katie.lacy@letsgetcoffee.co.uk, Author at Modish Living

Choosing the best upholstered dining chairs for your interior style

Faux Leather Dining Chairs in Dining Room

Choosing dining seating is an important decision. Like your dining table, they will need to flex as your style decisions change. We took to Houzz to ask people’s opinion on the type of dining seating they would opt for and the answers were interesting. Why not take a look?

Elegant, modern rustic

What we wanted to know was whether you would place wider chairs with armrests at either end of a dining table, using the Kensal dining table as an example. A versatile dining table made from mango wood, the choice of dining chairs allows it to take on every style including the elegance of the modern rustic.

The responses were evenly split between choosing two wider chairs or opting for the same set of dining chairs. However, if you want the modern rustic appeal with this table, you could opt for upholstered dining chairs with arms from the Roxy range as well as opt for their leaner version of the cream upholstered dining chairs without armrests.

The cohesion and symmetry brought by the colour and fabric, as well as the style of the chairs, gives a beautiful finish within the modern rustic setting.

True rustic style

Mistakenly, people assume that the rustic furniture style means a rough edge and texture. But what it means is that the refinement applied in the build makes the overall beauty of a piece of furniture. There is a natural refinement to it with pieces like the Chelwood reclaimed wood dining table have plenty of character and personality. Using reclaimed wood furniture fits right in, of course, and not just because of its rustic appeal but because it has individuality and uniqueness.

Dressing this rustic dining table with the ‘right’ dining chairs takes thought.

Cream upholstered dining chairs with a button back adds instant appeal and elegance. If you are one of our followers who is not so keen on wider dining chairs with arms, then opting for a complete set of these chairs would complement this table perfectly. Or, for a change of note in style, the Luxe Ivy dining chairs with arms in the same colour and with similar detailing would make the perfect pair of stand out dining chairs.

Farmhouse style

If rustic furniture has a slight diamond in the rough appeal about it, then the farmhouse style would be described as the polished finish. Oozing warmth with wood and colour schemes, the painted frame and bare wood top of the farmhouse kitchen table is surely a favourite with everyone.

This is the style that has practicality and function at its core but this should ever be at the expense of style and beauty. If there is one style where the ‘mix and match’ style can come in, it is in this one.

These beautiful painted wooden dining chairs with upholstered seats are ideal for use with this farmhouse kitchen table. If wide, grand dining chairs at either end doesn’t feel quite right, then opt for a note change in material. Rattan dining chairs, complete with upholstered seating pad, would make an ideal foil against anything being too ‘matchy-matchy’. Without ditching farmhouse style principles, rattan being a natural material, these chairs fit right in.

Which is your favoured style? Would you opt for a change in your dining table seating?

How best to style your fabric dining bench

Rocco Oak Dining Table with Faux Leather Dining Bench and Chairs

The dining bench is a versatile and stylish addition alongside any dining table. No matter what your style, there is a dining bench to match your style aspirations.

Industrial style comfort

Clean and streamlined, the industrial style is not without warmth and comfort. The utilitarian nature of a dining bench fits right into this style. Start with an industrial dining table and then bring in the dining bench.

If you thought dining benches could only be simple, ‘plank’ style benches, next to the reclaimed wood dining table think again. The high backed, leather bench bring s hint of luxury to the industrial dining room. And why not? Promote cohesion and symmetry with matching leather upholstered dining chairs and you have the basis of a delightful dining room.

If you want to bring glamour, opt for the detailed front of the Barclay reclaimed wood sideboard and don’t forget that the rug for giving a platform to whole space. In this scheme, we’ve opted for the white and grey rug from the Lois de Poortere range.

Ramp up the dining room with a refined, industrial style

The industrial style doesn’t have to be raw and rough. You can still retain the pleasing industrial dining table ‘edge’ and bring in refinement with ‘barely-there’ but noticeable detailing.

The Mitcham industrial 6 seater dining table with its spider-leg detailing is a great place to start. You need a dining bench with presence which is why the high-backed with button detailing of the Morton leather dining bench with arms work well. Sticking with a strong coloured palette, balance the brown and the grey with green, bringing in lush green plants. Try them as centrepieces for the table, something you can admire as you recline on the faux leather dining chairs that bring this landscape together beautifully. For the finishing touch, the spider box leg detailing of the Mitcham sideboard is a worthwhile addition as is the Louis de Poortere grey rug for adding the final note of detail.

Modern farmhouse with glimmers of gold

Gold, brassy hues are remaining with us for the coming year and frankly, we couldn’t be more delighted. We think that strong mustard yellow and brassy yellow accessories have a lot more to offer just yet.

This is a shade that fits right into the modern farmhouse style, a scheme that we know appeals to many. The gold rug is the starting base of this scheme, the perfect platform to ‘support’ the beautiful oak dining table from Hoxton range. Just look at those statement pedestal legs!

Clearly a glamorous farmhouse look, there is only one dining bench up to the job – the cream upholstered dining bench from our Luxe Collection. Counter the neutral palette of colour by introducing grey upholstered dining chairs for a setting that is perfect for any occasion.

Alongside the darker shades and the golden streak, you can afford to add a sideboard that brings function and practicality. The sideboard with wine rack from the Kensal Collection is proving a popular piece in its own right.

Dining benches are practical additions to the dining room (or any room in the home) but they don’t have to be plain and dull…

How to create a white living room in farmhouse style

Crisp and yet warm. Practical and functional, yet full of comfort and detail. Creating a white or neutral coloured living room with reclaimed wood furniture takes consideration and thought. And yet, with no more than a few simple hints and tips, you can bring this white living room farmhouse style to your home.

Starting with a neutral base is essential and that means choosing a warm white for the walls and ceiling. Opt for one that has a creamier base to it because white paint described as bright will have a blue tinge to it, leaving too clinical a feel in a room that demands comfort. Also, opt for matt paint, leaving the glossy finish to another room for now.

If you are wincing at an all-white 3 seater sofa, there are other solutions. Plenty of white throws that can be laundered or even opt for a grey sofa would work too, especially with a white coffee table. For a farmhouse styled room, tones of brown and tan would lift it thus a three seater sofa in brown Harris Tweed would be a delightful addition.

A rattan armchair or two are a delight in any space – and not just the conservatory – but when it comes to the farmhouse style, this textured and natural material fits right in. Soften the edges with cushions and throws.

Don’t forget the ‘framing’ needed in a room, something that is provided in this all-white living room with the coffee table framing the sofa. Choose one that is not overly large for the room and certainly no bigger than your chosen sofa. Mixing white pained furniture with bare wood is ideal in an all-white landscape and thus our choice of coffee table would work well.

For balance, a side table on either side of the sofa brings the harmony the room needs in the form of detailing but without clutter. Notice how they do this with plants too, creating the corners of a square with those on the side table and then one the wall shelving above.

In fact, the artwork and shelving bring the eye up the wall, giving the room height. As well as wall shelving, you could consider the rustic charms of a ladder bookcase for the same effect.

And underpinning this all is a wood floor – keep it as wood, don’t paint it or it will become too matchy-matchy – but introduce texture with neutral toned flat weave rug.

And finally, add hints of detail sparingly, something that is done with the layers of cushions and throws, but also the brass-coloured lamps. When daylight fades, these lamps will add the warm glow and atmosphere the living room needs.

The lack of colour doesn’t leave the room stark but if you need to add some, then do so sparingly. We love the checked light blue cushion on the rattan armchairs. Even if there is just two, they do the job of bringing a hint of detail.

Is the all-white living room farmhouse style something you can see yourself embracing?

How to create a stylish white farmhouse dining room

White is a practical colour. And yes, it can be used in a family home and yet so many of us stay away from using ‘too much white’ for fear of clinical blandness. But it can be a mix of both cleanliness and warmth, more so when a white room is style and accessorised in the right way. Just how can you bring a white dining room together?

1 Choose the right white wall paint

Surely there is only one white?! Actually, there isn’t. There is white, crisp white with a bluer base that brings a crisp finish to white painted walls and there are warmer shades of white, which usually have a creamier, beige base that still brings fresh appeal but without being too stark.

2 Take care with adding other white elements

Choosing the right furniture for a white dining room is key to success and although it can be tempting to choose all white dining room furniture, you may find you end up with a room that looks unfinished.

Opt for reclaimed wood furniture that retains bare wood and white painted elements to it. The grandeur of an oak dining table wouldn’t be lost in the white farmhouse dining room nor this large sideboard with bare wood top.

3 Add a little colour

Take care with adding colour. Such a beautiful and neutral backdrop turns the mellowest of shades into bright ones. But having said that, if you are adding colour, be bold in your choice.

From yellow leather armchairs in a white room to black, wooden dining chairs alongside a 6 seater dining table, the secret is to add one colour and add it well so it doesn’t look an afterthought.

4 Warmth and depth with texture

The other downfall of an all-white dining room is that is can look flat. With the right furniture – the mix of painted white and bare wood – the room starts to lift but different textured materials and fabrics will lift it further.

Oversized patterned rugs would work wonders but don’t be tempted to opt for colour unless you are bringing in a strong colour streak to the room. For example, if we used the black wooden chairs in this space, we would add a white rug with black patterning to support the colour but bring texture to it.

5 Sympathetic and evocative lighting solutions

A white room can feel airy and gigantic, or it can feel cold and empty. If you are still struggling to bring the sense of warmth to the room that you want, there are two solutions, both of which work together and on their own: plants and lighting.

Add a lush green plant, either as a table centrepiece or a taller floor plant and you bring colour and detail. Add lighting, and you add something extra.

But keep the lighting numerous in detail and don’t forget, you won’t need lumens of brightness. A statement chandelier wouldn’t go amiss. You know the kind – detailed metal work with decadent tear shaped drops with the smallest of LED bulbs to add a little extra va-va-voom.

A white farmhouse dining room with a beautiful farmhouse dining table and other farmhouse furniture is a practical style for many homes. Is it right for yours?

How to decorate an industrial dining table when not in use

Luxe Kensington Reclaimed Wood Dining Table

For some, the vast sweep of empty tabletop space is a comfort. It shows everything is in its place, leaving the grain of the dining table wood to enjoy the ‘light of day’. For others, this is an empty, barren landscape and when not entertaining, the dining table still deserves to be dressed. But how, without cluttering the dining table or being too over-the-top with a centrepiece?

Add greenery and colour

Original it may be as a centrepiece idea, but can fault bringing in greenery to any room of the home? The table top is the ideal place to welcome lush green plants or the delicate fragrance of fresh blooms.

Unpretentious yet beautiful, the reclaimed wood dining table of our customer @Insidenumber_13 opt for a clear glass vase filled to bursting with Sweet Williams flowers. Another customer, @rosewoodprojecthouse add a blousy Hosta to their Rocco dining table, another perfect stylish example of how flowers and plants bring understate zest and zing to a dining table.

Lavender seems to be a popular choice and no wonder with its beautiful delicate and relaxing smell, we love the rustic plant pots and lavender that @lifeatnumber70 uses with their magnificent, glass-topped Kensington reclaimed dining table.

@aconstantdreamer shows us a slightly different finish using the same lush glass-topped Kensington dining table with fern arrangements to give extra depth and detailing to the beautiful neutral coloured kitchen.

Collection of vases and urns

Who says that empty vases have to be hidden away? Isn’t there something delightful about the bulbous curves of an urn vase with industrial style furniture? Available in a range of heights, sizes, colours and material (as well as price), ‘getting arty’ and clustering vases of varying heights make a pleasant to look at centrepiece, especially for the industrial dining table in our opinion. Simplicity is key, especially when you want to emphasise the beauty of the piece as @morethanblush shows with this simple urn and flower arrangement atop their Standford industrial dining table.

Candles and sparkles

No one can have too much sparkle and glamour in their life and no matter what style of dining table you choose, the gently flickering flame of a pillar candle nestled in the centre of a dining table is perfection.

If you want an addition that isn’t ‘show-off-blousy’, then a pillar candle in a storm glass vase, maybe with a small posy of flowers alongside it is a gentle and beautiful piece of detailing. Something that isn’t lost on us with this beautiful photo by our customer @thetownhome and their beautiful Maddox reclaimed table.

Seasonal detailing

Another way of dressing your dining or kitchen table when not in use is with seasonal details. A wide bowl with coloured pumpkins and squash in the autumn, for example, makes for a pretty addition as do vases of flowers and sprigs cut from your summer garden. Welcome winter with plenty of candles and glitter, and welcome in spring with a pot of bulbs that grow into fragrant daffodils.

Add a table cloth

We don’t recommend ‘hiding’ your reclaimed wood table for too long, but we have to admit, there is something decadent about a dining table draped in a sumptuous cloth, especially next to upholstered dining chairs. Opt for a table cover that is much bigger than your table to enjoy the flow and collection of fabric.

Every dining and kitchen table and chairs deserves a little centrepiece detailing but what’s your favourite?

Beautiful extendable dining tables for under £500

Investing in a dining table or indeed an industrial kitchen table is not something we do often but when we do, we want it to be in the style that we like and one that will last for years – if not, decades – to come. But with one eye on the budget, just how can you get a stylish and versatile table for under £500?

Why opt for an extendable dining table?

You want as much versatility for your money as you can get and for any home, no matter the space available or the number of people who will be sat around the table, an extendable dining table makes absolute sense.

Simply extend it when you have an influx of guests or when hosting a buffet, and ‘fold’ it back when you need it for everyday use.

Can you have style on a budget?

Yes, you can. For under £500 you can have both an extendable AND stylish dining table. Take a look…

The industrial style

A pleasing meeting of material including reclaimed wood, the industrial style is popular with many customers, from those creating a busy family dining room to the bachelor and bachelorette apartments. Simple yet impactive, there is something very pleasing about the simplicity of an industrial dining table.

Let’s start by introducing our best seller, the extendable dining table and chairs from the ever-popular Standford Collection. Marvel at its simple beauty, clean lines and unfussy approach and yet with a few subtle additions, it becomes a dining table fit for a formal dinner party. Fantastic in open plan, opt for dining chairs that are equally ‘unfussy’ in material, style and colour.

Hot on its heels, however, is another of our best-selling reclaimed wood dining tables with a heavy dose of the industrial style. The Landsdowne Collection is made up of many popular choices of reclaimed wood furniture but this industrial dining table for under £500 makes for a wonderful investment. A great addition to the kitchen or the dining room, the combination of dining bench and dining chairs makes for a great feature too.

The rustic style

Warm and cosy, there is also an edginess to the rustic dining table style that many people enjoy.

The white painted look is coveted by many and no wonder – it brings a welcome freshness to a kitchen or dining room, with more than a hint of coastal style about it too. Informal and delicious in equal measure, the Dorset extendable dining table is delightful – and more than a worthwhile investment of your hard-earned cash.

Again, opt for a dining-bench-chairs combo and you have a rustic heaven right there in front of you.

And finally, we take a look at the welcome sturdiness of the Farringdon reclaimed wood extendable dining table, another hot favourite with customers. A roomy 4 seater dining table, it soon extends to accommodate more diners, a perfect solution for your dining room and with change from £500 too!

As well as opting for buying a single dining table, some of these tables can also be bought as a set. This is welcome news if you don’t want to hassle of trying to match dining chairs and benches. Which is your favourite?

