Buying dining chairs – how to choose the right chairs for your dining table?

The dining table is where generations of stories intertwine. Sunday roast at grandma's, a birthday cake with too many candles, Christmas dinner that ends after midnight. When you close your eyes today and think of these moments, you rarely see the table itself – but always the chairs around it. The creaking wooden chair grandpa always sat on. The soft upholstered chair where children dangled their legs. The borrowed folding chair from the neighbor, because two more cousins showed up than expected.

When you buy dining chairs, you are choosing much more than just furniture. You are deciding on the framework of the moments that will define you later in life. In this guide, we show you what matters when buying – from comfort to materials, and how many chairs actually fit around the table.

Buying dining chairs – which models best suit your dining table?

Buying dining chairs – what to look for in terms of comfort, material, and workmanship?

A chair you don't like sitting on ruins even the most beautiful meal. Therefore, comfort should be the most important criterion when buying dining chairs – not aesthetics.

The three levels of good workmanship:

Frame – solid wood, reinforced metal frame, or high-quality constructions ensure longevity
Upholstery – HR foam or cold foam provide lasting seating comfort
Cover fabric – durable, preferably with at least 30,000 rub cycles

The difference between a cheap and a high-quality chair doesn't show up on the first evening, but on the five hundredth. After five years, the cheap chair is worn out, wobbly, and squeaky. The well-made chair, however, will accompany you through generations – like family heirlooms that bear no price tags.

Practical checklist before buying:

Test seating comfort for at least 20 minutes (don't just sit briefly)
Check the frame for wobbling and creaking
Check the cover fabric for stain resistance
Upholstery height between 4 and 6 cm for everyday comfort
Connections between seat and frame should be stable

In the Dining Chairs category at Pillovely, you will find upholstered models with timeless shapes – from warm caramel brown to cream beige to ash gray. Colors that don't need trends because they have always been at home.

Which dining chairs suit which dining table – an overview of styles and materials?

A good chair not only suits the person, but also the table. The right choice is therefore always an interplay. If you already have a table, choose chairs accordingly. If you are buying both new, ideally plan them together.

Popular chair types at a glance:

Wooden dining chairs – classic, natural, robust, in warm oak tone or dark walnut
Upholstered dining chairs – comfortable for long evenings, with fabric or leather cover
Cantilever chairs – springy, modern look, relieve the back
Shell chairs – compact and stylish, often made of plastic or molded wood
Modern dining chairs – clean lines, minimalist, often with metal legs

The classic for the German dining room remains the wooden chair with an upholstered seat. It combines robustness with seating comfort and suits almost any table style.

Which chair for which table:

Solid wood table (oak, walnut) – like the Oryss Oak dining table with a wide oak top – wooden chairs in tone-on-tone or with contrasting fabric
Round dining table like the Krel round dining table – shell chairs or minimalist upholstered chairs
Marble table or glass table – delicate chairs with metal legs
Industrial-style table – robust chairs with wood and metal

You can find a suitable addition in our category Dining Tables – from Scandinavian classics to industrial statement models. If you are interested in upholstered versions, you should order free fabric samples before buying to check the color and texture in your own dining room.

A small practical tip: If you can't decide between tone-on-tone and contrast, pay attention to one detail – the legs. If the chair and table legs are made of the same material, the ensemble automatically looks harmonious, even with different colors.

Dining chairs with or without armrests – which is more ergonomic and practical?

This question is older than the ergonomics trend itself – and yet it remains relevant. Both variants have their justification, and the right choice depends on daily life.

Dining chairs with armrests:

Advantages: higher seating comfort during long meals, relief for shoulders and neck, appear more representative and are often placed at the head and foot of the table.

Disadvantages: take up more space at the table, sometimes don't fit under the tabletop, and are usually slightly more expensive than models without armrests.

Dining chairs without armrests:

Advantages: save space, allowing more people to fit at the table, are cheaper, more flexible, and can be pushed completely under the tabletop.

Disadvantages: less comfortable than models with armrests during very long evenings at the table.

A proven compromise is: armrest chairs for the host at the ends of the table, and chairs without armrests along the sides. This keeps the table flexibly seated without sacrificing comfort for the main places.

If you want to buy dining chairs and prioritize ergonomics, you should pay attention to the seat depth (at least 42 cm), the backrest (at least 40 cm high), and a slight backward tilt. This significantly relieves the back during long periods of sitting.

Important for families: check whether children can easily reach and use the chair. A chair with armrests is often harder for toddlers to climb into. If you regularly eat with children, you should therefore consider whether at least a few chairs without armrests should be in the ensemble.

How many chairs fit at the dining table and what is the ideal seat height?

The number of chairs sounds trivial – but it is one of the most common mistakes when buying furniture. If you plan too many chairs, you'll be cramped at the table. If you plan too few, you'll have a problem when the first larger family visit comes.

Rules of thumb for the number:

Per person, at least 60 cm of table width should be planned
For armrest chairs, rather 65–70 cm
Between chair and wall, at least 60 cm distance for freedom of movement

Typical occupancy by table size:

80 × 80 cm – 2 people comfortably, 4 possible, but cramped
120 × 80 cm – 4 people comfortably
160 × 90 cm – 6 people relaxed
180 × 90 cm – 6–8 people
220 × 90 cm – 8 people comfortably, 10 possible

The right seat height:

The standard height for dining chairs is between 44 and 48 cm. However, the more important value is the distance between the seat and the bottom edge of the table – here, there should be 25 to 30 cm of free space. For a table with a height of 76 cm and a seat height of 46 cm, this results in exactly the right 30 cm.

A frequently overlooked point: Check whether the chair backrest fits under the table edge. Backrests that are too high will bump – a detail that can make daily use frustrating.

Buying dining chairs – how to find the right chairs for your table

Frequently asked questions about buying dining chairs

How many dining chairs do I need?

For everyday use, you need as many chairs as regularly sit at the table. For guests, 1-2 folding chairs in the basement can be useful as a reserve.

Are cheap dining chairs always poorly made?

Not necessarily. Even inexpensive models can be solid if the frame and upholstery are right. However, quality pays off in the long run – a high-quality chair often lasts three times as long as a cheap one.

Which dining chair materials are easy to clean?

Faux leather and coated fabrics are easiest to clean. Wooden chairs occasionally need light maintenance with furniture oil. Natural fabrics are more breathable but more delicate.

Do dining chairs from a set always match?

Yes – but more and more people are opting for deliberately mixed chair sets. This looks more personal and modern than a perfect match.

Can I add dining chairs later?

Mostly yes, as long as the series is still produced. It is safer to buy one or two spare chairs at the beginning.

What height is ideal for wooden dining chairs?

Between 44 and 48 cm seat height. The free space to the bottom edge of the table should be 25–30 cm.

A dining room is not just furniture. It is the room where the music from the kitchen blends with conversations at the table, where family memories are made to Simon & Garfunkel or Rio Reiser, where arguments are had and resolved – often over the same meal. Choosing the right chairs determines the framework of these moments. At Pillovely, you will find models in warm earth tones and with the charm that a personal home needs. So that every Sunday roast becomes a small family celebration again.

Pillovely – for all who want more.