What kind of dining chairs should you choose: with or without armrests?
The dining room or dining area is a space for socializing and spending time together that is frequently used in the home. As a result, the furniture chosen for this space must meet the needs of comfort, practicality, and ergonomics. In this context, selecting dining chairs must take into account all of the needs mentioned above. However, choosing the ideal chairs for your home can be difficult given the wide variety of materials, sizes, and shapes available.
How do you choose dining room chairs? Should you opt for chairs with or without armrests? What criteria should you use to make this decision? In the following paragraphs, we’ll see that dining chairs—whether with or without armrests—meet different or complementary needs depending on the context.
1. Dining Chairs and Comfort
Dining chairs should ensure the comfort of those seated around the table. In fact, this area of the home may be used for extended periods, such as:
- family meals;
- the festivities;
- relaxing evenings or afternoons spent playing a game;
- children's homework in certain cases;
- etc.
Therefore, chairs—whether with or without armrests—must provide a comfortable seat and have a backrest long enough to support the sitter's back during extended periods of sitting.
It should be noted that, in this context, chairs with armrests can benefit children, people with limited mobility, and older adults in various ways. Armrests help protect children and reduce the risk of falls. They also assist older adults or those with mobility issues in sitting down or standing up.
Chairs without armrests, on the other hand, are suitable for people of all sizes and body types. They ensure comfort for those sitting in them because they do not put any strain on the body. Finally, they are easier to push when you want to stand up, for example.
2. Dining Chairs and Available Space
When considering replacing dining chairs or furnishing a new home, space management and taking available space into account are crucial. The goal is not only to choose functional furniture but also to meet the requirements of harmony and decor.
So, when space is limited, choosing dining chairs without armrests may be the best option. This type of chair takes up very little space and does not require a dining table with armrests that are too high.
If the dining table is large and space allows, you can choose chairs with armrests for everyone’s comfort. Be sure, however, that the table is high enough to accommodate the chair armrests. Allow about 10 cm of space between the seat of the chair and the tabletop so that the chairs can be easily stored.
Finally, there is a compromise you can consider when there isn’t enough space to furnish your entire dining room with chairs that have armrests: place two chairs with armrests at the ends of the table. On the sides, you should opt for chairs without armrests. These will leave extra space to add a seat if needed.
3. Dining Chairs and Decorative Style
Just like the rest of the furniture and home linens, dining chairs are subject to aesthetic considerations. They should therefore be chosen to complement the existing interior design to ensure a harmonious and visually pleasing look.
For a classic decor style, wooden chairs with fabric, leather, or velvet cushions and a high or wraparound backrest can compensate for the lack of armrests. The materials used for the chairs should complement the table. With light-colored wood, you can choose darker-colored chairs to create contrast. Conversely, when the wood is dark, it’s best to choose lighter-colored chairs to brighten up the room. In this context, chairs with armrests can be customized to add a touch of vibrancy to the overall look.
For modern or industrial-style decor, chairs made of raw wood and metal—or even stools made of the same materials—are an excellent choice. This decorative style relies on sleek, raw forms. As a result, chairs suited to this type of decor typically lack armrests. That said, certain designer chairs with clean lines can complement the rest of the decor without disrupting the room’s overall harmony.
Bohemian, vintage, and hippie-style decor can benefit from a mix of mismatched chairs, including both armchairs and armless chairs, or even stools. The chairs chosen can be upcycled pieces, but they can also be brand-new.
4. Dining Chairs and Reusability
Another factor to consider when buying dining chairs is whether they can be repurposed for use in the living room or an office, for example. When there isn’t enough space to add an extra armchair or sofa, chairs with armrests can be used not only in the dining room but also in the living room to complement the rest of the furniture. The chair in question can be chosen with classic armrests or a contoured backrest to add an extra touch of comfort.
Ultimately, when choosing dining chairs, it’s important not to overlook comfort. Chairs with armrests, while more comfortable and providing greater support, can be bulky when used in a small space or with a table that isn’t tall enough. On the other hand, chairs without armrests save a significant amount of space and are easier to move around, but they offer less support for the most vulnerable people (children, the elderly, and those with limited mobility).
A middle-ground solution is to choose mismatched chairs to accommodate everyone who might sit around the table. Placing chairs with armrests at each end of the table is therefore the best compromise possible in this situation.
We recommend these other pages:
- What material should you choose for your dining room chairs?
- Why Choose Solid Wood Dining Chairs?
- What seat height should you choose for your dining chairs?
- What backrest height should you choose for your dining chairs?
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- How do you choose the right chairs to match your dining room?