How to Choose Dining Chairs and the Right Table Size
A dining room works when the table fits the room and the chairs fit the table. These measurements take the guesswork out of both.
Start with the room
Leave at least 36 inches between the edge of the table and the nearest wall or piece of furniture, so chairs can slide back and people can walk behind them. Subtract that clearance from the room’s dimensions and you have the largest table that fits.
How many seats
Give each diner about 24 inches of table edge. A 60-inch rectangular table seats four comfortably, or six at a squeeze; a 72-inch table seats six. Round tables are friendlier in square rooms: 48 inches seats four.
Chair height and width
Most dining tables are 28 to 30 inches high, and most dining chairs have a seat height of 17 to 19 inches, which leaves about 12 inches of leg room. Check that chair arms clear the table apron if you want to push the chairs all the way in.
Comfort for long dinners
Upholstered seats and a slightly reclined back make lingering easy. Performance fabrics or wipe-clean leather are worth considering if children are at the table.
Light it last
Hang a pendant so its bottom sits 30 to 36 inches above the tabletop. A long linear fixture suits a rectangular table; a single round pendant suits a round one.
