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Sit Up

A dining chair’s life isn’t always spent sitting at the table. We explore the versatility of this essential piece of furniture and how it earns its keep around the home

We all love a slouch on the sofa with a dinner tray in front of the TV after a hard day at the grindstone, but no home is complete without a dining table, whether it’s a table for two in a snug kitchen corner or where you have space for a formal dining table accommodating multiple seats.

If you’re in the market for a new table and chairs, consider this: Your table might be in good nick, but the matching chairs have seen better days, so how about changing just the chairs? This will give your dining table, dining room, dining area or breakfast nook a transformation, and depending on your choice, you can make them really multi-functional by deploying them to other parts of the home when you’re not hosting a bash.

The interiors world is awash with chairs and choosing can seem overwhelming when faced with too much choice. Rest assured we have your back to help choose the perfect one for you, your table and your home, from Scandinavian pared back silhouettes to stylish comfort for evenings loitering at the table over post-dinner drinks and chats.

Function versus aesthetics - consider how often the chair will be used

Kitchens need easy to maintain wipe-down surfaces, not moiré silk hand embroidered upholstery that requires minding, but it doesn’t mean compromising on style even if you have sticky-fingered little ones running around.

The Rosey dining chair is the perfect blend of form and function, its black finish giving it a contemporary touch on what is otherwise a more traditional French style. It’s also one to encourage good posture.

For something more decidedly contemporary, the Connor has faint echoes of mid-century design, but rather than a plastic seat shell, Connor’s leather upholstery on a contrasting metal leg is a thoroughly evolved seating option to suit the comfort needs of a 21st century sitter. Both have slender legs that are not only easy on the eye but take up less room in more compact spaces.

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Calia Oak Rectangle Dining Table

Mix don’t match - personal flair is in vogue

A house clearance vintage table find or a hand-me-down family relic which holds sentimental value might have seemed like a good idea when you were setting up your own home for the first time but easily fell foul of a measuring tape.

It wouldn’t be the first time enthusiasm trumped the practicalities of measuring up to the point where there’s precious little room for chairs in the tight border of negative space around a too-large table. Here’s where the influence of our friends in the north is extra welcome for finding the perfectly fitting chair where space is scant.

The Vega Bonded ivory leather and Scandi oak chair brings characteristic streamlined Nordic design for this one to slide in against the table. A super-minimal option is the mustard faux leather Evoque, its slim profile making it a compact choice next to your bulky table.

It’s also an option for a home office as not everyone likes the aesthetic or functionality of a typical office swivel chair. Those of us without ample leg length often find the swivel function can take on a hard to control life of its own. Evoque is a lovely static alternative and would also work in the hallway of a contemporary home, or anywhere needing a pop of colour. But if a swivel is a must, the Argento is one to check.

A more muted colour choice comes in the Cody where the emphasis is on compact size without compromising on comfort thanks to arm rests, a padded seat and an all-over soft tactile fabric. It’s a perfect partner for a contemporary table in a space needing texture and calming colour.

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Vega Bonded Ivory Leather & Scandi Oak Dining Chair

A chair for all spaces - making your dining chair truly multi-functional

For those of us with handy extending tables kept retracted for day-to-day use and only extended when friends come over, there’s always the dilemma of where to put the extra chairs without them taking up valuable kitchen space.

If you’re about to have a spring splurge, think multi-function and opt for a design that meets your seating needs both in a practical way and style-wise.

Mixed materials and luxury fabric upholstery like velvet and bouclé elevate both function and form. With the Albany natural ash wooden model with woven seat, you get a dining room chair and dual function as a bedroom dressing table chair or a corner perch to sling your clothes on overnight.

The same goes for the Camden rustic velvet with its mix of wooden frame and padded seat and back for maximum comfort. Not only can you re-site it in your hall beside the console table but it’s a match for a larger upstairs landing with a side table.

Go super-high on design with the attention-grabbing Chloe fabric chair. Finished in sand fabric giving a versatile neutral finish, its eye-catching circularity hugs the sitter and flows with a round table. If your current table happens to be round and not quite the beauty it once was, a quartet of Chloes will give it a new lease of life.

Maybe you love the idea of a banquette in the kitchen but are put off by it being built-in and permanent. Take a look at the Avorio faux leather dining bench, a free-standing moveable version with all the benefits a static banquette brings: Comfort and the ability to squeeze in an extra person.

 

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