The Best Wood for Your Dining Room Table
The Woods
Oak
Thehas historically been one of the most central places in our homes. This is where we gather with family and friends to celebrate holidays or special occasions. On a daily basis it is an informal place for work and other projects or for relaxing conversation with friends. For all of these important moments, ais perhaps the most comfortable, functional, and beautiful choice you can make. But there are so many wood options out should you choose?Our builders work with a selection of only the responsibly harvested North-American hardwood species including Red Oak, Quarter Sawn White Oak, Brown Maple, Hard Maple, Hickory, Elm and Cherry. Each type has unique qualities and characteristics like weight, density, grain pattern, and price. So here is a quick run down of our most popular woods. For a better explanation, and to see the woods in person, come visit our Evanston showroom.Oak is very practical and functional because it is resistant to dings and dents. Ais best for everyday use especially for families with young children.is only grown in North America and is readily available making it the most economical of all hard woods. Many of us live in homes and apartments with doors, floors & wall trims made of Red Oak.
Regular Oak Quarter Sawn
Quarter Sawn White Oak was used even more in the past. The name refers to how the logs are divided up and sawn into building stock. The unique preparation process gives Quartersawn Oak a unique appearance. The grain looks more even than regular oak but it has some very interesting swirls going across the grain. This effect is often called ray flake, and it is actually the vascular tissue of the tree being revealed in cross-section. Quartersawn white oak was often used in craftsman and bungalow homes and it makes a wonderful choice for Mission and Arts and Crafts styled furniture.
QSWO is sturdy, stylish and has more visual interest than red oak. Any stain color brings out its rich wavy grains that have tight even swirls. The craftsmanship inherently makes it in a bit higher price range than regular oak. Oak is very practical and functional and with our two step finishing it is resistant to dings and scratches.
Maple
Maple (above) is a hard wood that is smooth to the touch with a tighter grain than Oak. The advantage of Maple is that it has a silky look that is very smooth and in the case of Brown Maple, is in the more economical price range of hard woods.
Brown Maple is somewhat light in weight and absorbs colored stains well. Its smoorth grain works well in contemporary and modern pieces yet it has a soothing and welcoming presence. It fits any dining style use from every day to more formal.
Hard Maple on the other hand has the same smooth look but is much denser, heavier and harder. It is also a bit higher priced. It is so dense that some stains take to it poorly. When used for a dining room it makes a statement that is bold and elegant. Hard maple dining rooms make a distinctive, durable addition to any home.
Walnut
Walnut graciously shows dark to light patterns that give a dining room a sophisticated look. Walnut is crafted in furniture to look slim and sleek with clean lines and a straight cut design. It is always popular but has recently gained popularity in more urban types of décor. Walnut is a bit harder that brown maple, but not as hard as oak; it tends to be the one of the most expensive woods.
Elm
A dining room filled with an Elm hutch, table and chairs, reflects unique taste. When looked at closely it resembles Quail feathers that give it a feeling of being one-of- a-kind design. Elm is a very strong wood with particularly impressive tensile strength and ability to be bent and shaped.
Cherry
Cherry has smooth even patterns with tiny pits.
has soft lines of light curves with dark outlines and a rich, smooth grain. It also has small darks spots and flecks are pits and mineral deposits in the wood. The inherent nature of cherry causes it to darken with exposure to light, especially when given a natural (no-stain) finish. Cherry is softer and lighter than some other hardwoods making it more prone to dings and dents than harder woods like oak. Cherry wood dining furniture gives warmth and elegance to any room.
Rustic Cherry wood has the same beautiful grain pattern as regular cherry, but it has significantly more pits and mineral deposits in it, even including cracks and knots. Choosing rustic cherry is a nice way to save cost while going with the beautiful look of cherry. Other woods, like Quartersawn Oak and Hickory are also available in "rustic" versions for a somewhat lower price.
All woods are beautiful in style and appearance. Each piece is crafted to speak to the way people live today. Solid wood dining room furniture has brought enjoyment to generations of people; we are glad to help bring it to your home too!
16 of the best simple wooden dining chairs
It’s time for another ‘Best of’ post – this time 16 of the best simple wooden dining chairs. You’d think that would be simple enough, but I’ve discovered it’s surprisingly hard to find a beautifully designed wooden chair that is well made, sustainably produced AND won’t break the bank. There’s hundreds of wooden chairs out there, but only a handful that tick all the boxes.
