Ever feel like your dining room is just a tad too formal? We love mixing dining chairs for a stylish and approachable look. If you’ve ever wondered how to mix and match dining chairs, look no further. We’ve got a few inspirational ideas for you.

A Few Things to Note

We’re really into styling mix-and-match dining chairs, and it’s easy to do. A few of our favorite ways to do this? Matching side chairs and adding in two different head chairs, using all different chairs, or incorporating a bench.

The most important thing to remember: Keep chairs and benches at equal heights so everyone sits at the same level during meals. We recommend leaving at least 12" between the chair seat and the bottom of the table. Make sure to measure the width of new chairs, too. Each dining chair should be able to fit around the table, and guests should have enough room to comfortably scoot away from the table without hitting a wall.

Start Small

Before swapping out all of your chairs at once, introduce versatility into your dining room one chair at a time. You could stick to one shape and vary the colors – we love to mix acrylic or plastic hard-shell chairs in various shades. Another take on this look is to pick one color and vary the shape. This works well with rattan or upholstered chairs. You can also stick to one style of chair and change up the upholstery for a twist. By adding one unexpected detail, your dining room can take on a whole new look.

Stick with a Theme

Imagine the aesthetic qualities that make up your favorite dining chair, then use them to inspire your seating mix. Consider the following style elements:

• Height
• Color
• Type (think side chair, armchair, Parsons chair)
• Style (think rustic, industrial, contemporary, etc.)
• Material (think upholstered, wooden, metal, etc.)
• Arms or armless
• Seat and back design
  For example, we love choosing cane dining chairs in four different shapes. You can also go with upholstered chairs and vary the color.

Looking for more inspiration on mixing and matching dining chairs? Check out our video Style Rules Worth Breaking: Dining Chairs.