When you’re shopping and you fall in love with a beautiful antique dining chair, you may worry about pairing it with your existing set of chairs. However, mixing and matching furniture creates a unique and engaging style when done properly. Follow the guide below to add some whimsy to your space without sacrificing design aesthetics.

Furniture Design 101: Mixing Dining Room Chairs

1. Choose a Unifying Feature

Your chairs should be tied together by one unifying feature. This could be a material, shape, color, or genre. For example, you can choose the same style chair in a variety of colors for some interest, or pick different chairs that all have the same warm hue of wood. This creates a cohesive design that allows each chair to be unique without feeling random or disorganized.

2. Start Small 

If you don’t want to make too dramatic of a change, start with the chairs at either end of the table. Because these chairs have more space, you can add larger and more dramatic furniture here, like a plush armchair or a tall wingback chair. Another way to make a small change is by replacing the chairs on one side of the table with a bench.

3. Remember Size

Look for chairs that have all their seat bottoms at the same height. This ensures everyone will be comfortable while giving the table a unified appearance. There should be 12 inches between the seat and the tabletop, with seven inches between the chair arm and the bottom of the table.

Something as small as swapping one chair out for another can make a dramatic difference in your dining room style. Find a perfect piece of furniture at Out of the Box in Lincoln, NE. This locally owned and operated furniture store has a wide selection of stylish vintage home products at a fraction of the cost you’ll find elsewhere. Their reclaimed home products are one-of-a-kind and in wonderful condition. Visit their showroom or see their inventory on their website. When you’re ready, call (402) 817-6776 to place an order.