Holiday dinners are when you suddenly need ten seats instead of six, and mixing chairs is the friendliest way to get there. Every one of the 21 chairs below is a sohoConcept design, active and in our shop today, and every number comes from the product page.
What are the four rules for mixing dining chairs?
- Match the seat height. The seats in this guide run from 17.5 to 19 in. high. Keep any two you combine within about 1 in. (a rule of thumb) so nobody sits taller than their neighbor.
- Give each chair a job. Armchairs go at the two ends for the hosts; side chairs go along the sides. Armchairs take more room, so save them for the ends.
- Repeat one thing. A shared leg finish (walnut veneer, black, chrome or brass), a color, or a material such as wood.
- Count 24 in. per diner (rule of thumb). Armchairs in this guide are 21 to 25 in. wide, side chairs 15 to 23.75 in., so leaner side chairs squeeze in an extra guest.
Which chairs go together? Three ready-made mixes
| Mix | Chairs | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| The Ana family: same legs, different shapes | Dervish Ana Dining Armchair at the ends with Patara Ana Dining Chair or Avanos Ana Dining Chair on the sides | Seats 19 in. on all three; legs in walnut veneer or black |
| Steel sled: modern and easy to move | Pasha Sled Armchair at the ends with Capri Sled Dining Chair or Prisma Sled Wire Dining Chair on the sides | Seats 18 in. on all three; steel sled bases |
| Warm wood and cane | Pierre J. Armchair or Soho Wood Dining Armchair at the ends with Aria Metal Dining Chair or Amed Metal Dining Chair on the sides | Seats 17.7 to 18.5 in.; wood or cane plus slim steel legs |
Who makes sohoConcept, and who designed these chairs?
sohoConcept began in 2000 with a simple brief: design down to the essentials, and let lasting construction and honest materials show through a clean line. The same pieces are made for homes and for contract interiors, and our listings name W Hotels in New York, the Paramount Hotel, Milos restaurant in Miami, Aloft Brooklyn, Delta Hotels in Toronto and The Atlantis in the Bahamas among its projects. Many of the chairs here were drawn by Tayfur Ozkaynak for sohoConcept; others come from the in-house design team. Most of our listings state they are made in Türkiye.
Why does that matter at your table? Contract-grade construction means a steel frame with S-shaped springs under molded foam on most of these chairs, and weight capacities of 200 to 400 lb. A dining chair at a holiday gathering takes a lot of use in one afternoon, and these were designed for restaurants.
Which armchairs should go at the ends of the table?
Arm height matters here: our armchairs' arms sit 25.5 to 28 in. high, so check the apron of your table before you buy.
Soho Wood Dining Armchair by Tayfur Ozkaynak
31.5 in. high x 22 in. wide x 21.5 in. deep, seat 18.5 in., arms 26.5 in., 350 lb capacity, removable slipcover
The classic host chair: wood arms and real presence, made for restaurants and homes alike.
Bottega Ana Dining Armchair by Tayfur Ozkaynak
32 in. high x 24 in. wide x 22.8 in. deep, seat 18.6 in., arms 27 in., 200 lb capacity, removable zip-on slipcover
Roomy and soft for the end of the table; a slipcover you can take off after the gravy boat tips.
Dervish Ana Dining Armchair by Tayfur Ozkaynak
31 in. high x 24 in. wide x 24 in. deep, seat 19 in., arms 26 in., 300 lb capacity, steel legs in walnut veneer or black with a chrome or brass ring
Pairs with the Ana side chairs below because the legs come in the same finishes.
Harput Metal Dining Armchair by Tayfur Ozkaynak
30 in. high x 22 in. wide x 22 in. deep, seat 17.5 in., arms 25.5 in., 300 lb capacity, removable Velcro slipcover
A compact armchair (22 in. wide, 30 in. high) for smaller tables that still need two heads.
Pasha Sled Armchair by Tayfur Ozkaynak
34.5 in. high x 22.5 in. wide x 24 in. deep, seat 18 in., arms 26 in., 350 lb capacity
The tallest back in the group: a throne for the host, on a steel sled base.
Seminyak Plywood Dining Armchair by Tayfur Ozkaynak
31 in. high x 25 in. wide x 23 in. deep, seat 17.5 in., arms 28 in., 250 lb capacity, one-piece upholstered plywood shell
A one-piece upholstered shell with arms built in, for a host who wants to sink in.
Gakko Guest Armchair by Tayfur Ozkaynak
33 in. high x 24 in. wide x 25 in. deep, seat 17.5 in., arms 25.5 in., 235 lb capacity, solid beech frame with wooden arms, removable slipcover
A warm wood frame with a folded, wraparound back, a good partner for lighter side chairs.
Pierre J. Armchair
31.4 in. high x 22 in. wide x 22 in. deep, seat 17.7 in., 350 lb capacity, solid ash frame, natural rattan cane seat and back
Cane is the easiest way to bring a bit of texture to a table full of upholstered chairs.
Athena Ana Armchair
33 in. high x 22 in. wide x 25 in. deep, seat 19 in., arms 27 in., 300 lb capacity, tapered steel legs with a ring
An upholstered shell armchair that looks as good from across the room as it feels at the table.
Is a swivel armchair a good idea for the head of a table?
It can be: a swivel makes it easy for the host to turn toward the kitchen. Swivel bases also move the chair away from the table, so check floor clearance and leave a little extra room behind it.
Marash Pyramid Wood Swivel Dining Armchair
33.5 in. high x 21 in. wide x 22 in. deep, seat 18 in., 300 lb capacity, solid wood pyramid base with swivel
A swivel lets the host turn toward the kitchen and back again.
