Which chairs are best for the kitchen: comparing popular types of chairs

Classification

Chairs vary depending on their configuration and are used for different purposes.

1. Stools do not have a back or armrests, and therefore are not the most comfortable option. But they are easy to hide under the table or in the pantry, and they are a great help in a small kitchen.
2. Classic - comfortable products with back support, sometimes handles are added. They come in all sizes and shapes, so you can choose the right furniture for a tiny room or a large dining room.
3. Bars are a must for those who have a bar counter at home. They are characterized by increased height, sometimes one leg is used as a support (as in the photo), in addition, they can often rotate around their axis.
4. Armchair chairs are an improved modification of the classic ones. They are distinguished by an increased degree of comfort, which is ensured by the anatomical shape, soft filling, and the presence of armrests. They are only good in spacious rooms because they take up a lot of space.

To understand how to choose the right type of furniture for yourself, you should analyze the initial situation and imagine how this or that chair will fit into your apartment. The most ergonomic chairs seem to be, but they simply physically cannot fit into a small living space, and you will have to settle on compact classic versions or stools.

Proportionality

It is important to select chairs and tables so that they match each other in size. In a sitting position, a person should be able to freely place his arms bent at the elbows on the table. If this is difficult to do, it means the chairs are too low. But a small distance between the surfaces is not allowed - you will have to lean very hard towards the plate of food.

It is also advisable to take into account the parameters of family members. If everyone in the household is tall, then miniature stools and tables are definitely not suitable. And for short people, oversized objects will be inconvenient.

Design

The temptation to purchase unusual, trendy furnishings is very great, but there is no need to rush. Don't forget about the main purpose of the item: to provide comfortable support while eating. So it is still advisable to pay the main attention to the design features of the model.

Seat

First let's talk about sizes. The depth and height should be such that when you sit, your legs stand on the floor at an angle of 90 degrees, and there is 5-6 cm of free space between the back of your knees and the seat. This is necessary so that the blood circulates freely and there is no constriction. The optimal depth is 40–45 cm.

In order to be able to adjust the height, take a closer look at products with a gas lift system. It allows you to smoothly set the desired level by simply pressing the lever. This is especially true in families where there are small children, short adults, or, conversely, very tall adults.

The width of the base most often varies between 44–50 cm. If you are not a miniature person, or often have a heavy person visiting, you will have to select models with an increased width.

Seats are classified into hard and soft. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages.

1. Hard ones are not comfortable because they do not contain filler or have a very thin layer. But they are durable and, as a rule, easy to care for (wipe with a cloth and that’s it). For homes where children or animals live, this is the most practical type.
2. Soft – suitable for those who are used to long meals. You can sit on the chair with increased comfort due to the large amount of filling made from coconut coir, polypropylene, horsehair or other materials (natural ones are usually much more expensive). You have to pay for convenience with a service life: it is shorter than that of hard counterparts, due to the fact that the filler inside clumps or is pressed through. However, it can be quickly and inexpensively replaced.

Back

A backrest is necessary to relieve the spine while sitting. Be sure to “try on” the chair for yourself and evaluate the height and angle of inclination. It is desirable that the back has an inclination of about 108 degrees.

There are models with adjustable parameters. They are good because everyone can adjust them to their needs, regardless of weight and height. The disadvantage of such products is the very presence of additional elements and mechanisms. Their service life is shorter than that of their non-adaptive counterparts, because something will definitely break.

Legs

Depending on the purpose and design, chairs have different configurations. Thus, traditional wooden models are often placed on four supports, bar models have one, and products with a metal frame can even rest on a frame.

The main thing to check is stability. The chair should not rock or the legs move apart under the weight of the person sitting.

To avoid damaging the floor covering, special pads are glued or attached to the legs. You should also pay attention to their quality and strength of fasteners.

On sale you can find options with wheels, but this is not a product for everyone. The beam support and wheels make the kitchen furniture look like an office setting. And in families with small children, such a model will be traumatic.

Armrests

Armrests provide additional comfort and encourage you to sit at the table for a long time. At the same time, the presence of handles interferes with compact placement. Typically, such objects take up a lot of space and cannot be pushed under the table.

It is worth considering that armrests can interfere with an overweight person. For such people, it is better to buy samples without limiting elements.

Comfort and reliability

The strongest chairs are those made of metal or solid wood. Furniture for commercial use, which is used in cafes and restaurants, also has high levels of strength and wear resistance. Such products initially assume that they will be used by a large number of people.

