How Can You Tell if a Dining Chair is of Good Quality?

Selecting beautifully made décor items for your living spaces is of prime importance if you want them to endure for years to come. And as a high-end furniture and interior design company, our team is often asked: How can you tell if a dining chair is of good quality?

The perfect choice will give you both comfort, functionality and longevity, ensuring that you and your guests feel at ease at the dinner table, no matter how long you spend there.

Judging the workmanship of a dining chair can be a bit tricky if you don’t know what you’re looking for, so our experts have put together these top tips to help you along.

How to spot a quality dining chair design

Hunting down the right dining chair requires the perfect balance between style and structure, so ensuring that it has been properly made is a main factor. Here are 3 things to look out for.

1. Framework

A dining chair is certainly put through its paces over its lifetime and must endure lots of wear and tear. They have moved around, rocked on (if you have kids) and must bear the weight of anyone who sits on them for extended periods of time.

Ensuring that they’re both sturdy and well-made is your number one concern, so test them out properly before you commit to an investment.

The easiest way of doing this is to give them a jiggle. If the frame and legs don’t shift or sway under pressure, they should be robust enough to withstand heavy use.

You'll also want dependable lumbar support, preferably slightly reclined to accommodate the natural curvature of your spine. Ask about the ergonomics of each design before you make a final decision.

Most high-end manufacturers are very conscious of this, and some chairs even come with a tilting mechanism for optimal comfort. The Agatha Flex range from Cattelan Italia is one of our favourite examples.

Remember that dining chairs are subjected to being constantly pulled out and shifted back, so they should be light enough for you to lift.

2. Seating

The seat is the most important aspect of a dining chair, giving you ample padding and support for a night of convivial dining.

A poor-quality item will have a low foam density, which is guaranteed to flatten out over time, robbing you of a cosy perch. In general, dining chairs should be fitted with between 5- and 8 cm of top-notch, high-density cushioning for long-term comfort

Look for a sturdy seat with a gently curved base that tilts towards the back. This type of design encourages good posture and makes it easier to get out of your chair at the end of the meal.

3. Size

Finding a dining chair that will allow you to sit for hours without any discomfort comes down to its height and width. Find one that will easily accommodate people of various sizes. Ideally, it should be no narrower than 40 cm and about 45 – 50 cm high.

Make sure to test out the armrests, if they have any, to make sure that they are well positioned.

Should your dining chairs match your table?

Here are some great reasons why you should match your dining chairs with your table.

• A beautiful table with matching dining chairs makes all the difference in establishing an elegant space. It helps to ensure that the design and textiles are consistent, producing a feeling of balance and cohesiveness in the overall aesthetic of the room.
• Choosing an identical style will also guarantee that every item of furniture is of comparable quality when it comes to workmanship and materials and will save you from having to match up colours, grains and other stylistic factors.
• Dining chairs that properly match your table also provide great design flexibility, allowing you to move things around without affecting the overall mood of your room.
• Dining chair pairs that match your table harmoniously also make a statement about your taste, creating a refined environment for family and guests to enjoy.

What is the best upholstery choice for a dining chair?

Not only will a beautifully upholstered dining chair provide comfort, but it also improves the overall appearance of your living area. However, as they are constantly prone to spills and stains, choosing the right material is crucial.

Here are 5 options and their pros and cons:

1. Leather

Leather upholstery is luxurious, refined and elegant, making it a top choice.

Pros:

• It is robust and long-lasting
• It is easy to clean using a microfibre cloth and can be maintained with professional leather cleaners
• It is hypoallergenic and repels pet hair, mites and dust
• It matures well and improves with age

Cons:

• High-quality leather is extremely pricey
• It is only available in certain colours
• It is prone to scratches and is not suitable if you have pets

2. Leatherette

This is a synthetic material that resembles the appearance of genuine leather

Pros:

• It can be dyed any colour
• It is less prone to fading when exposed to heat or sunshine
• It is mould and mildew resistant
• It is waterproof and easy to clean
• It is extremely affordable

Cons:

• It is prone to wear and tear and has an exceptionally short lifespan
• It is not breathable and gets sticky during the summer months
• It is not eco-friendly and has a plastic appearance

3. Velvet

Velvet is lavish, and beautiful and is made from nylon, cotton and silk.

Pros:

• It is durable and will stand the test of time
• It has a rich texture that is aesthetically pleasing
• It is soft and comfy

Cons:

• It is easily soiled and difficult to keep clean
• It attracts dust and pet hair easily, which tends to get embedded in the pile

4. Natural fabrics

Cotton and linen are commonly used for dining chair upholstery.

Pros:

• Natural materials are breathable and keep you cool in summer
• They are resilient to high-traffic use
• They come in a wide range of colours, textures and patterns
• They are relatively inexpensive
• They are resistant to mould and mildew

Cons:

• They are more difficult to keep clean and are prone to stains
• They wrinkle easily and must be upholstered seamlessly to avoid this

5. Synthetic fabrics

Polyester and viscose are two of the most widely used synthetic fabrics for dining chairs.

Pros:

• They are long-lasting and resilient, giving you more durability than natural fabrics
• They are impervious to stains, wrinkles and fading
• They are on offer in a wide range of colours, patterns and textures and often mimic the look and feel of natural materials

Cons:

• They are prone to greasy stains, making them difficult to clean
• They tend to attract pet hair and dust

Let the FCI London team find you the perfect dining chair

Our top designers work with all the best brands to ensure that you have the options you need to find the perfect, high-quality dining chair.

Find out more by calling us today or pop into our showroom for a chat and a cuppa.

For inspiration, read our article on mid-century-inspired modern dining rooms, or browse through our design projects to get some décor ideas.