How to Choose the Perfect Dining Chairs (Without Making These Common Mistakes)

Choosing dining chairs may sound simple… until you're actually doing it.
Because what you're really choosing isn’t just furniture.
You're choosing how your home will feel.
How your mornings begin.
How your guests linger after dinner.
How you feel every time you sit down.

As the co-founder of Salaterra — and someone who has made every mistake in the book — I want to help you skip the frustration and choose chairs that bring joy, comfort, and style to your space.

Why Dining Chairs Matter More Than You Think

Your chairs are more than seats.
They set the tone for the entire room — more than the table in many cases.
They invite people in. They shape how long they stay. And they deeply influence how your space is experienced.

So why do we often treat them as an afterthought?

Because we’re not taught how to choose well.
That’s why I want to share the real mistakes I made — so you don’t have to repeat them.

5 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing Dining Chairs

Let’s get straight to it.
Here are the five biggest mistakes I made (and that I see all the time) when buying dining chairs online:

1. Choosing by Looks Alone

I once bought the most beautiful chairs I’d ever seen online. I was in love.
But when they arrived? No foam on the seat. A rigid, flat back. A structure that looked good… but didn’t feel good.

Lesson:
If you're buying online, don’t rely on photos alone.
Check the details:

Is the seat padded or foam-filled?
Does the backrest have a slight ergonomic curve?
What materials are used for comfort and durability?

Beauty is important — but so is being able to sit through dinner comfortably.

2. Ignoring Your Space Measurements

Another time, I ordered six chairs for our small dining area. I didn’t measure anything.
And when they arrived? Everything looked tight, off-balanced, and overwhelming.

Rule of thumb:

Leave at least 24 inches (60 cm) per person
Allow 31–35 inches (80–90 cm) around the table for circulation

More isn’t always better.
Sometimes four well-placed chairs feel more luxurious than six squeezed-in ones.

3. Playing It Too Safe

I was scared to make a mistake. So I ordered six identical, neutral chairs.
They were fine.
But the table?
It felt flat, boring, too "put together".

What I learned:
The best spaces have soul. And sometimes that means mixing with intention:

Use matching materials in different shapes
Choose one standout chair at the head of the table
Stick to a tonal palette and vary textures

Intentional contrast adds personality — not chaos.

4. Settling for What’s Convenient

We all do it. I once picked chairs simply because they were affordable and in stock.
They didn’t light me up. And every time I looked at them, I felt a little disappointed.

Now I know:
If you’re going to see it and sit in it every day, it should be something that makes you happy — not something you “make work.”

5. Feeling Guilty About Replacing What “Works”

For too long, I held onto chairs that were “okay.”
Not broken. Not ugly. Just… not me.
And I felt guilty even thinking about replacing them.

Until I realized:
Your home is allowed to evolve.
And you deserve to be surrounded by pieces that reflect who you are now.

How to Choose Dining Chairs with Intention

Now that we’ve cleared the air, here’s how to shop smarter:

✅ Always check the materials and seat padding
✅ Look for curved or ergonomic backs
✅ Measure your space before adding to cart
✅ Don’t be afraid to mix — just do it with a unifying idea (color, shape, tone)
✅ Invest in fewer, better pieces — especially if they’ll be used daily
✅ Give yourself permission to evolve your home

Final Thoughts: Choosing Chairs That Feel Like Home

Dining chairs might seem small. But they shape moments:
Dinner parties that stretch into midnight.
Conversations with friends over wine.
Quiet mornings with coffee in hand.

At Salaterra, we design and curate chairs that are: