Houzz Dining Chairs

Iconic Designs: 10 Classic Dining Chairs You Need to Know About

Big up your dining space with iconic chairs by some of the 20th century's most revered designers

Lara Sargent

11 May, 2015

Houzz UK contributor. Freelance interiors journalist with over 20 years' experience writing for national magazines, newspapers and websites.

Dining chairs do more than offer a comfy place for guests to sit while enjoying a laid-back lunch or lavish dinner party. Comfort is paramount, of course, but let's not forget about style, and the dilemma of choosing a design, material and colour of chair that works for you and your table: where to start?

Well, for a huge dose of can't-fail-to-impress style, these midcentury modern dining chairs won't fail to cut a dash. And every one of these classic seats comes with serious design credentials, so they're well-made, too. At home in any scheme – from a sleek, modern pad to a rustic bolthole – these are no ordinary dining chairs; these are iconic pieces of art. They're not half comfortable, too.

Galvanise with a Tolix
For a huge hit of industrial cool, look no further than the Model A chair from Tolix. Designed in 1934 by Frenchman Xavier Pauchard, it's also known as the Marais A chair, and is made from robust sheet metal.

Our love affair with the tough and stackable Tolix chair, which can be used inside and out, hasn't waned over the years. It looks good with any style of table, too, either in its raw, galvanised finish or in one of a range of rainbow colours.

Glean more style tips if you love the industrial look

Consider a classic Eames
Fans of midcentury modern style will be well versed in the iconic chairs designed by husband and wife team Charles and Ray Eames.

The Eames DAW Armchair (seen here at the head of the table) is one such classic style, originally made in the 1950s from a single shell of fibreglass-reinforced plastic with a maple base. Today, the chair is manufactured from moulded polypropylene (plastic), but remains as comfortable. Take your pick from a kaleidoscope of bold hues and neutral shades to suit every dining table.

The side chairs without armrests along the length of the table are DSW chairs.

Pick another fantastic plastic
Here's another classic Eames design. This one, the DSR chair, features a trademark single shell plastic seat sitting neatly on top of a gleaming, interlocking wire rod base. The base is fondly known as the 'Eiffel' base, as its shape is reminiscent of the famous Parisian landmark.

Plump for a single colour or go all out on a pick 'n' mix vibe to inject a huge dash of personality.

Read more about the Eames plastic chair designs

Dabble with Danish
Grab yourself a slice of Danish design history with the ever-popular Series 7 dining chair. The brainchild of Danish architect and designer Arne Jacobsen in 1955, this iconic chair still looks on trend some 60 years later – and some say it's the bestselling design in furniture history.

With a flowing, organic silhouette, the light and neat shape is made from laminated, moulded wood with shiny chromed steel tubular legs. There are 10 different veneers and various coloured lacquers for a shot of vibrant hue, should your neutral palette need it.

Explore the history of the Series 7 chair

Raise the bar
Testimony to the versatility of Jacobsen's Series 7 chair, there are a number of variations on offer that all differ slightly from the original – one with matching armrests, another with a swivelling base, a fully upholstered version and even a pint-sized, petite model for children.

These sleek, no-nonsense Series 7 bar stools have longer legs for reaching a kitchen worktop – ideal for family and friends to perch on comfortably (and in the utmost style) at your breakfast bar or island.

Bag a Bertoia
I've always loved Harry Bertoia's wire chairs for their amazing lightness of structure and ability to add oodles of style to any kitchen-diner. Oh, and they're really comfy to boot.

The Italian-born American furniture designer created just a single series of five wire chairs in the 1950s and this one, the Side chair, produced by Knoll, is an out-and-out classic.

Interiors aficionados worldwide adore the delicate-yet-tough design, which comes in black, white, chrome and powder-coated colours and has neat, snap-on seat pads. Tough vinyl pads and boldly coloured powder-coated versions can also brighten up alfresco eating spaces.

Learn more about Bertoia's wire chairs

Choose a Cherner
The curvy shape and elegant simplicity of these iconic chairs is down to American designer Norman Cherner, who designed them in 1958. After a period out of production, they were reissued in 1999 and now grace homes from Manchester to Manhattan. Made from moulded plywood, the chair and armchair (both pictured) are serious contenders for the best dining chairs around.

Discover more about the Cherner chair

Give a Tulip chair a whirl
Eero Saarinen's beautifully designed Tulip chair and armchair (both pictured) tick every box: they're stylish, natch, and also super-comfortable, with simple, sweeping, structural curves fashioned out of moulded fibreglass atop a cast aluminium base.

They're part of the revolutionary pedestal collection for Knoll by the Finnish-American architect and industrial designer, where Saarinen eliminated what he called the 'slum of legs' found underneath tables and chairs.

Rely on a classic Ercol
The classic silhouette of an Ercol dining chair is unmistakable – and you might just be lucky enough to pick up one or two in a second-hand shop or at a car-boot sale. (Keep those eyes peeled!)

Ercol still produces its midcentury classics (around the table in this home is a set of Originals All Purpose), as well as modern updates for the 21st century. They're crafted from solid wood, and you can choose from a range of lacquered finishes, including bold yellow, navy or white for a punch of colour.

Work in a Wishbone
If you're a fan of midcentury Danish design, then Hans J Wegner's Wishbone chair is the one for you. With clean lines and an elegant silhouette, the CH24 Wishbone was inspired by antique Chinese armchairs and today can work wonders in any scheme – from chic and pared-down to a more modern rustic vibe.

The lightweight wooden chair has a gently rounded top offering the most comfortable seat for a long, leisurely dinner with friends. Blissed-out style and comfort in one…

TELL US…
Do you like – or own – any of these iconic dining chairs? Share your design tips in the Comments below.