Are dark colours best for sofas?

What would be your choice – a statement colour or the pleasing elegance of light coloured seating? We took to Houzz to ask our followers what they thought and the results were clear…

We Asked, You Answered

We asked which was your preference, light coloured sofas or dark coloured seating. The answer was unequivocal – it was darker coloured sofas. And no wonder, in many ways, because a darker coloured sofa is more practical for a busy household, especially those with children, grandchildren and/or pets running around.

Dark coloured sofas

Darker shades can hide a myriad of sins as well as being a focal point of the room. with the style and size decided, know all you need to do is to choose a colour.

PRACTICAL

In terms of practicality, a combination of a darker shade with a wipeable material is a must for many customers. Thus the brown leather Chesterfield sofa is a fantastic choice. As well as the colour making a style statement, the classic style and shaping of the Chesterfield along with the button detailing also makes it the stand out piece. Whether you choose this piece or the grey Chesterfield sofa, it’s sure to be a stand out piece.

COLOUR OPTION

If you want colour, then deciding on light or dark shading of your colour choice is a big step and critical to the success of the sofa in your home. The Grayson lounge sofa comes in velvet or a bespoke finish, and in a colour of your choice. The beautiful orange shade it a sheer delight but be careful with colour on such a long-term item because a strong colour is difficult to manage when you want to change to colour of walls or flooring.

However, we can’t deny the beauty of this on-trend colour, especially with a tan or brown leather armchair framing it.

HINT – if you want colour but not too sure that a huge three-seater sofa in mustard yellow will be on trend for years to come, why not opt for a coloured armchair or two instead? Much easier to re-use in other rooms – such as a bedroom chair – a coloured fabric armchair is not so much a compromise but a great stylistic choice.

Lighter coloured sofas

In our eyes, there really is something incredibly elegant and dare we say, a brave stylistic choice when it comes to incorporating a light-coloured sofa in the home. It is the epitome of luxury and although neutral in shade and colour, will be the item that draws the most attention.

Combining colour and style is always a winning combination. Very much like the leather Chesterfield sofa mentioned earlier, the cream sofa with the button back detailing and the beautiful dark wood feet is a statement, if ever there was one. Add yet more glamour with the gold coloured trim on the Hanbury cream sofa.

If cream is too light and too neutral for your taste, you can always welcome a grey Chesterfield sofa into your living room. On the border between a dark colour and a neutral shade, this sofa also makes the perfect choice when you want to remain undecided or unsure of which shade to opt for. You can always switch up the look of the room with modern rugs in a variety of colours.

But don’t forget, no matter whether you choose a light or dark coloured sofa, you need to frame it in all its elegance. And that means a reclaimed wood coffee table that is just the right size, maybe a pretty side table or nest of tables and, of course, an armchair that compliments the entire look.

The beauty of round wood dining tables

The round dining table is, without doubt, the shape that allows for the most intimacy between those sat enjoying a meal at it, whether this is a formal dinner party of ‘everyday’ family meal.

Sitting at a round wood dining table, whether a Scandinavian dining table or something different allows you to see all the other diners. This is true whether it is a small dining table for four or a huge table for 10 diners or more. Aside from this intimacy and connection, round dining tables offer so much more…

Perfect for smaller spaces

The modern home here in the UK is smaller than that of older properties. This isn’t a problem if you know how to use the space – and a round dining table fits perfectly. The continuity of its shape allows for freer movement in a room.

Simplicity is key to the smaller dining room or kitchen diner not feeling swamped by the round kitchen table but this doesn’t mean the table and chairs set has to be devoid of all detailing and character.

The Hambledon oak dining table with its spider legs is perfect if you want a significant style note. There is something very beautiful about this table, especially when paired with matching oak chairs that have the heady Scandinavian style about them. Let this round kitchen table sing by not swamping it with overly decorative or styled dining chairs.

