There’s something delightful about an eclectic collection of furniture, where individual items are not competing, but all providing their own sense of style, comfort and purpose. One trend we are currently coveting is mismatched chairs. Whether the chairs surrounding your dining table happen organically, by collecting them one by one over time, it’s also possible to create this look from scratch straight away. However, it does take a discerning eye because we have seen mismatching gone wrong… so, here’s what we recommend when you take on this look in your home.
Can you mismatch dining room chairs?
You can do anything you want (you do you), but to make this look really sing, it’s best to create the mismatched look on purpose. Choosing chairs you love for their individuality will create a timeless style and potentially save you dollars as you can shed a chair if it ages faster, without having to replace all of them.
Before we set you off into the sunset, scouring Chairforce website and verges for potential treasures to upcycle, there are a couple of approaches that will bring a sense of cohesion to this look that we encourage you to consider. Ultimately (and excuse us for being Captain Obvious), the chairs need to fit around your dining table, so choosing oversized armchairs might not work.
A commum mistake we occasionally see with this trend is choosing chairs only slightly different in shade, and it goes from mismatched to misstep. While you might have an element of same, such as a natural timber frame or crossback, we advise heavily against variations of the same colour.
Try selecting chairs with different seats (some like cushions, some like a firm placement) or reclining backs like our French Bistro Outdoor Café Armchair versus an upright frame like our Bistro Outdoor Chair, means differing tastes are catered for within your family or visitors. This is also boosted by the styling of chairs with complimentary cushions or throws, which create a luxe look and easy to remove if needed.
At Chairforce, we offer a huge range of chairs and armchairs that, when combined, work beautifully together to create a great style, such as Salina, Elena, Javi or Santos Ourdoor Chairs. You can match chairs and armchairs, achieving a cohesive yet eclectic look.
If you’re new to the eclectic furniture styling, ease into it by mismatching minimally with pairs of dining chairs. Consider different chairs at the ends of the table and matching chairs along the sides, or the pairs could be at opposing corners with the rest the same style. If your table fits six chairs, three sets of pairs can create a harmonious effect while still playing with the mismatching style.
Additionally, mixing benches and chairs can add a dynamic element to your dining area. Corsica and Luisa matching chairs and benches that seamlessly blend together. Using benches alongside chairs can provide versatile seating options and enhance the overall aesthetic of your space.
How to choose an accent chair colour
At Chairforce, we’re partial to a pop of colour (have a peek at the Tolix Chairs and Breeze Chair kaleidoscope). A great play on the mismatching style is to stick with a style while varying colours (we will not be held responsible for any fights over the blue chair). Bold colours pair beautifully with aged timber and chrome.
While we love a rainbow, those with more subtle tastes might like a black and white pairing with chairs such as black and white versions of our Eiffel Dining Chair or the Crossback Chairs.
Where do I find these chairs?
We are so glad you asked. Out first suggestion is, of course, our fabulous showrooms where our team of experts can help you fulfil all your mismatching dining furniture desires. We have hundreds of styles to choose from and create the mix and match look just from us.