Also important is the stability of the stool. A reliable chair has a strong crosspiece, a fairly wide seat, and legs that are widely spaced apart. From a safety point of view, the cross must have at least five points of support and be made of durable materials: steel and aluminum.

The steel cross is spray-painted or has a plastic decorative cover. Crosses made of polished aluminum look very strong, since this material is environmentally friendly and has an elegant and pleasant shine.

Preference should be given to those chairs that can withstand high loads. This ensures that such furniture will withstand all expected loads and can last for a long time.

Armchairs and chairs on wheels are indispensable for use in the office and at the computer. The most important thing is that the room where such furniture will be used has a hard floor. The comfort of the chair is easy to determine, just sit on it. If it’s convenient and nothing gets in the way, then you can take such a chair.

Material

The durability and appearance of the product depend on the materials used in production.

• Tree

The most popular and universal type. It’s great when the chairs are in harmony with the wooden tabletops. Whatever you say, natural wood gives the room its own special atmosphere. Products made from hardwood (oak, beech, larch, yew, ash, apple) are durable, and damaged surfaces can be restored.

The only disadvantages noted are the considerable weight and difficulty of storage, because these models usually cannot be stacked.

• Plastic

Contrary to popular belief, high-quality plastic is not inferior in strength to wood. And in terms of price, items with a modern design can give other materials a run for their money. Plastic is lightweight, it is easiest to move from place to place and stack.

Such samples are most suitable for plastic and glass tables.

• Rattan

Fashionable and beautiful wicker furniture will be an excellent alternative to plastic. Lightweight and environmentally friendly, it does not require special care. Such objects are successfully combined with a table made of wood, glass, or plastic.

• Metal

Frames are made of steel or chromed aluminum. They can be combined with almost any table, it all depends on the design of the seat and backrest.

When purchasing, you need to pay special attention to the seams: they must be well and neatly welded, otherwise there is a risk that the legs will “spread” to the sides and the base will fail.

Such structures are heavy, so in order to reduce weight, the parts from which the frame is made are made hollow inside.

Criteria for selecting chairs for long service life

A chair in the kitchen serves not only a decorative function. To make the chair comfortable and serve for a long time, you need to pay attention to several more parameters:

• the seat should be soft, with a rounded edge;
• it is better to choose options with a backrest, it should be in the shape of the letter S, this will help avoid problems with the spine during prolonged sitting;
• the sizes of the chairs must be selected individually; standard models have a seat height of 40-45 cm, but for very tall people or children they are uncomfortable;
• the choice depends on the size of the kitchen; if it is small, stools or folding options are more suitable;
• materials must match the style of the interior and be combined with other pieces of furniture;
• For the kitchen, simple models with a minimum of small parts that are easy to clean are more suitable;
• It is important to pay attention to the quality of the fasteners; models that use bolts rather than glue are more reliable.

The right chairs for the kitchen will decorate the interior. It will be comfortable to sit on them, and care and movement of them on the floor will not create problems.

If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl+Enter.

Upholstery

The seat, back and armrests can be upholstered in natural or artificial leather or fabric. The former, of course, are preferable because they are easy to care for; they can simply be wiped with a cloth in case of contamination. But such material is scratched and may suffer due to careless handling.

The fabric looks “cozier”, but it is more finicky to use: it is difficult to clean and will have to be periodically replaced with a new one. Some types of textiles are treated with a special impregnation that repels dirt. The following fabrics are used for lining:

• microvelour (jaguar) – allows air to pass through unhindered, and dust and dirt do not collect on it;
• tapestry - a very beautiful and “rich” cotton material;
• flock – resembles velvet in appearance, but is easy to clean and does not fade.

You can sew removable covers on furniture that can be easily removed for washing and then put back on.

Types of backs and seats for chairs

For comfort and convenience, the seats and backs of the chairs are covered with upholstery. There are several types according to the degree of hardness:

• Soft upholstery is the most comfortable. It consists of a thick layer of filler, covered with fabric.
• Medium hardness upholstery is used most often. It is more durable, less deformed and costs less. For this upholstery, hard filler is used: horsehair, coconut fiber. The covering can be made not only of fabric, but also of leather - artificial or natural.
• Hard seats are made without filler. They are simply covered with fabric or leather. But most often it is plastic or varnished wood. Sitting on such a chair for a long time is uncomfortable.