Completing the style jigsaw

As well as size, you will need a round dining table that sits well with the style and colours you have chosen for the dining area.

Light coloured woods are the ‘easiest’ to incorporate in many ways but if you are dealing with both limited room dimensions and a prominent style then the solution may lie in the beauty and versatility of a round extendable dining table. Keep it neat and compact for everyday use but when you need a little more room, extend it for instantly more space.

Style statement

Like the Hambledon dining table with its spider legs, there are other examples of smaller round dining tables that have detailing that connect with your chosen style. The industrial style is as popular today as it ever was and certainly, in the kitchen diner, it is a practical style.

A superb mix of metal and wood, this round reclaimed wood dining table with an industrial flavour is ideal if you love this style. Its fluted metal pedestal leg is a must and even though you could never describe the industrial style as blousy, there is a dramatic element to it that you can harness and make the most of.

The previous tables have had a pleasing simplicity to them thus the dining chairs used alongside them would be best suited if they too were simply elegant. With this table, you can afford to take a little more drama to the table.

Coloured velvet upholstered dining chairs won’t look out of place – neither would the cool touch of leather upholstered dining chairs – but why wouldn’t you want to turn it up a notch.

Is the round dining table the shape and style you prefer?

Which table top style suits your dining room best?

The dining table is, of course, an essential piece of reclaimed wood furniture in any home whether it’s a bachelor pad or a busy, family home. The dining table is used for many things from everyday dinner to formal dinner parties, to buffets at Christmas, birthdays and BBQs to being the place where families gather for ‘emergency meetings’ to homework, science projects, play and more.

And so it’s no wonder we consider the purchase of the dining table and chairs for some time before we make the leap to buy.

Size is important, as well as the choice of dining chair – wooden or upholstered dining chairs, or maybe a dining bench would work? – its style and shape too, with many of us opting for the inclusivity of a round dining table.

But have you considered the table top itself?

We Asked, You Answered

And this go us thinking – which tabletop do our customers prefer? Would it be the sleekness of the traditional plank tabletop or the detailed stylishness of the parquet table top?

Even though the parquet table top was attractive to some, the majority of followers who answered our Houzz poll opt for the traditional plank.

The traditional plank table top

Smooth and elegant, the plank table top is as you would expect – a vast slice of wood sanded and treated to provide the sturdy top to a dining table.

In some cases, the table top is one, huge plank but in most cases, the wood used has been put together to create the plank effect.

The pros of this style is its simplicity and its smooth finish. But it isn’t boring.

Take a look at the Mitcham industrial dining table, a solid oak piece that is a treat for the eyes (and for your dining room!) This table would sit well with leather upholstered dining chairs, with metal frames to emphasise the industrial style.

The rustic style also emphasises the beauty of the traditional plank tabletop, such as in this reclaimed wood table from the Chelwood Collection. The matching dining benches being more harmony to this piece.

The sophisticated parquet table top

Parquet is the laying of small wooden bricks in a repeating geometric pattern. In older properties, including ‘commercial’ buildings such as schools, this was the choice of flooring from many years back. Using hardwood, the wooden tiles used the strength of the pattern to hold them in place and the top layers of nourishing varnish too.

Repeating this pattern for a tabletop makes perfect sense. It adds detailing as well as nostalgia because there are many of us who remember this pattern from their favourite places during childhood.

For elegance, you can turn to this patterned table top with the industrial style, the perfect fusion of which you will find in this oval industrial dining table. Such a tabletop deserves to be surrounded by beauty and thus the addition of velvet upholstered dining chairs makes perfect sense.

For a more rustic feel, the parquet table top dining table from the Kingsbridge Collection hits all the right style notes. With a slightly less refined edge to it, it too will benefit from velvet upholstered or even sumptuous leather dining chairs to support it in its place in the dining room. Imagine hosting a dinner party at this table or being a guest at one…

Which table top do you favour?