Smart and stylish dining room chairs for every budget
Whether you have an eat-in kitchen, an open plan diner-reception or a full blown dining room, you will be aware of the difference a dining chair can make to your meal. A comfortable chair can result in long conversations, laughter and happy memories made as you languish around the dining table. An uncomfortable chair, however, will do the opposite, sending your party off to scatter around the house and take to the sofa. So, with that in mind, (and the import of a good dining chair truly impressed upon you) the House & Garden team have selected the best dining room chairs for all budgets.
What's the best dining chair to buy, at a glance
Don't have time to read our full guide to the very best dining chair? Fear not, we've compiled a quick fire list of our favourites in each category.
- Best John Lewis dining chairs: Spindle Dining Chairs, £249 from John Lewis
- Best upholstered dining chairs: Cavallino Chair, POA from India Mahdavi
- Best velvet dining chairs: Stafford Velvet Dining Chair, £395 from OKA.
- Best rattan dining chairs: Chiara Dining Chairs, £780 from Ceraudo.
- Best folding dining chairs: Anyday Rattan Folding Chair, £119 from John Lewis.
How to choose the right dining chair
Before making your decision about exactly which chairs you’d like to purchase, ask yourself what your requirements are. If you have a young family, something wipeable and moveable is the most practical option. If you often have surprise guests, a few folding chairs kept in easily accessible storage will mean you’re always prepared. If you have an open plan house, you’ll want something with enough presence to delineate its’ own ‘zone’. Will you use these seats everyday or will they be kept for special occasions? If it is the former, then bear in mind that something covered in a sumptuous fabric may need to be reupholstered at some point.
Best dining chair
If a set of four or six of these dining chairs will take you over budget, try placing one of these at the head of the table, with more simple chairs down the sides. This will pull focus to the smarter chairs without breaking the bank.
Trust Soho Home to craft the perfect pair of dining chairs.
Bridging the gap between modernity and familiar comfort, this chair would be a timeless addition to any dining room.
Angular and architectural, these Soho Home chairs are at once inviting and smart.
Covered in plush velvet, this chair would look fantastic placed around a round dining table or in a formal room.
For under £100, this chair is a really stylish and accessible way to spruce up your dining area. Even better, you can keep one or two in storage for when you need more seating.
Hand-painted and ever so clever, we love this twist on a classic school chair.
Sitting at a smart dining table, these chairs would hold their own without being too dramatic.
Bistro style seating, like this chair, is synonymous with Parisian streets and chic cafés. Why wouldn't you want to bring some of that to your home?
The mastermind behind Sketch's famous pink dining room knows a thing or two about creating a welcoming space to eat in. Her own range of furnishings includes the zingy yellow Cavallino chair.
These chairs would look equally fabulous as bedside tables as they would dining chairs.
Anthropologie's furniture offering is going from strength to strength, and these dining chairs are no exception.
Max Rollit's Barback chair is the ideal choice for a more traditional feeling dining room. It's based on a chair sold in a collection by the Bank of England.
A clever balance between contemporary form and traditional materials.
Rose Uniacke's leather chair will only look better with age.
Similar to the Marcel Breuer cane chairs, a set of these from Graham & Green will give you the look for less.
Windsor-style chairs have been around for generations and lovely pieces like this will ensure they stick around for a few more.
This rattan-effect chair looks pretty as it is, or you could place a seat cushion on it to add texture.
Simple but effective, we love this sweet bistro chair from one of our favourite furniture shops.
The 'APC' chair has such a playful feeling to it and we can't help but love it.
The layered textures within this piece make it a real treat for the eyes. It would look particularly good in a modern space.
Great to have on hand in the event of unexpected guests, these can double as occasional outdoor dining chairs too.
Bringing understated Scandi style to a dining room near you.
A classic chair for a family home.
Utterly fun and modern, these chairs would look fantastic in a bright open plan space.
These sleek chairs come as an affordable set of two.
Once you've chosen the right dining table and chairs for your space, you can decorate it to your hearts' content. For inspiration and the best places to buy, check out our guides to cutlery sets, plate sets and the best glasses. Fancy elevating it even more? We also have guides to candles and candlestick holders, napkins and tablecloths.
