Dining Sets with Chairs

Picking a dining chair style that fits your table and room

When you are choosing a set of six dining chairs, consider the visual weight of the chair relative to your table: upholstered chairs read heavier and suit solid timber or stone tables, while open timber or metal frame chairs keep the space feeling lighter under a chunky table. Your chair back height also affects the room's proportions, so taller backed chairs work well in rooms with ceilings above 2.7m, while lower-backed chairs suit standard 2.4m ceiling heights without dominating the space.

Shop our dining tables if you are building a full dining room setup and want to match the table and chairs in one place.

Getting dining chair and table sizing right for a set of six

Six-seater settings hit the sweet spot as they’re ideal for entertaining guests, without taking up unnecessary space during quiet nights in. To seat six people comfortably at a rectangular table, allow a minimum of 60cm of table width per person and a table length of at least 180cm, though 200 to 210cm gives more elbow room for a dinner setting. Your chair seat should be between 28 and 30cm below the tabletop surface, which means pairing a standard 75cm dining table with a chair that has a seat height of 45 to 47cm.

See our dining tables range and filter by length to find options that seat six people without crowding your dining room.

Caring for your dining sets to keep them looking their best

Timber dining chairs benefit from a wipe-down with a lightly dampened cloth after meals and an application of furniture oil or wax every 6 to 12 months to prevent the timber drying out and cracking. Upholstered fabric seats should be vacuumed regularly and treated with a fabric protector spray after purchase to reduce the absorption of spills and oils from daily use.

Pair your chairs with a dining table from our range that matches the frame material for a cohesive, easy-care dining room combination.

Frequently asked questions

What is the standard seat height for dining chairs?

Standard dining chair seat heights are 45 to 47cm, which pairs correctly with a standard 75cm-high dining table and leaves 28 to 30cm of clearance between the seat and the underside of the tabletop. Always measure your specific table before ordering, as some designs vary by a few centimetres.

How much space do I need between dining chairs?

Allow a minimum of 60cm of table edge per person for comfortable dining, which means a 180cm table comfortably seats six people in three chairs per side. For a more generous feel with room for place settings and serving dishes, 70 to 75cm per person is ideal.

Are upholstered dining chairs practical for everyday use?

Upholstered dining chairs in performance fabrics such as microfibre or treated polyester are practical for everyday family use, as they resist light spills when treated and cleaned promptly. Polyester velvet is surprisingly easy to spot clean, too. Linen upholstery looks beautiful but requires more careful maintenance and is less forgiving of food and drink spills.

How do I stop dining chair legs from scratching timber floors?

Stick-on felt pads applied to the base of each chair leg are the most straightforward fix, and they typically need replacing every 6 to 12 months in high-use areas. Alternatively, rubber chair leg caps grip the floor without sliding and tend to last longer than felt pads before wearing through.

Can I mix different dining chair styles at one table?

Yes, mixing two different chair styles at the same table is a widely-used approach, typically using four matching chairs along the sides and two distinct chairs or armchairs at the heads. The key is keeping one common element across all chairs, such as the same timber finish, metal frame colour or upholstery tone, to hold the look together.