Matching table and chairs may not be a matter of rules, but it is certainly a matter of style!
So how do you match the chairs to the table? Is it better to opt for a fixed set of chairs or to choose pieces that are all different from each other? How do you match an antique table with modern chairs?
Let’s discover together all the interior designers’ tricks to create functional and harmonious spaces by choosing the right chairs according to our table and available space.
Matching table and chairs: dimensions to consider
When choosing the chairs to match your table you can fully express your personal style to make your kitchen or living area unique. But you will still have to come to terms with the dimensions of the surrounding space.
Table and chairs must blend in the best possible way to enhance not only their design, but also their functionality, avoiding that one of these two factors prevails over the other.
Chairs are usually chosen depending on the type of table we have decided to purchase. We must then particularly consider its design, the materials it is made of and its size.
To ensure proper functionality of the table-chair combination, consider these two cornerstones:
- Every diner must be able to move freely both while sitting at the table and when getting up and sitting at it;
- For space-saving furniture, chairs must be able to be pushed under the table top.
To ensure that these two requirements are met, pay close attention to the size of the chairs you choose:
HEIGHT
The height of the chair is a fundamental factor to consider when choosing chairs to match the table. First of all, to sit comfortably at the table, there must be at least 30 cm of space between the seat and the table top to allow you to sit with your legs crossed. Most tables are 75 cm high, so the seat must be about 45 cm high. Also, if the chair features armrests, keep in mind their height so that this does not become an impediment to stowing the chair under the table top.
LENGTH
When we use a chair we must calculate approximately 50 cm of space made up of the length of the chair in addition to the size of the table. Keep in mind that if the seat is too deep it may collide with the table legs, when placed under the top, if these consist of a central base. For this reason, do not choose chairs that are excessively longer than 55 cm.
WIDTH
The width of the chair affects the comfort of diners and their freedom of movement. If the chair is too wide, it will be more difficult to get up and sit down at the table because it will collide with the chairs of the people sitting next to you.! For everyone to feel comfortable, the overall width of the chair should not exceed 60 cm, i.e. the average length of the space occupied by each diner.
Which chairs to match a wooden table
Most of the tables in our homes are made of wood or materials that recall the finish. So let us begin by analysing some proposals for matching the chairs to a wood finish table.
If in addition to the chairs you still need to purchase the dining table, take a look at our Made in Italy extendable dining tables and discover all the models and finishes available.
To match chairs to your wooden table, remember that there is no single solution or even a single chair that may perfectly match your table.
You may in fact choose two ways: create continuity with the style of the table with chairs that recall its features such as shape, design, style, or create a contrast between table and chairs by combining contrasting colours and styles.
You can really find a lot of models on the market, but the main ones are 3:
- Polypropylene chairs, perfect for inside and outside the home, durable and easy to clean. They are very popular both because of the versatile material they are made of and the different modern designs in which they can be found;
- Fabric or imitation leather chairs that often combine an upholstered seat with a wooden or metal frame;
- Metal chairs, often made of steel or aluminium and mainly popular in bars and clubs.
Let’s see which are the best chairs to match your wooden table depending on its finish.
What chairs to match a rustic table
If you have chosen to furnish your room with a rustic style table in warm tones, you may also choose the same style for the chairs, opting for warm finishes that are in harmony with the style of the surrounding space.
If your rustic table has metal parts, as in the case of our Emma extendable table with crossed iron legs, choosing chairs in the same colour as the legs would be a truly elegant solution!
Our Olivia chairs have an elegant and modern design that goes perfectly with a rustic wooden table. They are available in black or white and can also adapt to modern and minimalist furnishing contexts.
If, on the other hand, light colours and white dominate your room, you can match your rustic table with white chairs that will bring even more brightness to your space. The Greta chairs, with their beechwood legs and typical Scandinavian design, are available in various colours ranging from warm shades to white. The pastel finish of Greta and its wooden legs that recall the table top will truly create a fantastic living room atmosphere!
What chairs to match a dark wood table
Looking for the perfect chairs to match a dark wood table? Walnut wood, featuring a dark and elegant tone, is a timeless classic in the furnishing world: let’s see how to create a combination that blends classic and modern styles.
