{"id":24781,"date":"2024-07-30T10:15:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-30T09:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goodhomesmagazine.com\/?p=24781"},"modified":"2024-07-26T19:40:29","modified_gmt":"2024-07-26T18:40:29","slug":"dining-room-seating-ideas-and-set-ups","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goodhomesmagazine.com\/dining-room\/dining-room-seating-ideas-and-set-ups\/","title":{"rendered":"9 dining room seating ideas and set-ups"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Choosing and arranging dining room seating is a task that falls somewhere between interior design challenges and military operations. You need chairs that are stylish and comfortable enough for a long Sunday lunch sitting, but also practical, so they can be easily manoeuvred around the table and cleaned of spills after the kids have communed for a post-school snack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you go for beautiful upholstery that will impress your guests but could end up stained, or removable tie-on cushions that might not be as pretty, but can be thrown in the wash? Should your chairs have arms for support, or will they be awkward to arrange? And are mismatched chairs a sign of indecisiveness or a testament to your impeccable eclectic taste?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then there’s the problem of where to seat extra guests. Folding chairs can save the day but could leave your dining room<\/a> looking more ‘sports hall’ than a ‘fancy restaurant’. Whereas a strategically placed bench can accommodate an influx of visitors without anyone feeling like they drew the short straw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We’ve spoken to furniture experts, interior designers and restaurateurs to discover their secrets to perfect dining room seating. Take their advice, and you’ll be able to sit back and enjoy good food, good company and chairs that delight every derri\u00e8re…<\/p>

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1. Let patterned upholstery make a statement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

“Upholstery choice plays a key part in the comfort and style of the\u00a0dining\u00a0chairs you choose,” advises Amanda Huber, creative director at\u00a0Dining\u00a0Chair Co<\/a>, who suggests this is a good place to start when shopping for dining chairs. “Fabrics such as linen, velvets or cotton are soft and comfy and will bring warmth, cosiness and texture to the\u00a0dining\u00a0room. And because they come in a wide range of colours and patterns, you have endless options to create something really beautiful and unique to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“On the downside, they can be more challenging to clean,” she adds. “But developments in the textile industry have seen the introduction of various stain-resistant and performance fabrics including velvets, chenilles and linens that are life-proof, combining all the practicalities with style.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Debbie Leigh, design manager at ILIV<\/a>, prefers upholstery fabrics like microfibre or treated cotton blends that offer stain resistance and easy cleaning. “Consider colours and patterns that complement your dining room d\u00e9cor while camouflaging minor stains and wear,’ she suggests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Zone a space with banquette seating<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If your dining space is limited \u2013 perhaps because you are squeezing it into a room with multiple purposes like a kitchen or living room. A table arranged in front of a banquette may be a practical option.<\/p>

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\u201cBanquette seating has become an increasingly popular choice for family kitchens,” says Al Bruce, founder of Olive & Barr<\/a>. “The compact nature of its design offers a cosy communal feel, ideal for informal dining. Additionally, going bespoke in this way allows for awkward spaces to be utilised, creating dining nooks without taking up precious floor space.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“Before planning banquette seating, evaluate the space you have available \u2013 common configurations are L-shaped, U-shaped or a straight bench set against a wall,” says Al. “Your kitchen designer will likely be able to create a design which will be in keeping with the rest of your cabinetry, or you could consider adding character with tongue and groove cladding and contrasting colour. This not only adds texture but also a sense of grandeur, ideal for entertaining.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Banquette seating can look fabulous \u2013\u00a0and is a great opportunity to bring some pattern, texture, and colour into the space with the fabric you choose to upholster it in,” adds Sophie Clemson, director and co-founder of interior Designs The Living House<\/a>.\u00a0“Crucially, it can help to zone the\u00a0dining\u00a0area\u00a0in an open-plan space and is a great way to squeeze more people around the table compared to individual chairs. If you choose corner banquette seating, you can see everyone around the table, which makes for better conversation!”\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another advantage of a banquette is its capacity for hidden storage through lift-up seats or pull-out drawers. “A built-in banquette can provide ample storage underneath \u2013 ideal for stashing away dining essentials and extra linens,” agrees Claire Garner, director at Claire Garner Interiors<\/a>.<\/p>

