Dining Room Chairs: Which Material Should You Choose?
These days, the dining room is no longer exactly what it was a few years ago—that is, a closed-off space used exclusively for meals. With the strong trend toward open-concept layouts, the dining room is now integrated into the living room or kitchen, meaning its decorative style is much more visible than before. It has therefore become necessary to strive for overall harmony in its decor, going beyond simply matching the chairs to the dining table.
Among the many factors to consider when choosing dining room chairs, the choice of material is more important than it might seem at first glance. In fact, a chair’s material can influence several key aspects of each model, including its decorative style, comfort, and the budget allocated for this purchase.
We’ve put together a guide featuring the best tips and decorating ideas to help you choose the dining chair material—or materials—that best suit your specific setup.
Wooden dining chairs: the epitome of elegance
In both furniture and interior design, wood is the material that embodies the elegance and nobility of a natural product, allowing you to purchase authentic, sturdy furniture for an interior that can be rustic, classic, or modern.
Wood: Yes, but what kind of wood?
Before delving further into the technical and decorative details of wooden chair designs, it is important to review the quality and characteristics of the woods used to make furniture.
In fact, for many manufacturers, the definition of “wood” is quite fluid. Unfortunately, it is becoming increasingly common to find that material marketed simply as “wood,” without further specification, is in fact engineered wood. However, aside from a real issue with durability, products such as particleboard or plywood are manufactured using large amounts of adhesives, solvents, and lacquers that release volatile organic compounds, also known as VOCs.
It is important to note that certain models of engineered wood furniture have been tested and found to emit 31 substances that are hazardous to health, including formaldehyde, which is recognized as toxic and a major source of indoor air pollution.
To maintain a healthy indoor environment, it is therefore advisable to choose chairs and furniture made of solid wood. Furthermore, to contribute to a more environmentally friendly use of resources, it makes sense to choose chairs made from French solid wood, such as beech. In addition, French wood provides guarantees of origin and traceability through certifications and labels, such as PEFC certification.
The Design of Wooden Chairs
No matter what your interior decor style is, there’s a wooden dining chair that will complement it and add the perfect decorative touch. Whether raw or finished, natural or stained, wood offers a wide range of options: classic-style chairs, modern chairs that can be paired with a metal or glass table for an industrial look, or chairs with a sleek Scandinavian design.
While harmony between the chairs and the dining table is a priority, this harmony can extend to the entire room and the house as a whole, given that dining rooms in modern homes are often open-concept. This open layout has another impact on daily life: the table and chairs are now used for many purposes beyond just meals—such as family games, conversations with friends, or working from home. It is therefore important to also consider comfort.
Wooden Chairs and Comfort
Are wooden chairs comfortable? Since comfort and ergonomics are subjective, it is difficult to make generalizations. However, the wide variety of dining chair styles caters to all preferences, ranging from unfinished wooden chairs without armrests to colorful chairs with armrests.
Let's start with the seat, which can be more or less wide, flat, or slightly curved. The seat can also be upholstered in fabric or leather to make it more comfortable. On this note, it’s essential to address the issue of maintenance, which can be more complicated with a fabric or leather seat, especially if you have children or cats, who are only too happy to sharpen their claws on these surfaces. A seat made of untreated wood, complemented by a removable and easily washable cushion, seems to be the most appropriate solution.
As for the legs, they can be round or square and more or less ornate, to give them a touch of originality.
As for the backrest—whether flat or curved—it can be low, medium, or high, keeping in mind that a low backrest is more visually unobtrusive, while a high backrest makes a stronger statement in terms of comfort, presence, and design.
Metal dining chairs
Metal is an option that opens the door to minimalist or industrial interior design. Metal chairs can be paired with a table made of wood, glass, or even metal.
When choosing metal chairs, it’s important to consider the sturdiness that seems to stem from their construction method—whether they’re assembled with screws (which allows them to be disassembled if you move) or welded. In either case, make sure the legs are equipped with protective caps to prevent scratches on the dining room floor.
Once again, the selection is vast, ranging from chairs made entirely of metal to those combining metal and wood, or metal with a leather or faux leather seat. You can also opt for wrought-iron chairs with a modern design to create an airy, less bulky look—though you’ll want to make sure they’re comfortable.
Plastic chairs: Make way for colors and mismatched decorations
With plastic—which isn't without its environmental drawbacks—the trend is toward color and warm interiors.
The advantages of plastic dining chairs include the countless colors available,their unique designs, their ease of maintenance, the option to buy mismatched chairs, and the fact that they can be used occasionally in the garden.
As for the downsides, it’s important to note the lack of sturdiness and durability, the difficulty in pairing plastic with all styles of interior design and dining room decor, and the fact that its light weight can result in limited stability and comfort.
We recommend these other pages:
- 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?
- With or without armrests: Which type of dining chairs should you choose?
- Which chair legs should you choose for your dining room chairs?
- What should you look for when choosing sturdy dining chairs?
- How do you choose the right chairs to match your dining room?