Look online and it’s a minefield – there’s lots of use of phrases such as ‘natural materials’ and ‘high quality wood’, but very little information on where the wood has actually come from or how the design has been made. You have to do some digging to really know what you’re buying.
So what should you look for in a wooden dining chair?
– Price – wooden dining chairs don’t come cheap. And that’s because a lot of the best are hand crafted or hand finished, and that takes time and tremendous skill. Expect to pay more for a wooden chair than any other type of material, but know that solid wood is more likely to stand the test of time. It’s strong, durable and the tactile patina of the natural grain just gets better with age.
– Where is the chair made? – not all retailers specify where a design has been made and that immediately raises alarm bells. If they’re doing things right, they shouldn’t have anything to hide – it’s a simple enough thing to know where your chair has come from. Look for brands and companies that are transparent. Also in terms of sustainability, you don’t want your design being flown from the other side of the world. For me, based in London, I’m looking for furniture items that has been made in the UK or Europe.
– Solid wood or veneer? – There’s pros and cons for both. Parts of solid wood furniture can more easily replaced or recycled. Wood veneer uses thin slices of wood that are glued onto a cheaper, less visually pleasing core, for example fibreboard or MDF. Wood veneer uses less material than solid wood and produces no sawdust waste, but it can blister and peel at the edges over time. You might also want to consider the glues, adhesives and finishes being used to treat the furniture – some toxic chemicals or agents might not only be harmful for the environment, they may also release gasses or fumes into the home. Some companies will specify the glues or lacquers they use. Where possible look for water-based lacquers and glues with a low formaldehyde content.
– Where has the wood come from? – Take the time to ascertain where the material for your furniture has come from, to better understand the chair’s social and environmental impact. As you might be aware, some hardwoods may be illegally sourced and contributing to the destruction and deforestation of tropical rainforests. Most companies will have an environment report or statement on their About page. The best will have a readily accessible timber sourcing policy, such as this one from Ercol. If you want to do a bit more research, the WWF publishes a Timber Scorecard each year that measures UK retailers based on their timber buying – Ikea, B&Q, Sainsbury’s and Marks and Spencer come out well, The White Company and Wayfair less so.
– Is the wood FSC certified? – The FSC label – a certification from the Forest Stewardship Council – has come under some criticism (a follower sent me a link to this documentary), but it is one of the only clear ways for the consumer to know if the timber has been responsibly sourced. It’s a standard that helps track the wood from FSC certified forests to the consumer, ostensibly making sure that its production is socially beneficial and environmentally conscious. There are three different labels – which can be a little confusing – but only FSC 100% ensures that all of the product has been certified and checked. The FSC Mix Label, for example, may only contain a small proportion of FSC certified timber. Sometimes you can see an FSC stamp on a piece of furniture or most companies with the certification will clearly list that the wood is FSC certified in their furniture description. If there’s no mention of it, nor where the wood has been sourced from, you can’t be sure it has been sustainably or responsibly sourced.
– Is the chair made to order? – you might roll your eyes when you see a 6-8 week delivery time and think I want it now, but it’s true when they say good things come to those who wait. Made to order items help reduce unwanted waste and often you might get more choice in terms of finishes.
– Could you get the same design secondhand? – if the chair is a design classic that has been around for a while – an Ercol chair for instance – you might be better off looking for vintage versions. It’s certainly the most sustainable option – why buy new when there’s already plenty of designs out there looking for new homes! Wooden chairs hold their value and there’s a huge secondhand market – you can find some really unique shapes and styles that don’t look mass-produced or poorly made. You’re also more likely to get a better deal for a group of chairs (say 6 or 8) than buying one individually. You can see my guide of the best places to buy second hand furniture online here.
So with that in mind, here’s my round-up of wooden dining chairs under £500. I’ve added a description for each chair and given a green star to those brands that are doing the best in terms of sustainability – something I’ll be continuing to do in my ‘Best of’ round-ups going forward. This is not a perfect list by any means, but hopefully it will help you make more informed choices.
