How to Choose the Best Restaurant Chairs – Comprehensive Guide

The staple of restaurant seating

 

The restaurant chair is the most versatile furniture item. Unlike booths and banquettes, a set of dining chairs is modular enough to create any guest arrangement without prior notice, and with minimal effort from the staff. With a relatively small base footprint, and flexibility to fit any setting, chairs provide practical features that are hard to replicate.

On the stylistic front, a breadth of options makes this furniture item even more appealing, giving designers unlimited freedom. Paired accordingly, restaurant tables and chairs can elevate any interior, with timeless elegance and sophistication.

Classic restaurant chairs

Classic chairs are very popular for the restaurant setting, as they convey a sense of traditional elegance that is hard to surpass. Known as traditional original or replica chairs, they employ the design principles of a specific period from which they borrow. To classify them beyond the broad definition, and comment on their design features in-depth, we have to link them to a particular style. Each model brings to the forefront a set of timeless principles that revive the aesthetic greatness of an era.

Contemporary dining chairs

The contemporary restaurant chair borrows elements from all styles and eras, offering a clean visual narrative that is meant to impress. These models provide exceptional seat comfort, with prominent back support and a wide base, featuring plush upholstery and neutral color palates. Made of modern materials and nicely finished wood species to accentuate their color depth or natural grain, this category includes beautiful contemporary wooden chairs and restaurant lounge chairs that dominate the dining area.

Modern dining chairs

Modern chairs are very difficult to define, as they embrace numerous design concepts and integrate a range of materials. From metal bar stools to imposing upholstered dining chairs, modern restaurant seating options are limitless in their functional and aesthetic variety. Exploring forms, textures, and tactile experiences, these models chart new paths for future designers to replicate or iterate upon.

Whatever the concept, it is vital for designers to consider all aspects of the layout and how every chair integrates with the rest of the furniture, especially in relation to restaurant table ideas.

 

It’s easy to dismiss a chair as… just a chair. But after making beautiful bentwood furniture for over thirty years, we know that seating informs so much of how we interact and socialise. Whether you find yourself pausing for a moment on a park bench, perched on a hard wooden seat in a public office or seated around the dining table for a birthday celebration, each chair has a story to tell.

Makuti chairs at Oku eatery

A delightful study titled “How seating shapes welcoming cities,” explores the role seating plays in our lives. It’s a fundamental element of daily life, whether we realise it or not. In the same way, seating plays a crucial role in shaping an interior space and there are important factors to consider when choosing the perfect restaurant chairs. 

Durability and craftmanship

Contract seating is nothing if it’s not strong. In high-traffic environments, a chair needs to be able to withstand heavy use, meet safety standards and not show wear and tear. The strength of bentwood chairs makes them an ideal investment for busy restaurant spaces. Our love for the process of steam bending runs deep and the craftmanship in our manufacturing process is evident in the durability of our chairs. 

Comfort and function

Comfort should always be a top priority when choosing restaurant chairs no matter whether a person sits for five minutes or five hours. The idea of inclusive design considers that guests come in all different shapes and sizes and seating needs to be clever and thoughtful. A well-engineered chair is crafted with attention to the angles and shapes of the backrest, arms, seat and legs. It provides good support and adequate padding. The design should also take into consideration the intended location and cater to its specific needs such as being lightweight, compact or stackable. 

Riga chairs at Post and Pepper restaurant

Style

A collection of chairs can tell us whether a space is traditional or minimalist, rustic or modern, formal or informal. It’s important that the choice of furniture reflects the theme for the space. From the shape, to the colour of the timber and upholstery fabric, the chairs should enhance the ambiance of a room. The addition of tub chairs in a restaurant invites laidback lounging, while bar stools are free for a quick visit. Upholstered chairs may provide a small comfort after a tough day, while compact chairs that are lightweight work well in a bustling corner café. Each chair offers a different invitation to take a seat. 

Maintenance

No matter how durable a chair is, a bit of maintenance will be required to keep it looking fresh. But when you have a hundred or so restaurant chairs, you need them to be easy to clean. Woodbender chairs can easily be wiped with a damp cloth – no cleaning agents needed. The biggest consideration is fabric choice, because it usually shows the first signs of wear. Choosing chairs with removable seats allows for easy cleaning of crumbs and stains and makes it possible to reupholster the seats to freshen up the chairs and keep up with the trends.

Kariba chairs at Jeru London restaurant

A great chair embraces people. We are seating specialists with decades of experience and we love collaborating with clients to help them find the chairs that tell their story. With the option to choose from quality bentwood designs, five timber finishes and your choice of fabric, you can create unique restaurant chairs that are exclusive to the space you’re designing.