Briancon 4 Star Swivel Armchair
33 in. high x 23.2 in. wide x 22.4 in. deep, seat 18 in., 300 lb capacity, bonded leather shell, removable fabric cushion, steel swivel base
A leather-look shell that wipes clean, handy for the head of a holiday table.
Gazel Arm 4 Star Swivel Armchair by Tayfur Ozkaynak
32 in. high x 21 in. wide x 22 in. deep, seat 18.7 in., arms 23 in., 350 lb capacity, removable slipcover
The lowest arms in the set, so it slides under almost any table.
Which side chairs fit the most people around a table?
Slimmer side chairs squeeze in an extra guest on each side. These nine run from 15 to 23.75 in. wide, and five of them have removable slipcovers.
Patara Ana Dining Chair by Tayfur Ozkaynak
32 in. high x 22 in. wide x 22 in. deep, seat 19 in., 350 lb capacity, removable zip-on slipcover
A generous side chair with a padded, removable seat cushion.
Crescent Ana Dining Chair by Tayfur Ozkaynak
29 in. high x 23.75 in. wide x 21 in. deep, seat 18 in., 300 lb capacity, removable zip slipcover
A low, wide curve that keeps sightlines open across the table.
Avanos Ana Dining Chair
34 in. high x 21 in. wide x 22 in. deep, seat 19 in., 400 lb capacity, molded fiberglass shell, fully upholstered inside and out
The highest weight capacity in the guide, with legs in walnut veneer or black.
Amed Metal Dining Chair by Tayfur Ozkaynak
31 in. high x 17 in. wide x 21 in. deep, seat 18 in., 300 lb capacity, removable slipcover, steel legs
A slim side chair, so you can fit one more guest on each side.
Aria Metal Dining Chair by Tayfur Ozkaynak
31 in. high x 17 in. wide x 21 in. deep, seat 18 in., 300 lb capacity, steel legs in chrome, stainless, black or brass
At 16 lb it is easy to move around when guests arrive.
Polo Metal Dining Chair by Tayfur Ozkaynak
33 in. high x 16.5 in. wide x 20 in. deep, seat 18 in., 300 lb capacity, flexible back, removable slipcover
A slim 16.5 in. wide, with a back that flexes a little when you lean back.
Capri Sled Dining Chair by Tayfur Ozkaynak
32.5 in. high x 19 in. wide x 22.5 in. deep, seat 18 in., 350 lb capacity, steel sled base in chrome, black or gold brass
Sled legs make it easy to scoot in and out, which matters at a busy table.
Corona Handle Back Wire Dining Chair
31 in. high x 15 in. wide x 18 in. deep, seat 18.3 in., 250 lb capacity, upholstered shell on a chrome wire sled with a handle at the back
A handle at the back means guests can slide the chair in and out without grabbing the seat.
Prisma Sled Wire Dining Chair by Tayfur Ozkaynak
32 in. high x 17 in. wide x 22 in. deep, seat 18 in., 350 lb capacity, chrome wire sled base
A chrome wire base keeps the floor visible, which helps a small room feel open.
How do I holiday-proof the chairs?
Spills happen. Many of these chairs have removable slipcovers (fastened with Velcro or a zipper, depending on the model), and the leather-look seats wipe clean with a soft damp cloth and a little mild soap, then dry, per our care notes. Woven fabrics should be blotted straight away, never rubbed. Upholstery guarantees on the Amed listing run 2 years on faux leather, 5 years on S-PPM and nubuck PPM, and 10 years on Camira Era fabric; check the product page of the chair you choose.
Mind the calendar. Our listings say a chair ships in 3 to 5 business days when your combination is in stock at our warehouse; if it is out of stock or on its way to us, allow 10 to 15 weeks. Check the product page for your combination, and ask our design team if the holiday date is close.
Why is a sohoConcept dining chair worth the investment?
Because the chair you choose for the holidays is the chair you will sit in all year. Look at what you get: construction used in hotels and restaurants, weight capacities up to 400 lb, a choice of upholstery with written guarantees, and legs in finishes that match across a family of chairs, so you can add or replace a chair later. Mixing chairs is not a compromise. It is how designers make a dining room look collected.
Frequently asked questions
Can I mix different dining chairs at one table?
Yes. Match the seat height within about 1 inch, give armchairs the end positions, and repeat one element such as a leg finish or color. The seats in this guide run from 17.5 to 19 inches high, so most can be combined.
How many chairs fit around my table?
A common rule of thumb is about 24 inches of table edge per diner. Armchairs in this guide are 21 to 25 inches wide and the slimmest side chairs are 15 to 17 inches wide, so slimmer chairs fit an extra guest.
Should the host chairs have arms?
Often yes, because armchairs mark the two ends of the table. Check the arm height against the table apron first; the armchairs here have arms 23 to 28 inches high.
Are sohoConcept dining chairs good for restaurants and busy homes?
Our listings describe contract-grade construction with weight capacities from 200 to 400 lb, and name hotel and restaurant projects among sohoConcept clients.
How long does delivery take?
Our listings say 3 to 5 business days when your combination is in stock at our warehouse, and 10 to 15 weeks when it is out of stock or on its way to us. Check the product page and ask our design team if you have a deadline.
Next step
Browse all of our dining chairs and dining tables, or see everything from sohoConcept. Setting the rest of the table? Read How to set a holiday table, Counter stool or bar stool and How to furnish a small living room. Want help matching chairs to your table? Ask the LoftModern design team.