There’s a real mix of styles and range of prices, but they’re all united by a simple, honest expression without the need for superfluous, complicated details.
1. J77 chair by Hay, £139, Insidestore – made of solid beech wood and available in multiple finishes. It was designed by Folke Palsson in the 1960’s with the intention of bringing good design to a wider audience. Although it is unclear where exactly the design is made or where the wood has come from, HAY’s website states that its wood is predominantly produced by FSC certified suppliers, and that the majority of their furniture production is located in Europe. However Hay is aiming for all of its wood supply to be 100% FSC certified by 2020, read more here.
2. Scandi dining chair in French Grey, £299, John Lewis (affiliate link) – a Scandinavian-inspired design with a lacquered beech wood frame and a woven paper cord seat. Made in Italy. Earlier this year, John Lewis was named by Ethical Consumer as one of the better companies for timber sourcing.
3. Hven armchair by Anton Björsing for Skagerak, £465, Tea and Kate – a solid comfortable chair. Made of 100% FSC certified wood from European forests. Skagerak is also a certified B Corp, a group of companies meeting the highest standards for social and environmental performance and transparency, find out more here.
4. Nordic Wood dining chairs set of 2, £350, Rose & Grey – made of oak with a natural varnished finish, a great deal for a pair. It should be noted that there are little details on the sourcing of the wood on the website.
5. Linea Akademia chair by Wesley Walters and Salla Luhtasela for Nikari, £436, Viaduct – a minimalist chair inspired by Shaker furniture and Japanese design. Made in Finland. Nikari have its own hydro power plant that provides renewable energy for its studio and workshop. Their timber comes from sustainably managed forests in Northern Europe. They use natural surface treatments and water-based lacquers. Nikari try to deliver products without packaging, but where that’s not possible their packaging is recyclable and includes plastic pads made of polyethylene that convert to water when incinerated. Read more here.
6. Originals stacking chair by Ercol, £390, Heal’s (affiliate link) – a redesign of a mid-century classic, carved from elm. Made in the UK (so no carbon guzzling air transportation to get it to you if you’re based in Britain). Ercol’s factory in Buckinghamshire is heated by a biomass boiler that is fuelled by wood waste and sawdust from the factory. Ercol’s website states that its wood comes from sustainable forests from North America, Europe and China.
7. In Between SK1 chair by Sami Kallio for &tradition, reduced from £345 to £276 (receive 20% off your fourth chair when you buy four), – a sculptural design made of solid wood and form-pressed veneer. &tradition don’t offer any information on the sourcing of the wood.
8. 69 Chair by Alvar Aalto for Artek, £319, twentytwentyone – an iconic chair designed by the Finnish designer in 1935. Made of FSC certified Finnish birch wood. The majority of Artek’s products are made at their a-factory in Turku, Finland.
9. Narin folding chair by David Irwin for Case Furniture, £299, John Lewis (affiliate link) – A lightweight chair ideal for small spaces. Winner of the Design Guild Mark Award and Wood Award for Best Production Made project in 2017. Made in Thailand.
10. Workshop chair by Cecilie Manz for Muuto, £299, Utility Design – a minimalist chair handcrafted from solid oak or pine, with a veneer seat and back. Available in a range of finishes. Muuto’s website states that their wood is sourced from sustainably managed forests but there is little detail about where those are based or where the chair is made.
11. J41 chair by Hay, £255, Insidestore – a reproduction of Børge Mogensen’s classic J41 chair, with a broad plywood seat and frame in solid oak or beech. See number 1 for more details on Hay’s production.
12. Soft chair by Thomas Bentzen, £219, Takt – a simple, functional chair made of solid ash. Produced with FSC certified wood from sustainable forests, the Soft chair is 100% eco-certified. Indeed, Takt states that the whole supply chain is certified. Takt only uses water-based lacquers. The chairs can be dismantled into pieces so that worn parts can be replaced or recycled. And it is shipped in compact, space-efficient flat packs made of recyclable material.
13. RÖNNINGE chair in birch, £70, IKEA – a 1950s inspired design with a solid birch frame and moulded veneer seat and backrest. Also comes in green and black. IKEA came top in the Ethical Consumer‘s survey of furniture companies sourcing timber. IKEA is aiming for all their wood to be defined as recycled of FSC certified by 2020, read more here.