When choosing upholstery, you should give preference to non-staining materials with water-repellent properties. Velor, flock, plush and velvet are not suitable for the kitchen.

Storage

Owners of small real estate do not always have enough space to arrange all the necessary things, so they have to get out. According to the method of placement and storage, chairs are divided into:

• stationary - do not require compact placement, and therefore are recommended for large rooms;
• folding - practical in that at the end of the meal they fold into a compact structure;

• stackable - they are shaped in such a way that they can be stacked one on top of the other. In this form, it is convenient to store furniture on the balcony or in the pantry.

For daily use, judging by the reviews, it is better to look for stationary models for the kitchen, but for entertaining guests, folding and stackable items will be an excellent solution.

Design

The purchase of a table and chairs usually occurs at the end of the renovation, when finishing work has been carried out and the set has been installed. It is very important that the purchased furniture is in harmony with the interior. It is not necessary to purchase a set; you can choose a pair yourself.

1. In a classic dining room interior, richly decorated wooden samples would be appropriate.
2. Minimalism and modernism are well complemented by simple, stylish wood products without unnecessary details. Plastic will also fit harmoniously here.
3. High-tech hi-tech is emphasized by metal and plastic.
4. When decorating a room in Provence or country style, it is worth choosing objects made of wood; it is possible to use colored or artificially aged samples. For country music, an interesting solution would be to use rattan.

Nowadays it is fashionable to purchase chairs of the same shape with different upholstery colors or painted in all sorts of colors. These can be calm shades, for example, white and black, variations of beige or a rainbow variety. The first case is appropriate for minimalism and modern styles, and bright objects will fit perfectly into country and high-tech.

There is another technique that is used to create a unified style: chairs of different sizes, selected individually for each family member, are covered with identical covers. So you won’t have to sacrifice convenience, and the design won’t suffer.

Transparent plastic products are an excellent solution for tight spaces. They allow you to create the illusion of free space.

Good video review on the topic:

Don't forget about some details

Check the strength of the legs. Sit down - for products made of plastic and wood, they should not move apart. If the model is metal, then the legs should be cast and have a decent thickness.

White kitchen chairs are a classic of the genre. They pair perfectly with a table of the same color. Today, a fashionable trend is gaining popularity - placing chairs with different shapes around the table. The illusion of “completeness” can be created by the same color scheme.

Cheap chairs for a small kitchen made of plastic are an excellent solution. They are easy to stack and, if necessary, can be taken to another room.

Transparent models look great in a small room. They do not burden the interior, and others do not get the feeling that the kitchen is overloaded with furniture. A table made of glass or plastic is suitable for such chairs. An alternative is an MDF tabletop covered with a layer of enamel or PVC film.

Don't want to move heavy chairs around the kitchen, but plastic ones don't suit you? Take a closer look at rattan - a lightweight material that goes perfectly with a rustic style. Wicker chairs are combined with a wicker, glass or wooden table. An increased level of comfort is provided by models with a removable pillow. Wickerwork harmonizes with rustic style.

Metal kitchen chairs can be equipped with a seat made of plastic or wood or be soft. There are models where you can adjust the position of the back and seat.

The most suitable upholstery materials for the kitchen are natural leather, artificial leather, and eco-leather. When you need to buy chairs for the dining room, choose wooden ones with textile upholstery, the colors of which match the soft corner.

Results

The main rule to remember: you need to select a chair based on your own needs. If you are used to eating on the go and don’t like feasts, then you don’t need chairs. Functional classic chairs or stools are quite suitable.

Consider the build and height of your family members and frequent guests so that each person is comfortable. We must not forget about the size of the room and its design. Furniture should fit harmoniously into the interior and decorate it.

Have you found your ideal chairs? Tell us how and share your impressions.

Exactly!

One of the trends that is actively used in interiors is incomplete tables and chairs. However, you shouldn’t think that the first chair you come across will look stylistically interesting with your table. Choose a balanced option and you will achieve an elegant and stylish look; overdo it and the dining area will look ridiculous.

The most important rule here is matching the shape. Match round chairs to round tables and square chairs to square ones. In this case, whatever the color and style of the chair in relation to the table, the shape will act as a connecting link. Another parameter that is better to choose the same is the thickness of the legs. In extreme cases, table legs may be thicker than chair legs, but not vice versa.