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3 Things To Consider When Choosing Dining Chairs

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Whether you've moved to a new home, or simply feel like a change, choosing dining chairs can be exciting. However, there are a few things you should consider before committing to any specific style of chair, as explained below.

1. Do Some Measuring 

If you've already bought your dining table, or if you have a compact space to work with, you will need to do some measuring before choosing a set of dining chairs. House Tipster offers a useful guide to measuring for dining chairs, explaining the different dimensions you will need to consider. For example, you will need to make sure there is ample space between the seat and the table for your thighs, and that the back height is high enough to support you (it should fall between the bottom of the shoulder blades and the neck). Remember, if your family is particularly tall, you should add a few inches for leg room and back height. When you've determined your ideal seat height and back height, you can start to shop.

2. Think About What Suits Your Room

Different types of chairs complement different spaces, and you should think carefully about what you want. Heavy, formal wooden chairs create a sophisticated, traditional dining space, whereas lighter, brighter chairs create a fun, spontaneous space. Think about whether you have a theme: what do you want the vibe to be? French café? Traditional English dining room? Kid-friendly space? Better Homes & Gardens explains that you should also think about the colour of your walls and whether it will work well with the colour of your chair: for example, yellowish woods look great with green or red to create a warm-feeling space. However, if you can't find anything that suits your space, you could try to match your curtains, carpet or other décor with cushions or seat covers.

3. Consider Your Family's Needs

After you've measured your space and got a good idea of what might suit your décor, it's time to think about your family's specific needs. For example, if you have young children who make a lot of mess at dinnertime, you may want to avoid chairs with fabric upholstery in favour of ones that can be wiped clean. However, it's not impossible to have comfortable upholstered chairs with kids; as the Spruce explains, many fabrics can be effectively spot-cleaned. You should also think about your family's other needs. For example, larger people may be uncomfortable with chairs with hard arms, while people with bad backs may need a high, supportive back. You know your family best, so spend some time thinking about how to make them comfortable.


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