14. Wishbone chair by Hans J. Wegner for Carl Hansen & Son, £443, Heal’s (affiliate link) – a design classic that’s been in production since 1950, available in a variety of finishes. Carl Hansen & Søn is certified to produce FSC-certified furniture; its wood comes from sustainably managed forests and responsible sawmills. The paper cord for the handwoven seat comes from renewable forests and is biodegradable. Read more here.
15. Pause dining chair by Kasper Nyman for Woud, £299, – a contemporary chair with simple, clean lines. It comes in soap treated oak and black. Woud don’t offer any information on the sourcing of the wood.
16. Cross chair, £199, Takt – like Takt’s Soft chair, the Cross chair is made from FSC certified wood and is 100% eco-certified. Takt only uses water-based lacquers. It is also shipped in compact, space-efficient flat packs made of recyclable material.
What do you think, do any of these chairs catch your eye? Which would you choose? I’m a bit biased as I have them in my home already, but my pick would be Hay’s J77 chairs – they’ve got a beautiful silhouette with that contemporary take on a traditional spindle back. But if I were to buy again, I would choose Takt’s eco-certified wooden chairs – not only are they a better choice for the environment, they’re also the most competitively priced chairs I’ve seen for those sustainability credentials.
The 6 Best Dining Chairs, as Seen in Our Favorite Spaces
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.
Reading up on Domino’s shopping guides is like having your own personal product concierge. We do the tedious part—deep-dive research, hands-on testing, and tapping experts for advice—so all you have to do is hit “add to cart.” That’s why we call them Simply the Best.
Dining chairs aren’t the typical first-apartment purchase. You wouldn’t live without a mattress (you need to sleep!) or a sofa (where else would you slurp instant ramen while watching The Bachelorette?), but dining room furniture never feels as essential. That is unless you want to host people for brunch—or just eat at an actual table every once in a while. Come to think of it, investing in dining chairs is crucial.
Now for the fun part: It’s time to play Goldilocks and choose the perfect set for you. While the best get-togethers start with a killer playlist and free-flowing wine, comfortable chairs that invite guests to linger long after dessert, when the plates are left with nothing but a few crumbs, are the unsung heroes of any dinner party. Aesthetics, of course, has its own role to play. If you’re ready to graduate from the sofa to the dinner table and buy a real set of the best dining chairs, read on for answers from designers and DIYers to that age-old question: How do you pick out the perfect seat?
Our Favorites
The Smooth Operator: Lulu and Georgia Joel Dining Chair
Joel Dining Chair, Lulu and Georgia ($599) Shop
Arms: Yes | Seat height: 18.5 inches | Material: Linen-and-polyester blend
What we like: Performance fabric
Unique, low-profile silhouette
Also available in a natural colorway Worth noting: Ships in 2 to 3 weeks
When designer Abbie Naber was tasked with furnishing an entire SoCal home, the dining table chairs had to nail the trifecta of style, price, and sensibility. “We chose CB2’s Lisette because it hit the mark on many levels for us: comfortability—its fabric had a bit of cushion to it and arms were a requirement—and color—forgiving yet still light, like the palette of the space,” she offers. The best part, though, may be the unexpected silhouette, which Naber describes as modern but not too predictable. While this particular version is no longer in stock, we did find an alternative at Lulu and Georgia that still nails Naber’s criteria.
Photography by Charlotte Lea; Styling by En Shell
Shop More Upholstered Dining Chairs
The Durable Chameleon: Division 12 Resto Chair
Shop
Arms: No | Seat height: 19 inches | Material: White oak, stained oak, or recycled HDPE
What we like: Endless color options
Curved backrest and wide seat Worth noting: Lead time of 7 weeks
The biggest draw of Division 12’s Resto is the customization. “The brand offers an extensive list of options, and it was a fun way to add color in a place that sometimes is more muted,” recalls designer Regan Baker of a dining area she worked on in a San Francisco home. After playing with a bunch of looks, she landed on mint for the frame and a yellow plaid cushion fabric that could sustain wear and tear from kids. “In general, the Resto chairs are a great fit for somewhere where durability is key,” adds Baker, noting that the company is a commercial brand typically tapped for restaurants.
