It’s the kind of thing you’d never, ever consider – until you’re shopping for new dining chairs for your beloved farmhouse table, or you’re ready for the dining table of your dreams. There’s an art to buying perfect dining chairs, and we’re sharing the secrets.

Besides the style of the chair, you’ll have to remember that you’re shopping for something in a specific height and width. Both the chair and any chair arms should be able to slide under your dining table easily, without sacrificing lap and leg room comfort when you sit in one.

A few rules of thumb: Shoot for 12 inches between the tabletop and the seat of your chair, and leave 7 inches between the chair arm and the apron (bottom) of the table.

When it comes to width, some vendors offer regular and petite sizing for side chairs. Shaving a few inches off a regular width chair to make it petite is worth considering when you’re looking to maximize seating and to accommodate a round table. When you’re measuring, make sure to measure the widest point. Depending on the chair, that might mean the seat or the back.

Consider what you want as well. Will these chairs be used multiple times a day, by many people? Are they for formal occasions only? How many people do you need to seat on a regular basis? Will they need cleaning often (and by that we mean, do you have young children)? Understanding the purpose of these side chairs can eliminate a few contenders and point you in the right direction.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by this side chair design dilemma – it could happen! – we’re happy to help. We can help you find the perfect chairs for the table of your dreams, or a table that will match the chair you adore. Come in any Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and let’s get this dining chair situation sorted out.

 

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