When it comes to purchasing furniture for your dining room, it’s no longer a requirement to go with a matching set. Unless the set is one you’ve inherited from your grandmother or is of vintage pedigree, in which case, you do not want those babies broken up. But how do you select a table and chairs that celebrate their differences while living together in perfect harmony? I’ve been giving this a lot of thought recently myself, as I have been working on a custom design for a dining table to go with a set of show-stopping chairs. I want the table to hold its own while not upstaging the chairs – which can be a tricky balancing act to pull off. While doing some online research, I found six winning combinations that strike just the right balance:
1. Something Old + Something New
Traditional pieces seem less stuffy and formal (and you’ll appreciate their finer details more) when they’re paired with clean-lined or modern design. The spindly Windsor chairs shown below are far more interesting paired with a simple chunky wood table than they would be with a more traditionally styled table.
2. Neutral + Color Pop
Take a neutral or wood-tone table and pair it with a set of colorful chairs. Or vice versa. The idea is to create a pleasing contrast. This is something you can do even if you’re not in the market for new furniture but desire a fresh new look. A can of paint or two will do the trick (click on the photo below for the how-to on this project).
3. Solid + Patterned
A large-scale or eye-catching print on a set of upholstered dining chairs is all the statement you need. Pair them with a simply designed, solid tone dining table.
4. Rustic + Refined
I adore the rough and tumble texture of reclaimed or hand-scraped wood. But a little goes a long way. Pair a rustic dining table with sleek, smooth or solid-tone upholstered chairs done in fabric or leather.
5. Solid + Sheer
When you have a really solid element like banquette seating or particularly heavy, dark chairs, add airiness and light with a glass top table. This helps distribute the perception of weight in the space. Conversely, a very chunky dining table can be offset beautifully with Lucite or wireframe chairs.
6. Black + White
Black and white is a classic, sophisticated combination that always works, whether the furniture is more traditional or more modern like in the photo below.
Once you figure out your perfect table and chair combination, you’ll be on to more important decisions, like what wine to pair with dinner!
Note: All images via Houzz.com.
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Tamara Leicester is a licensed interior designer and owner of Tamara Heather Interior Design, LLC. She designs casually elegant interiors with an artistic sensibility, often drawing upon the talent of local artists and craftspeople in her work. Dreaming about updating your space? Learn more at tamaraheatherinteriors.com.