This week we had our first Basstris Charitable Fund high tea at Mary Eats Cake in Brunswick. Of course, the table setting was gorgeous. We seem to focus on what goes on our dining tables but what about making a statement through the dining chairs. So, here’s my advice on mixing dining chairs and how to get it right.
When to mix dining chairs
In my project work with clients I have mixed dining chairs. Mostly, it’s been for a dining table for eight where I’ve had different chairs on the two ends. Recently, there was one client who wanted six or eight completely different chairs.
By different, this client wanted each chair to be a different colour, style and material. In the end comfort and function was a priority and we ended up with a uniform set.
But in terms of when to mix dining chairs, this is about personal preference. Some people think mixing dining chairs is suited only to eclectic or casual styles such as Boho or Scandinavian but it can work in more formal settings as well.
For example, I mixed dining chairs in an interior styling project I worked on in Coburg. Where the client wanted a more formal style even though they use this dining setting for every day meals as well.
How to get mix dining chairs right
Getting a mix of dining chairs right is dependent on knowing your interior style goal. For example, if you preferred interior style is French Provincial you could mix French Provincial style dining chairs.
For example you could have a classic bistro chair and an upholstered linen chair as well.
Mixing dining chairs the right way relies on the rules of styling a vignette. A vignette of décor requires consideration of a balance of interior design elements such as colour, shape and material.
So things to avoid would be to have an upholstered chair, wooden chair, metal chair and plastic chair. It’s too many materials.
Aim for your dining chairs to have the same back and seat height for uniformity this will enable cohesion despite the mix in dining chairs.
Some sort of similarity with your mix of dining chairs is important. So for example you wouldn’t have just one chair that had a seat pad.
I think it might be easier to get a mix dining chairs right if you have at least two of each type of different chair. So in a table setting for four, you have only two different styles of dining chair. To make this dining setting work with four different dining chairs will be trickier to get right.
How to mix dining chairs is dependent on knowing your interior style and choosing chairs in that style. How to get mixing dining chairs right relies on a balance of interior design elements such as colour, material and shape.
