It is impossible to say that a given type of dining chair is best. This is because, although people tend to think of their own dining area when choosing seating, the reality is that there are so many different places where people eat outside of their own homes that no one type of chair suits all. While all should be robust and place the diner at a comfortable height and distance to the table, the location where they are being used will determine the style and material being used.
Take for example, a venue that caters to receptions. A priority will be the ability to stack a large number of chairs in as small a space as possible. This means that the chairs must be light and fit snugly on top of one another. The normal materials found in these inexpensive types of dining chairs are a moulded plastic seat and back with tubular metal legs. A similar type of chair is likely to be used in the local high street café. Because a mainstay customer of this type of establishment is the building trade, the sturdy plastic and metal chairs are easily wiped clean of any residual dust.
Moving up scale, a restaurant catering to diners out for the evening will want to have dining chairs that are comfortable, though perhaps not too comfortable. These chairs will have been chosen to complement the décor and ambiance of the restaurant. These chairs will almost certainly have some type of soft seating to reflect a certain amount of opulence and luxury. Successful restaurant owners know that the quality and comfort of the surroundings is as important as the food in attracting return custom.
In the home your dining set should be chosen to generate an atmosphere that complements the rest of your dining room. If you have a modern minimalist feel then your dining chairs should echo that. In the same vein, a chrome and leather set of chairs will sit uneasily around an antique brown table.
An important fact to remember is if you do splash out on a set of antique dining chairs, make certain that any woodworm has been treated professionally.
Given the huge range of available dining chairs available, it is advisable to research, either online or your local furniture store, for the style that best matches your taste. Look for quality sets that come with a guarantee, the last thing you want to have is a set of wobbly chairs when you try to impress your dinner guests. Prices can also vary widely, so having found your perfect dining chairs, be prepared to shop around for the best price and do not be afraid to ask for a reduction, or try to target retailers during sales times.