A Guide to Dining Room Chair Styles

A dining room, whether formal or informal, is a place for family, friends and guests to come together and eat. Depending on the style of your dining room table and overall room dcor, chairs can be modern, classic or even Victorian style. With the right information, you can seek out the furniture stores that carry your desired style and save time come shopping day. Does this Spark an idea?

Bar Stools

Bistro-style and counter-height tables use taller chairs than traditional dining room tables. These chairs often are described as bar stool-height chairs. Bar stool chairs come in a variety of heights, depending on the table they are paired with. A bar stool can have a round or square seat and an open or closed back.

Queen Anne

One of the popular English chair styles of the 18th century was the Queen Anne style, which was named after Queen Anne. These chairs are classic and elegant and made from natural woods, with a padded fabric seat. A crest rail shaped into an urn style characterizes the back.

Duncan Phyfe

As the 19th-century furniture movement came about, so did the Duncan Phyfe designs. Known also as a Regency or Empire style, the Duncan Phyfe style uses square lines for inspiration. Scroll carvings and squared tops adorn the chair backs, while the legs are decorated with saber bottoms and curved just slightly. This collection got its name from the American cabinetmaker Duncan Phyfe. According to Connected Lines, Duncan Phyfe adapted his style from older styles, such as the Adam, Sheraton and Empire styles.

Ladderback

The ladderback- or Shaker-style chair is characterized by a square design similar to a ladder. Created in 1820 by the United Society of Believers, this chair has woven seats and a flat back finished with straight wooden slats that are horizontal to the chair seat. The chair legs are simple, without any intricate carvings or designs.

Parsons

The Parsons chair is common in modern dining room settings. Straight lines and a slightly curved, long back that resembles a wide V shape characterize this chair. Modern Parsons styles have upholstery on both the back and the seat of the chair, while classic designs cover only the seat. The material for the upholstery comes in a variety of art deco, solid and patterned colors to match numerous designs. The chair legs are made from solid wood with the back legs slightly curving outward from the chair.