The Best Dining Chairs of 2022 for Modern Style and Comfort

A dining room needs durable, comfortable seating to be genuinely inviting.

We researched dozens of dining chairs from top brands, evaluating them on comfort, sturdiness, and style. Our favorites include options from West Elm, Tomile, Serena and Lily, and the Pottery Barn Aaron Dining Chair for its solid construction, easy upkeep, and five finish options.

Here are the best dining chairs.

Pottery Barn Aaron Dining Chair

The Aaron Dining Chair from Pottery Barn stands out for its craftsmanship and robust construction, making it our favorite option for dining room chairs. Made from kiln-dried rubberwood, an extremely tough wood that’s durable and not prone to scratching, these artisan-crafted chairs include beautiful details like a refined “X” across the back and contoured seats and backs.

There are five finish options, which are created using a layering technique and sealed with lacquer to lock in the stain color of the wood. In keeping with a Cottagecore aesthetic, these chairs are also slightly distressed along the edges.

You can order the Aaron Dining Chair with or without side arms to further personalize it to your dining room. The only hesitation is the high price, considering that the chairs are sold individually and not as a set.

Tomile Wishbone Chair

Are traditional wooden chairs too plain for your tastes? You can infuse a bit of personality into your dining room with the Tomile Wishbone Chair, which features a popular design from Danish designer Hans Wegner. The chairs are solid wood, and they feature a Y-shaped backrest and curving arms, all constructed with mortise-and-tenon joinery for durability. The seats have a light natural finish, and their seats are interwoven rope in a similar hue.

IKEA TOBIAS Chair

For a more modern home, the TOBIAS Chair is a cool and affordable pick. These chairs have transparent polycarbonate seats mounted on a chrome C-shaped base, and they come in clear and blue color options. The seat of this chair is flexible to make it more comfortable to sit in, and you can’t beat the reasonable price, especially if you need to buy several of them or are shopping on a budget.

West Elm Slope Leather Dining Chair

Leather will add an elegant touch to any dining room, and the best-selling Slope Dining Chairs come in genuine top-grain leather or animal-friendly vegan leather in a variety of colors. These chairs have a wooden seat with foam padding, supported by powder-coated iron legs that form an interesting X-shape design.

Choose between several leather colors and several metallic finishes for the base, customizing these beautiful chairs to match your style perfectly.

Serena & Lily Sunwashed Riviera Dining Chair

For a beachy and airy vibe, the Riviera Dining Chair is handwoven rattan on a hand-shaped rattan frame. The silhouette is inspired by Parisian bistro chairs and made using classic French techniques, and you can choose from four colors, including a natural tan hue and three shades of blue. Plus, the brand has a matching bench if you want to offer different types of seating around your table.

Industry West Ripple Chair

All your guests are sure to comment on the unique Ripple Chair, formed from injection-molded polypropylene plastic. These modern chairs come in several muted color options, and they feature comfortable armrests and an intricately curved frame.

However, the best part has to be that the Ripple Chair is stackable, allowing you to easily store away extras until they’re needed around your table. Because they are plastic, they can also be wiped down with soap and water, making them a wonderful option for homes with young kids.

Pottery Barn Layton Upholstered Dining Chair

The Layton Upholstered Dining Chair offers a simple, classic appearance that would mesh well with just about any style of home decor. The chairs are mounted on solid oak legs that can be finished in several colors, and you get to choose from a vast collection of upholstery fabrics, including everything from performance velvet to soft boucle and chenille options. The seat and back are a combination of foam and polyester fibers for comfort, and the backrest is slightly curved, so it supports you without chair arms that can take up too much space at the table.

Article Zola Black Leather Chair

For a midcentury modern option, you’ll love the Zola Dining Chair, which has an interesting, angular shape. This chair has a solid wood frame and padded foam seat, and you can choose between dark gray or black fabric or black leather for the seat. The back legs of the chair are slanted to create a cool Z-shape with the short armrests, and the whole piece is finished with a wood veneer in a walnut stain—the perfect match for most midcentury furniture.

FDW Store Metal Dining Chairs

The FDW Metal Dining Chairs are durable, convenient, and affordable, and their metal construction is perfect for a farmhouse or industrial-style home. The chairs come in a set of four, and they’re available in nine different colors. The chairs feature a comfortable ergonomic backrest, and they even have non-slip rubber feet to protect your floors.

The metal construction is covered in scratch-resistant paint, which is beneficial, given that you can stack them on top of each other for more compact storage. The chairs are hearty enough for outdoor use on a balcony or porch.

IKEA STEFAN Chair

The IKEA STEFAN Chair is a more affordable take on a traditional dining chair. It has a classic design with a simple slatted back, and despite its affordable price, the chair is solid pine wood. It’s finished with a black lacquer that makes it easy to clean, and the only real caveat is that the brand recommends re-tightening the assembly screws periodically for stability—a small price to pay for such a budget-friendly find.

World Market Paige Upholstered Dining Chair

Another traditional style option is the Paige Dining Chair, an upholstered seat that comes in a set of two. These chairs are oak wood, and they feature a round back mounted on an ornate base. The wooden parts of this chair have a slightly distressed finish that highlights the carved details, and you can choose from several upholstery options, including linen, microfiber, and velvet fabrics.

Anthropologie Pari Rattan Chair

The Pari Rattan Chair will add boho flair to any dining room. Its natural rattan is carefully manipulated into a beautiful curved form and sealed with clear lacquer. The chairs are available in a natural rattan color, but they also come in several painted hues that will brighten up your dining room. Even though rattan is often used for outdoor furniture, these chairs are indoor use only, and they would look perfect in a sunny dining corner or a sunroom.

Kelly Clarkson Home Lila Tufted Linen Upholstered Arm Chair

Many people like to place more prominent, more stately dining chairs at either end of their table, and the Lila Tufted Linen Arm Chair is up for the job. These attractive armchairs come in a few neutral shades, and their linen upholstery features piped edges and button tufting for added sophistication. The seat and back are foam-padded for comfort, and the wooden legs have a slightly distressed finish.

What to Look for in a Dining Chair

Size

One of the most important considerations to take into account when shopping for dining chairs is their size. You’ll want to measure your dining table to see how many chairs can fit around it—be sure to leave several inches of space between each chair and ensure there’s space around the table for chairs to be pushed out. As a general rule of thumb, there should also be 12 inches between the seat of a dining chair and the tabletop, as this will provide adequate room to sit without bumping your knees.

Material

Dining chairs are made of various materials, each of which provides a different look and feel. Wooden chairs are typically one of the most sturdy and versatile, as you can change their finish if desired. Metal chairs are durable but can have reflective properties. Other common chair materials include upholstery fabric, which is comfortable and attractive but harder to clean, and rattan, which will add texture to your space.

Arms

Dining chairs are available with or without arms, and you’ll need to decide which style suits your needs. Armless dining chairs take up less space than armchairs and are often used along the long sides of dining tables. However, armchairs are usually more comfortable, as they provide somewhere to rest your elbows and stability when you’re standing up and sitting down.

Any questions please feel free to ask me through Andrew@sinotxj.com