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3. Use benches in a family space<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While Grandad might prefer a cushioned, high-backed chair that cradles his spine, you’ll likely find that the kids are perfectly happy on a bench. This means combining one with dining chairs could be a shrewd move when catering for a crowd. “Bench dining seating is a great choice for families, as they provide plenty of seating for everyone, from kids to adults, encouraging a sense of closeness and community,” says Fred Horlock, design director at Neptune<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“If you can, pick a design that fits under your table, such as our Arundel bench (from \u00a3729)<\/a>,” he suggests. “This will save space and create a clean, uncluttered look.\u201d This can be especially important if your dining room doubles as a thoroughfare between two other rooms or open-plan spaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“Another good solution in small spaces is to have an upholstered dining bench along a wall so that the table can be pushed back on a daily basis and pulled out when more people are there, this will allow you to seat more people easily and will instantly feel less formal,’ says Amanda Huber. “We are seeing the trend towards having a combination of dining benches and chairs used together, bringing more flexibility to the dining room.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. In a kitchen diner, ditch the island<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Look through anyone’s kitchen design wish list and it’s likely you’ll find an island somewhere near the top. But not every kitchen will benefit from one, especially if you plan for it to double as a dining spot. “Within a smaller space, a kitchen island<\/a> can sometimes create a visual block in the middle of the space that can lack intimacy, leaving the room feeling a little utilitarian,” explains Rachel Usher, founder of Rachel Usher Interior Design Studio<\/a>.<\/p>

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Image credit: Rachel Usher Interior Design Studio\/Two Bears Studio. Artwork by Jo Barrett, Northcote Gallery<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

“Understanding our client’s lifestyle and how they liked to cook and entertain guests helped us to craft a space that felt intimate for an evening over dinner,” Rachel continues. “The circular Desalto\u00a0dining\u00a0table comfortably accommodates six large\u00a0dining\u00a0chairs, chosen specifically for their comfort. Choosing a circular table also lends itself well to a squarer floor plan such as this, encouraging all guests at the table to feel central to the theatre of food and enhancing social connectivity.”\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Make the most of any views <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you’re lucky enough to have a dining room with a good view, it makes sense to position your seating so that as many people as possible can enjoy it. It could be a stunning landscape, like this vista from the window of Heythrop Park Hotel, a pretty garden, or even an interior feature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Restaurant designer, Dale Atkinson, founder of Rosendale Design<\/a>, has worked with many high-profile clients and is currently designing Jason Atherton\u2019s three new restaurants  “When I am laying out a dining room I always<\/em> put myself in my guests\u2019 shoes. What would I want them to see, the great view? Or perhaps a piece of art that I am proud of, or the warm fireplace.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“At a project we just completed we designed the open-plan kitchen and dining room so that all the people at the table had a fantastic view of the expansive garden to one side, which boasted a dual-aspect fireplace. Then to the other side was a feature wine cellar with glazed walks so guests could see the wine collection.” <\/p>

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6. Leave enough space around your table and chairs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

“Avoid choosing big, bulky designs and instead choose tables, chairs and benches that are proportionate to the size of the room,” says Amanda Huber. “The general rule is to allow for 1 metre from the table side to the wall or other furniture pieces, such as dressers or sideboards, to allow the chairs to be pulled in and out. This should increase to 1.5 to 2 metres to allow people to walk behind the chairs when pulled out.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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7. Put spare chairs on display<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

“Depending on the style of your dining chairs, one could look great in the corner of the room paired with a floor lamp, a tall plant or a side table,” says Sophie Clemson. “The chair can then be moved to the main table when needed.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tuscany Rattan Style Side Chair, Peppermill Interiors<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Alternatively, there are some great folding\u00a0dining\u00a0chairs like the\u00a0Peio, \u00a380 from Habitat<\/a>,’ she adds. ‘It has stylish, rattan design and can simply be folded away in a storage cupboard or garage.”\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can always upholster some of the chairs in different fabrics so that they can sit in other rooms on a day-to-day basis, and be brought round the table when you need to seat more people,’ adds Amanda Huber. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Co-ordinate seating in open-plan areas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOpen-plan and multi-purpose, today\u2019s kitchens need to work hard at doing everything,’ says Richard Moore creative director at Martin Moore<\/a>. “Seating is at the heart of how, where and when people will work, socialise and relax, so most kitchens need a combination of places to perch and places to spend more leisured and relaxed time.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“This can mean there are two seating types \u2013 dining chairs and kitchen stools \u2013 in the same space,” says Tansin Blankley, interior designer at hospitality industry specialist ABDA Design<\/a>, who points out that this can create a muddled design if not given enough thought. “To create a more layered approach, consider using a different set of chairs and stools which are complementary.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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To do this successfully, Tansin suggests:<\/p>\n\n\n\n