Photography by Suzanna Scott
Shop More Armless Dining Chairs
The Dinner Party Companion: RoveConcepts Angelo Chair
Shop
Arms: No | Seat height: 19.5 inches | Material: Velvet upholstery on steel or brass
What we like: 17 color and fabric options, from suede to bouclé
Modern frame Worth noting: Selling quickly
Designer Zoe Feldman knew her clients needed plush places to post up for long, boozy dinner gatherings. After considering multiple pieces, she settled on the Angelo chair by RoveConcepts for a few reasons. “We wanted a color that was not already represented but also didn’t feel like a complete departure,” explains Feldman, noting the moody paint color and depth of the wallpaper. “Blush is a wonderful neutral that gives the space some welcome lightness, delicacy, and a quiet pop of color.” The curvy frame also gives it a soft touch of femininity that was not only an aesthetic win but, paired with the velvet upholstery pulled over a high-density foam seat, won points on comfortability, too.
Shop More High-Back Dining Chairs
The Old Soul: Interior Define Hollis Chair
Shop
Arms: Yes | Seat height: 19 inches | Material: Varies
What we like: Hollywood meets modern design 60-day return policy Half-moon backrest Worth noting: Made to order Base price doesn’t include fabric or leg material choices
In need of some Art Deco glamour, Joy Cho picked these golden darlings for their vintage appeal. “I love the mix of structure in the legs with the softness of the seat and back,” says the Oh Joy! founder and creative director, who went with two different colors for a blended look. It was the unique contours that sold her: She would usually favor armless dining chairs for a casual breakfast nook or formal dining arrangement, but Cho loved how the frame baked that construction into the crescent-shaped back. “There’s an option for a rest if you want it, without it being too large or interfering with the ability to push the chair close into the table when not in use,” she adds.
Photography by Lily Glass for Oh Joy!
Shop More Curved Dining Chairs
The Trendy One: Industry West Cane Armchair
Shop
Arms: Yes | Seat height: 17.25 inches | Material: Ash and cane
What we like: 5-year warranty Order free material swatches Lounge, armless, and bench options Worth noting: Most expensive on the list
DIYer Brit Arnesen of Britdotdesign always envisioned cane chairs when she began converting her garage into an open-concept living room, complete with a terrazzo fireplace and dining area. “I didn’t necessarily have any preferences in terms of shape or dimensions, because I planned to build a table to go with them,” she shares. Industry West’s cane armchair is even closer to her vision than she expected to find (and the $160 T.J. Maxx ones she landed on). Though the natural colorway is no longer available, the mid-century frame adds beautiful contrast in the black- and green-painted ash wood. If you can’t splurge on a set of classic Cesca chairs, why not give this contemporary twist a try?
Photography by Brit Arnesen
Shop More Cane Dining Chairs
The Statement Silhouette: Menuspace Afteroom Dining Chair
Shop
Arms: No | Seat height: 18 inches | Material: Walnut veneer or upholstered and steel
What we like: Scandinavian minimalism Design inspired by Bauhaus philosophies Worth noting: Estimated delivery is 5 weeks
If you’re searching for something unexpected to wow guests, consider Menuspace’s Afteroom chairs. “We love that they feel like little elegant characters,” says Russell Whitehead of London-based firm 2LG Studio, who paired the steel-framed stunners with a sculptural table created in collaboration with jesmonite artist Olivia Aspinal in his and Jordan Cluroe’s own dining room–slash-workspace. “We needed dining chairs that could hold their own but have a lighter appearance to play against the solid shape of the table leg,” he says. “Their slim, playful shape is the perfect complement, and the options on upholstery allowed a level of freedom to bring these in line with our color palette.”
Photography by Megan Taylor
Shop More Minimalist Dining Chairs
How We Chose These Products
Finding the perfect set of seats for your dining table, kitchen corner, or breakfast nook is no simple task—should you opt for a classic wood look or a comfier upholstered frame? Do you want something lush like velvet or a top-notch performance fabric that’s a breeze to wipe up pasta sauce and wine spills? So we found a few of our favorite dining table chairs and asked the designers who sourced them why they were the ideal fit for that space.
