more organic flow through the room. On the other hand, high chairs with stronger and straighter lines will attract attention and create a more defined dining area.
For a versatile dining table that doubles as a work desk from home, homework station or gaming area, you may want to prioritize more comfortable and ergonomic dining chairs. For smaller spaces that require versatility, you may want to consider chairs that are easy to stack and store.
As the Chief Stylist of Cielo, Cheryl du Preez, warns: “Don’t make the mistake of overfitting the dining room and it becomes impractical for the family to use every day. It is best to choose dining chairs based on how you use the dining area the most – not for rare occasions.
2. Choose a dining chair style that matches your existing furniture and decor
The next step is to choose a style and material that complements your existing decor or helps set the tone if you’re starting fresh.
- Upholstered dining chairs are a popular choice for modern and contemporary style homes, when you want a great combination of comfort and luxury, with many options in colors, fabrics and designs.
- Wooden dining chairs tend to have a more classic or traditional feel, but there are many modern designs that lend themselves to contemporary, rustic, farmhouse, country and French country style decor.
- Metal dining chairs generally give a modern or urban feel, so they are a good choice if you want to modernize the room or go more minimalistic.
- Rattan (woven) dining chairs bring a relaxed and comfortable look to contemporary spaces and are perfect for a rustic, farmhouse or beach look.
- Acrylic and polypropylene (high-quality plastic) dining chairs are durable and affordable, and come in a variety of (often whimsical) designs and colors to add inspiration to contemporary, modern and eclectic spaces.
The color and design of your dining chair does not have to match your dining table. It’s mostly about personal preference, so don’t be afraid to experiment and have fun.
“If you’re going to go the mix and match route, the golden rule is to include common elements, whether it’s color features, patterns, design elements or the overall level of formality,” advises Du Preez.
3. Pick a chair that is sized up for comfortable dining
Of course, aesthetics don’t go very far without considering comfort in the equation. Start by measuring the table and dining area, and determine how many chairs you can fit.
“Allow for around 60cm of space between diners, as well as a 90cm buffer between seats and furniture or other walls. This will not only help ensure a comfortable dining experience, but will also make the space look cohesive and well-designed,” said Du Preez.
For the chair itself, there are four main dimensions that are factors in the design of comfort:
- Seat height: the seat height should be approximately 45cm from the ground for a standard 76cm high dining table. The average adult diner needs about 30cm between the seat of the chair and the table top to eat comfortably.
- Backrest height: the back of the chair should provide at least 30-40cm of support. The backrest should also be at least higher than the table, otherwise the setting will look squat and awkward.
- Seat width: the width of the seat, excluding the armrests, should be around 40-45cm to provide a comfortable seat for most adults.
- Seat width: a comfortable dining chair for most people has a seat width of around 50-60cm.
4. Think about the practicality and overall value of the chair
Finally, you’ll want to consider the practical features of the chair, such as durability and how easy it is to maintain. Metal, wood and plastic generally have a long life and are the easiest to clean, while some fabrics require extra care. If you want low-maintenance upholstery with great durability, consider genuine leather and high-quality polyester. Fabric treatments can also help keep maintenance to a minimum, giving you peace of mind.
For most South Africans, value for money can often be the main guiding factor, but it is important to remember that the concrete value (or price tag) must be measured against the quality, longevity and intangible value that the product creates during daily use.
“You can usually find quality dining chairs that fit your budget if you know what to look for, and where,” says Du Preez. “At Cielo, we continue to expand our range of dining chairs to bring our customers a variety of beautiful, quality products that continue to offer value for money.”
Shop South Africa’s largest range of dining chairs at Cielo.co.za