The dining room. A place where families and friends gather for meals, game nights, and casual conversation. Some households use their dining room for social gatherings, while others simply use it as a decorative centerpiece for their home. Regardless, every dining room needs a table, and with that table, you’ll need a set of chairs to match. But there are just so many different types of dining chairs to choose from!
Where do we even start? With numerous factors in play from style and color, to durability and dining table compatibility, the decision might seem a little overwhelming. But that’s why we’re here! Here at Woodstock Furniture & Mattress Outlet, there are very few questions our furniture experts haven’t heard from anxious furniture shoppers.
Today, we’re going to address some common dining chair questions and discuss how the furniture industry categorizes and defines several popular types of dining chairs. By the end of this article, you’ll have everything you need to figure out which is the best for you!
Different Types of Dining Chairs & How to Categorize Them
Side chairs. Parsons chairs. Windsor chairs. Host and hostess chairs. Slat-back, splat-back, and x-back chairs. Holy guacamole, what are all of these things?!
How do you even begin to make sense of all these different types of chairs and furniture industry terms? Well, let’s break it down the same way many in the industry do.
There are 3 different key ways we tend to categorize and arrange dining chairs. First, by the chair’s arm and its intended location at the dining table. Second, by its height. Third, by its back and overall styling.
1) Side Chair vs Armchair
There are 2 broad categories that just about every dining chair falls into – side chairs and dining armchairs, sometimes known as host and hostess chairs. Most people have heard of an armchair, but what is a side chair? And what are host and hostess chairs for that matter?
Remember, whether side chair or armchair, each of these chairs come in many different shapes, sizes, and styles – from ladder-back to oval-back, upholstered to solid wood, traditional to contemporary. So, what’s the difference between side chairs and armchairs?
What Are Dining Armchairs? / What Are Host and Hostess Chairs?
While the term “armchair” can be used for a chair in any room, like an accent chair in your living for instance, this term can also be used to describe any dining chair with arms. To distinguish between these two, the latter is sometimes called a dining armchair, host chair, or hostess chair.
Dining armchairs add a sense of formality to the room. The name comes from, of course, a place to rest your arms while sitting. You’ll typically find dining room armchairs at either end of a rectangular dining table. Host and hostess chairs often have slightly taller backs, upholstered seats, or other flourishes to distinguish them from their matching side chairs.
In fact, this is where the “host and hostess chair” name comes from, because the host and hostess would often sit at the ends with their guests at either side. However, it is increasingly popular to use either armchairs only or side chairs only instead of mixing and matching.
What Is a Side Chair?
By contrast, what is a side chair? Just as stylish as any armchair, side chairs have one major difference –they have no arms. As the name suggests, these armless dining chairs were traditionally used on the long sides of a rectangular table. However, as we stated above, you don’t need to limit yourself and your décor by this.
If armchairs are a bit more formal, side chairs can add a more casual look to dining rooms. This chair is perfect for those who like to move and change positions while they’re sitting. Additionally, since they are narrower, side chairs also fit in more places. And since they don’t have arms, it’s much easier to fully push them into the table when not in use.
2) Different Dining Chair Heights: Table Height vs Counter Height vs Bar Height Chairs
These days, not everyone wants a super formal dining room. Comfy and casual is definitely in. As such, we sometimes see counter tables or counter-height tables in dining rooms.
That leads us to the second significant way to categorize dining chairs – by their height. This is critically important because a mismatched chair and table height is a recipe for disaster. A table height chair won’t work at a counter table, and a counter height chair won’t work at a bar table.
There are three common seat heights. Dining chairs for standard dining tables have a seat that is 18” high. Dining chairs or stools for counter height tables have a seat that is 24” high. Lastly, chairs and stools for bar height tables have a seat that is 30” high.
For a deeper dive on this, don’t miss our helpful article and video on navigating table height, counter height and bar height!
3) Types of Dining Chairs by Chair-Back & Design
The last key way we categorize dining chairs is by their design. As you’ll see below, often (but not always) the easiest way to identify or describe a dining chair’s design is by looking at one key feature – its back. While there are a great many different types of dining chairs, we’ve put together an extensive list of a dozen key styles below, arranged in alphabetical order.
Cross-Back Chairs / X-Back Dining Chairs
Dining chairs with this timeless design are known by several names – cross-back chairs or cross-back dining chairs (sometimes spelled “crossback”), x-back dining chairs, or simply x-back chairs. As you probably guessed, this chair gets its name from two crossing frames in the back. Both sturdy and comfortable, cross-back chairs are known for their classic look and tried-and-true durability. The simple look of an x-back dining chair goes great with rustic interiors.
