How to Seat Your Dinner Guests in Comfort
Instead of reaching for pillows and footstools when you dine, settle in with dining tables and chairs that fit the room and body
Whether it’s once a year or every night, we want our family and friends to be happy in the dining room with more than just our excellent food and company. Catering equally to tall, small, robust or svelte loved ones is a good goal. If you follow simple ergonomics guidelines when buying your dining table and chairs, your guests will feel comfortable and return again and again.
The upholstered dining chair. The origin of the word “chair” comes from the Latin “cathedra.” Seating for bishops and lords in cathedrals was distinguished by an upright structure, while common folk sat on benches or stools.
Once you have chosen your table, you can choose your chairs. Scale is equal to comfort, and the wrong chair will be a cruel, daily reminder of that.
The most comfortable seat height for a dining chair is when there is 10 to 12 inches between the top of the seat and the top of the dining table. If your chair is 18 to 20 inches from the floor to the top of the seat, it will fit well under a standard table.
If you are buying off the showroom floor, a good way to judge the quality of an upholstered chair is to feel under the seat. If it’s hollow, it may not be worth your money. Feel for tightly woven webbing, usually made of jute or nylon, as this is the strongest. The coil springs are held together by this webbing. Stretchy, elastic webbing is a cheaper version and won’t last as long. A quality hardwood chair frame that has been doweled (small, round wooden pegs, glued and screwed into the timber joints) will last a lifetime.
These fully upholstered dining chairs look incredibly comfortable. The seats are gently molded, and the backs are rounded for lumbar support, ensuring guests will enjoy their stay.
Once you have chosen your table, you can choose your chairs. Scale is equal to comfort, and the wrong chair will be a cruel, daily reminder of that.
The most comfortable seat height for a dining chair is when there is 10 to 12 inches between the top of the seat and the top of the dining table. If your chair is 18 to 20 inches from the floor to the top of the seat, it will fit well under a standard table.
If you are buying off the showroom floor, a good way to judge the quality of an upholstered chair is to feel under the seat. If it’s hollow, it may not be worth your money. Feel for tightly woven webbing, usually made of jute or nylon, as this is the strongest. The coil springs are held together by this webbing. Stretchy, elastic webbing is a cheaper version and won’t last as long. A quality hardwood chair frame that has been doweled (small, round wooden pegs, glued and screwed into the timber joints) will last a lifetime.
These fully upholstered dining chairs look incredibly comfortable. The seats are gently molded, and the backs are rounded for lumbar support, ensuring guests will enjoy their stay.
The round dining table. A more intimate space loves a round dining table. If you prefer to entertain small groups of friends and family, or you don’t have a dedicated dining room, round could be for you.
Just as with a rectangular or square table, measure your space and apply the same chair measurements. Allow 26 inches per person for elbow room on a three- to six-seater and 24 inches for six or more.
A round table usually has one pedestal leg, offering extra leg room. I like the timber footrest on the bottom of this pedestal, as those seated can raise their feet off the ground and get a little extra support.
General seating guidelines:
• Four people will fit around a 36- to 44-inch table
• Four to six people will fit around a 44- to 54-inch table
• Six to eight people will fit around a 60- to 70-inch table.
The larger your round table is, the harder it will be for all your guests to converse with one another — keep this in mind if you have a large dining room and are tempted to go with a round table.
Find an interior designer to help you choose dining room furniture
Just as with a rectangular or square table, measure your space and apply the same chair measurements. Allow 26 inches per person for elbow room on a three- to six-seater and 24 inches for six or more.
A round table usually has one pedestal leg, offering extra leg room. I like the timber footrest on the bottom of this pedestal, as those seated can raise their feet off the ground and get a little extra support.
General seating guidelines:
• Four people will fit around a 36- to 44-inch table
• Four to six people will fit around a 44- to 54-inch table
• Six to eight people will fit around a 60- to 70-inch table.
The larger your round table is, the harder it will be for all your guests to converse with one another — keep this in mind if you have a large dining room and are tempted to go with a round table.
Find an interior designer to help you choose dining room furniture
The metal dining chair. Metal furniture is popular in more minimalist spaces. Extremely hard wearing and easy to keep clean, metal chairs are terrific dining chair solutions.
Generally, the length of time any one person can sit comfortably on a dining chair is three to four hours — less if the chair has no padding. Your chairs may already come with a fixed upholstered seat cushion; if not, having a detachable cushion made is not difficult. The insert should be firm and generous, as this not only will enhance the structure of the cushion but will keep your friends and family from visiting the chiropractor.
Many dining chair backs have a rake, also known as a slope. As on the metal chairs shown here, this slant can be from 5 to 8 degrees from the top. It stops people from sliding off when they get too relaxed.
The most comfortable seat size is around 15 1/2 inches across the back and 18 inches across the front. The seat should be 15 to 18 inches deep. If it is too deep, it will press against the back of the legs and cause slouching.
Browse metal chairs
Generally, the length of time any one person can sit comfortably on a dining chair is three to four hours — less if the chair has no padding. Your chairs may already come with a fixed upholstered seat cushion; if not, having a detachable cushion made is not difficult. The insert should be firm and generous, as this not only will enhance the structure of the cushion but will keep your friends and family from visiting the chiropractor.
Many dining chair backs have a rake, also known as a slope. As on the metal chairs shown here, this slant can be from 5 to 8 degrees from the top. It stops people from sliding off when they get too relaxed.
The most comfortable seat size is around 15 1/2 inches across the back and 18 inches across the front. The seat should be 15 to 18 inches deep. If it is too deep, it will press against the back of the legs and cause slouching.
Browse metal chairs
The square dining table. Not as popular as the rectangular or round dining table, the square dining table has its pros and cons. If your space is small and you plan dinners for only four to six people, it is a lovely intimate design.
This stunning rosewood table is 54 inches square, which is a perfect size for six people. If you need to seat only four people, a table 36 to 44 inches square will suffice.
Everyone’s personal taste differs on how the back height of a chair should look in relation to table height. More contemporary tables like this one cope well with a shorter back, while a classic design may require a taller back. For lumbar support, a back height between 12 and 16 inches is ideal.
If the chair has armrests, it needs to support the forearms without shoulders being raised. The height of the rests should be 7 to 9 inches above the seat.
Tell us: What are your tips for comfy dining room design?
This stunning rosewood table is 54 inches square, which is a perfect size for six people. If you need to seat only four people, a table 36 to 44 inches square will suffice.
Everyone’s personal taste differs on how the back height of a chair should look in relation to table height. More contemporary tables like this one cope well with a shorter back, while a classic design may require a taller back. For lumbar support, a back height between 12 and 16 inches is ideal.
If the chair has armrests, it needs to support the forearms without shoulders being raised. The height of the rests should be 7 to 9 inches above the seat.
Tell us: What are your tips for comfy dining room design?
The rectangular dining table. Rectangular tables are the most popular shape for dining. Consider the length of table that your room can comfortably fit. Generally, 36 inches between the edge of the table and each wall or other piece of furniture will allow for chairs to be pulled out with ease.
If you can, leave 48 inches between the table and the entrance into the room. Having an arched entrance like the one in this picture stops the awkward bunching of people at your door when you announce that dinner is served.
Once you know how long your table can be, you can then work out how many can comfortably sit around it. Allow at least 24 inches of elbow room for each guest.
These days, no matter what shape or materials are used, the average dining table measures 29 to 32 inches from the floor to the top of the table.
Find rectangular dining tables