6 Ways To Combine A Dining Table and Chairs That Don’t Match

Apr 27, 2021

In some homes, dining rooms are considered a formal space for entertaining guests or enjoying special occasion and holiday meals. This feeling of formality and the idea that “everything must be polished” can make it easy to feel somewhat hemmed in when selecting new dining furniture.

While you may have grown up with a matching dining table and chair set (possibly even a set that has been passed down through the generations), the rules for dining room decor have changed dramatically since your grandparents’ time. In 2021, your dining room table and chairs no longer have to match. In fact, with the ushering in of the wabi sabi aesthetic, incorporating a mismatched set into your dining room decor can be quite stylish and visually appealing.

Whether you’re starting to build a dining room set from scratch or you’re looking for warm modern dining chairs to pair with that fantastic antique table you don’t want to part with, it can be difficult to know where to begin when creating a mismatched set. If you’re new to mixing and matching furniture, take some inspiration from these Instagram posts:

1. Add a bench

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If you really want to turn down the formal feeling in your dining room, using a bench for seating instead of formal dining chairs is a great way to promote an atmosphere of relaxed, communal dining. This farmhouse-chic kitchen from Lauren Elizabeth (IG: @HouseOfHire) features a light-toned bench that matches the table paired with dramatically contrasting chairs to create a sophisticated look that’s still inviting.

Recreate the look:

Shop our collection of modern dining chairs

2. Pull colours from the room

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In open concept homes, it can be tricky to create “rooms” that look distinct but still flow together. In this space from Bonnie (IG: BjmPatel), the blonde wood and white paint carries into the dining chairs and table, while the dark contrast of the bar stools in the kitchen matches the lights over the kitchen island and the legs of the dining chairs. The spaces mirror each other with pendant light fixtures and differently coloured chairs with similar seat shapes and leg styles, creating clearly defined areas that still flow together well without matching too precisely.