Filed under: Your Home, Furniture
Monica's mis-matched chairs from Friends. Photo: Greg Null, NBCU Photo Bank
Here's an idea to make your dining room stand out: Mix and match your dining room chairs.
Who says that you have to get 4, 6 or 8 of the same chair to round out a dining space? That's a silly rule and we think it's meant to be broken. Plus, there's so much fun to be had at the table.
Ever since I saw Monica's table and chairs on the set of the TV show Friends, I always wanted to do something like it. They had a simple wooden pedestal table surrounded by fun, playful and colorful mis-matched chairs.
Decorating with mis-matched chairs is a way to make a statement without much effort. Looking back, it was the odd color scheme and wacky furnishings that made Monica's apartment seem so well put together and fresh.
But don't go just throwing any old chair into the mix. Mixing styles and colors can backfire and make your home feel cluttered and disorganized.
Here are some things to consider when going for the mix-and-match look:
1. Different head chairs. If you have a rectangular or oval table, consider adding dramatic chairs to each head. You can scale these larger than the other chairs at the table. Opt for armchairs, if possible, for a stockier look. Adding that extra special touch on the ends will make your dining table feel all the more special.
Add regal thrones at the table's heads. Photos: Elle Decor/Canadian House and Home
2. Paint them all the same color. If you have snapped up some great chairs that don't have much in common, paint them so that the paint color becomes the common thread. Even retailers and designers are catching on to this trend by offering dining chair sets in different styles, such as this set from Design House Stockholm.
Paint always makes a difference! Photos: Elle Decor/Design House Stockholm
3. Mix traditional with modern. Don't let your dining chairs dictate your style, especially if you love being eclectic. There's no shame in mixing a Windsor chair or an old country dining chair with an Eames or Bertoia chair.
Modern dines with traditional at these tables. Photos: Living, Etc.
What style fits your personality? A colorful dining room or an all-white one.