Keyhole Dining Chairs
The “key” feature (pun intended) of this dining chair style is the open hole in an otherwise solid, upholstered chair back. Keyhole dining chairs are very contemporary and typically feature cushioned and upholstered seats and tall, upholstered seatbacks. Keep in mind however that the shape of this signature opening can vary. Some particular styles have circular openings while others have square ones creating a chair that can be easily matched with any décor style from mid-century modern to minimalist. The upholstery and cushioned seat makes for a comfortable alternative to solid wood or metal options.
Ladder-Back Chairs
Classic ladder-back chairs are traditionally made of hardwood. The name comes from the horizontal slats on the chair back, which look like rungs on a ladder. The number of “rungs” on a ladder-back chair can range from just a couple to as many as 5 or 6. Known for their sturdy frame and enduring design, ladder-back chairs are stylistically versatile and can range from rustic to elegant.
Lattice-Back Dining Chairs
Featuring a high back with open, woodwork patterns, this is yet another style that blends intricate details and easy relaxation. Lattice-back dining chairs are typically sturdy and often have upholstered seats. These chairs match perfectly with traditional dining furniture.
Oval-Back Dining Chair
The central detail of the oval-back dining chair is the oval-shaped chair back inspired by ancient Greek and Roman design, similar to neoclassical architecture. These chairs are typically made with a high back design and upholstered seat and back for extra comfort. They often range from vintage styles to more sleek designs which makes these chairs an excellent, comfortable side chair for your dining set.
Parsons Chairs
One of the first dining chairs to have cushioned seating, the parsons chair combines classic and modern style. These comfortable upholstered chairs are light and airy, allowing easy mobility from room to room. Parsons chairs are designed to be simple with straight lines, which make them easy to match to the dining table of your choice. However, don’t mistake this straightforward design with being bland, as many parsons chairs have flourishes like button-tufting and nailhead trim.
Queen Anne Dining Chair
Regal and elegant, the Queen Anne dining chair adds a formal look to any dining room. Traditionally, these chairs have a vase-shaped splat-back and an upholstered seat. They’re also known for their cabriole legs which are meant to mimic the natural curvature of an animal’s legs.
[Editor’s Note: Queen Anne chairs sharing a similar style and look can be found in formal living rooms as fully-upholstered armchairs and accent chairs, but these are separate from Queen Anne dining chairs.]
Scroll-Back Dining Chairs
Scroll-back dining chairs are known for their ornate back detail and upholstered seat to add both elegance and comfort for your dining room’s décor. The twist and pattern of the back, normally made of solid wood, truly make for an eye-catching and unique addition to your dining table.
Slat-Back Dining Chair
One of the most traditional chairs, the slat-back dining chair gets its name from the vertical slats on the back of the chair. Think of the slat-back chair as the inverse to the ladder-back chair. The slat-back has a timeless look, perfect for breakfast nooks and dining corners. Due to the widespread popularity of the slat-back dining chair over the years, these chairs are quite versatile and can go well with just about any décor.
Splat-Back Chair
The splat-back chair is a perfect addition that adds a unique piece to your dining room. The splat refers to the vertical central element of the chair back which can range from a minimalist detail to a highly ornate centerpiece. Often incorporating the themes of different furniture periods, there are a variety of splat-back chairs with English, French, Gothic, and Chinese details. The different varieties allow for your personalized style to come to life.
Windsor Chair
A type of spindle-back chair, the Windsor chair is another upholstered seat alternative due to the carved shallow dish or saddle shaped seat for comfort without any extra padding. Windsor chairs are traditionally made using steam to bend the iconic bowed spindles which creates a seamless look. An interesting feature of these traditional chairs is the diagonally placed legs in contrast with many other styles that have an attached or continued back.
Wingback Dining Chair
Much like the Queen Anne chair above, you can also find wingback chairs outside of the dining room. However, the wingback dining chair shares many of the same features with its living room cousin. Wingback dining chairs are cushioned and upholstered chairs that have graceful, curved backs that wrap around either side of the user. The degree of curvature and how far it extends can vary from very slight to almost semi-circular. While the typical wingback dining chair has a high upholstered back, some variants feature a low back as well. Common flourishes include button-tufting, welted seams, nailhead trim or other features that make the wingback chair equally suitable for transitional, contemporary, or mid-century modern décor styles.
Which of These Types of Dining Chairs Is Right for You?
With so many styles to choose from, we know choosing dining chairs can be overwhelming. But now that you know about side chairs vs armchairs, chair heights, and some of the most popular types of dining chairs, you should be ready to go!
Do you have more questions about dining chairs? Be sure to ask our resident dining furniture experts on our very own live web chat! If you live in the metro Atlanta area, come see our inventory of dining sets, dining tables, and dining chairs for yourself. Hope to see you soon at any of our 4 North Georgia furniture stores!