Our Shopping Checklist
Size
Dining chairs come in all shapes and sizes, but determining the right dimensions for your room depends most on your existing dining table. Ergonomics is pretty important to eating—no one wants to feel like they’re in need of a booster when sitting down or bruise their knees every time they have to get up—so be sure to account for ample leg and lap room when taking measurements. For a standard table, the seat height these designers went with fell between 17 and nearly 20 inches. Though Baker also advises most guests won’t want to straddle the base of a table, so it’s equally important to think about where the legs of the chair and table meet (if at all—this is less of a concern with a pedestal or trestle table).
Arms vs. Armless
It’s all about space allotment. Baker suggests asking yourself a few questions first: Where will the arms fall at the table? Will they prevent the chair from sliding underneath the table? “From here, it becomes a style choice,” she notes. “Arms can add a structural or architectural moment, which is why we like to use them, especially on the ends of tables where there is often more room.”
Comfort
Chair arms are also tied up with comfort—sometimes it’s nice to have a place to rest your elbows, but if space is tight, you won’t want to feel like the sides are closing in. Material choices are also a factor. We get it; dining chairs should be visually stunning. But if you’re planning to sit on them regularly, you don’t want to feel sore or stiff in a half hour. “Sit tests are always important,” stresses Baker. And if you’re entertaining often, you might want to opt for a structure that’s easy to maintain. Naber suggests focusing on materials that are simple to clean and stain-resistant, such as a wood chair with a leather pad.
Pro Tips for Styling the Best Dining Chairs
It’s important to think about how you’ll occupy a dining space. “Are you more into long dinner parties and therefore need pure comfort with your choice of chair, or is space a strong concern, so you need a streamlined chair?” poses Whitehead.
For a more casual dining environment, play with the height of your chair—a taller back lends itself to a traditional vibe, whereas a shorter frame can feel more modern. Or simply add in a bench or stool.
Sometimes vintage is best. For a Washington, D.C., home, Feldman found Biedermeier chairs. “They offer a modern silhouette, while the curvature of the patterned wood creates tension against the stark lines of the wallpaper,” she says. “Sculptural occasional chairs have the ability to stand alone and be anchored to the space without a table.”
Naber’s biggest tip: Avoid being too matchy-matchy. “I like combining materials and allowing contrast to happen,” she shares. “If you have a black dining table, try pairing it with a lighter wood or vice versa. Also think about other materials, not just wood.”
Cult Classics
Ask Domino
Q: How much space should there be between dining chairs?
Baker suggests leaving at least 4 inches between chairs to prevent guests from feeling like they’re on top of one another. A general rule of thumb, according to Naber, is 24 inches per chair: “If the chair itself is wider, then you’ll need to accommodate for more space.” You can fudge that calculation a bit more in high-traffic areas that call for space-saving measures. For example, consider backless stools—which are usually narrower than traditional dining chairs. More specifically, Baker will reserve about 4 inches between each chair to prevent people from feeling cramped.
Q: How do I clean and properly maintain my dining chairs?
This depends on the material or upholstery you choose. For instance, cane can be brittle, making it susceptible to tears and fading, so try to keep it out of direct sunlight and moisturize it every now and then with a water-and-oil mixture (just be careful not to oversaturate it!). Wood and metal can always be easily wiped down after spills, but a cushion is more likely to stain, so stick to performance fabrics if you have kids or a penchant for hosting family and friends.
Q: How many dining chairs should I have?
The number of seats is largely dependent on the length or diameter of your table, whether it’s round or rectangular. “Generally someone selling a table will tell you how many chairs it can accommodate, but all chairs have different widths—many are in the range of about 20 to 26 inches,” points out Baker. In other words, 45 to 60 inches should allow you to sit anywhere from four to six people, designers reveal, but your chair count ultimately boils down to common sense: After all, you can fit more skinny, armless chairs than large armchairs in any space.
The Last Word
Whether it’s a modern dining chair or cheap dining chair, aesthetics is usually priority number one, but designers note comfort is just as important. “Everyone has different thoughts on what is comfortable. Some people don’t like chairs with openings in the back or don’t like upholstered chairs because of food on the fabric,” shares Baker. “Some people want chairs to be wipeable, in which case a wood or plastic chair is more ideal, but it’s always an important conversation to have initially because it’s so subjective.”