To make the most of your room and your dark wood table, our advice is to choose chairs in a dark shade, which create stylistic and chromatic continuity with the table.
For our Emma round table, we have chosen the Carlotta chairs that feature an enveloping backrest and a modern design. They are available in several colours and can adapt to the most diverse furnishing styles.
What chairs match an antique wooden table
Matching chairs to an antique wooden table is a rather difficult task. An antique table has a very strong personality and it plays a starring role in the room.
Our advice is to go along with its character: any type of chair could never steal the scene from a table with a century of history!
So why not try to reduce the presence of chairs to a minimum by matching your antique table with transparent plastic chairs.
This does not mean trivialising the role of the chair, but the choice of a transparent seat would allow the wood of the table to be seen, giving it the importance it deserves.
You could also choose to combine modern design chairs with an antique table, playing on the juxtaposition of styles although our advice is to choose chairs with discrete lines to combine with an antique table and or precious wood.
What chairs to match a white table
If your table is white, whether plated, polished or in stained wood, we recommend light-toned chairs. You may choose between plastic or polypropylene chairs, or upholstered armchairs covered with fabric in neutral tones such as grey or beige.
However, the combination depends on the type of table and the furnishing style in the room. On the other hand, if you are looking for a modern and minimalist style, small armchairs upholstered in leatherette can be a really stylish touch to match your white table.
What chairs to match a glass table
A glass table has a transparent top that lets you see through it, giving maximum visibility to our chairs.
So why not choose beautiful armchairs with a distinctive design that will stand out in your dining room?
The glass table is designed to give the room a light, luminous and elegant tone, so choosing chairs to match a glass table that follow these three principles will certainly be an excellent choice!
Choose your chairs to match the base of your glass table: consider the material and colour. For example, if the base is in chrome metal, then opt for modern design chairs with same-material details; if the table legs are in wood, then look for chairs with wooden legs.
If your table features coloured glass, such as white or black glass, then you may choose chairs that recall the colour of the top or that create a contrast with it, but always keep in mind the furnishing style of your room.
How to match different chairs
Matching different chairs around the same table was once considered a sign of poor taste, often due to the lack of economic means to buy a nice set of matching chairs.
However, aesthetic standards have evolved over time: fashions and the mixing of styles have redefined the concept of matching. Of course, matching different chairs does not mean mixing them randomly with each other, but a careful choice must be made with the aim of creating a harmonious ambience.
Let’s look at some tips you can follow!
Matching different but similar chairs
If two objects are similar enough, then their design will necessarily be in harmony. You can, for example, match chairs that have the same backrest, but different legs, or the other way around.
You can also play with materials by mixing chairs that have the same structure but are made of different materials. Another cue could be to match chairs that are also quite different, but of the same colour.
Remember: similarity creates harmony!
Matching different chairs to room colours
What style have you given to your dining room? Have you chosen a warm or cool colour palette?
A possible discriminating factor when choosing chairs to match your table is clearly the colour palette in use in the room where you are going to place them.
The chairs must recall the colour palette in use, taking up the primary, secondary or accent colours.
For example, if the dining room curtains are white, you may opt for white chairs or chairs that recall another pattern present in the room.
Match identical chairs, but in different colours
A final tip for matching different chairs around the same table is to use the same chair model, but in different finishes.
Check out how our Greta chairs match each other beautifully, even in different finishes!
How many chairs to place around a table
The number of seats is always indicated on the product sheet of our tables and provides a useful recommendation of the maximum number of chairs that can be added around the table.
This is an indication relating to the maximum number, since the ideal number of chairs will still be less than that indicated. In fact, the perfect number of chairs to place around a table is the one that allows both maximum comfort for diners and the ability to enjoy a good view of the table, highlighting its design.
To know how many chairs to place around a table, consider that each diner needs approximately 60 cm in width. Based on the measurements of your table, you can decide how many chairs to add to the table.
Also keep in mind the actual size of the chairs and the presence or absence of armrests: if the chairs are large, try to place fewer of them so as not to make the table impractical or hide its shape.
For more information on the size of tables and chairs, read our dedicated article!
