A dining chair does more work than almost any other piece in the house. It is pulled in and out ten times a day, sat on through long family meals, and seen from every corner of the room. The chairs that look best are rarely the fussiest. Simple and elegant usually comes down to shape: a good curve in the back, slim legs, and a seat you want to stay in.
Here are seven dining chair styles we make to order, grouped by type so you can compare them, followed by a short guide to fabric and a few answers to common questions. The pictures are design renders, so the finished chair will vary a little with the wood tone and fabric you choose.
Before you choose: four quick checks
- Seat height against your table. Most dining tables stand around 75 cm high, and a seat around 45 cm high leaves comfortable room for your legs. Measure your table before you fall for a chair.
- Arms or no arms. Armless chairs tuck fully under the table, which helps in flats where the dining area shares a room with the living space. Armchairs are better for long meals but need more room to pull out.
- Your household. Children, dust and a lot of curry are real. A tightly woven fabric is easier to live with than a loose, nubby one (see the fabric guide below).
- How long you sit. Quick breakfasts are fine on a firm, light chair. If the family sits for two hours at a festival dinner, you want a shaped back and a properly padded seat.
Soft upholstered chairs
Shaped backs and padded seats make this the most comfortable group, and the easiest to fit into a modern dining room.
1. Valay: the oval-back chair
Valay has a soft oval back held on slim wooden posts, with a curved wooden rail running along its top edge. The rounded seat and tapered legs keep the whole chair light, so it does not crowd a small table. A textured fabric such as boucle suits it well.
- Best for: modern, calm rooms and tables where you want a softer look.
- Keep in mind: loopy textured fabrics can snag on jewellery and zips.
2. Nido: the cocoon-back chair
Nido is the Italian word for nest, and the back does feel like one: it scoops inward and curves around whoever is sitting. The upholstery runs smoothly over the back and seat with a neat piped edge, and the frame stands on tapered wooden legs.
- Best for: families who linger at the table, and wooden dining tables.
- Keep in mind: a fully upholstered back takes more wear, so choose a fabric you can brush or wipe.
3. Crista: the crest-back chair
Crista takes its name from the Latin for a crest. The back is tall and rises to a soft, rounded top, so it supports the shoulders as well as the lower back. The upholstery wraps down to a slim wooden band under the seat, and the legs taper to a narrow foot.
- Best for: anyone who wants a taller, more generous back without arms.
- Keep in mind: a tall back is a bigger visual block, so it suits a table with some room around it.
4. Yugma: the twin-rod chair
Yugma means a pair, and the name describes the back: a rounded pad floating on two slim rods. The seat is a soft rounded square, and the legs are slim and round in section. It is the lightest-looking chair in this list.
- Best for: smaller tables and rooms where you want the chairs to almost disappear.
- Keep in mind: the slim frame suits a clean look, so pick a plain fabric and let the shape do the work.
Cane-back chairs
Cane lets light and air through the back of a chair, which keeps a dining room feeling open. It has been a favourite in Indian homes for a long time, and for good reason.
5. Takh: the framed cane back
Takh comes from takhti, a framed board. A woven cane panel sits inside a softly rounded wooden frame, floating on two slim posts above a padded seat. The shapes are quiet and classic, so it sits comfortably in both traditional and modern rooms.
- Best for: dining rooms that mix wood, plants and natural textures.
- Keep in mind: clean the cane with a dry or barely damp cloth, never soak it.
6. Baahu: the cane armchair
Baahu is the Hindi word for arm, and the arms are the feature: they sweep forward from a curved cane back and flow down into the front legs. A cushioned seat sits inside the wooden frame. It feels warm and a little formal.
- Best for: the ends of a dining table, or a reading corner next to the dining area.
- Keep in mind: the seat cushion takes the wear, so choose its fabric with care.
Cane in Indian homes. Cane copes well with normal indoor conditions. What it dislikes is standing water and long hours of direct sun, so keep it away from a window that gets full afternoon light, and wipe spills quickly. With ordinary care it holds up well.
The host's armchair
7. Naal: the horseshoe armchair
Naal means horseshoe, and the whole chair is built around one: a single sweeping curve forms the back and both arms. A cushioned seat sits inside a slim frame on tapered legs. Put one at each end of the table, or keep it as the host's chair.
- Best for: a formal dining table, or the head of any table.
- Keep in mind: arms need room to pull out, so measure the gap between the table and the wall.
Choosing a fabric
- Boucle: soft and textured, and good at hiding small marks. The loops can snag, so it suits careful households best.
- Velvet: rich and easy to brush clean. It shows lint and brush marks, so a deeper colour is easier to live with than a pale one.
- Chenille and textured weaves: forgiving, comfortable and good at hiding wear. The best all-rounder for families.
- Linen-look fabrics: relaxed and breathable, but they crease and mark more easily. A blend in a mid tone is the safer choice.
Whatever you choose, look at the fabric in your own dining room light before you decide. A fabric that looks warm in a shop can turn flat or grey at home.
How to order
Every chair in this guide is made to order, in your choice of wood tone and fabric. Lead time is 2 to 4 weeks, and we take orders from across India. Prices depend on the wood, fabric and quantity, so we quote each order individually. Use the quote button under any chair, or message us with your table size and we will suggest what fits.
Where Shree Vaidehi fits
We are a Jaipur design and build firm that also makes furniture, so we can match your chairs to the rest of the dining room, whether that means a new table, lighting above it or a full interior. Browse our custom furniture collection, or use the free cost estimator if you are planning more than chairs.
FAQs About Dining Chairs
Q: How many dining chairs do I need?
Plan on about 60 cm of table edge for each person. A table around 150 cm long usually seats four to six, depending on whether you put chairs at the ends. If you use armchairs at the ends, you often need fewer side chairs.
Q: Should dining chairs match the table?
No. A fully matched set can look flat. Keep one thing in common, such as the wood tone or the shape of the legs, and let the rest differ.
Q: Which fabric is best for a home with children?
A tightly woven chenille or textured weave in a mid to dark tone is the most forgiving. Very pale colours and loose, looped fabrics show marks fastest.
Q: Is cane suitable for dining chairs in India?
Yes, in normal indoor conditions. Keep it away from long periods of direct sun and standing water, wipe it with a dry or barely damp cloth, and it holds up well with ordinary care.
Q: How long does a made-to-order dining chair take, and can I choose the wood and fabric?
Lead time is 2 to 4 weeks. You choose the wood tone and fabric when you place the order, and we confirm the price and delivery in your quotation.