Kitchen Chair Buying Guide

Creating stylish and functional kitchens with kitchen chairs What's the difference between a kitchen chair and a dining chair, you ask? Simple: one is in the kitchen, the other is in the dining room. Actually, the distinction is a little more significant than that, though many people will simply use kitchen chairs and dining chairs wherever they're needed. Here are some general tips on recognizing and buying the types of chairs that are designated for kitchen use. Kitchen chair styles

You could say that the kitchen is to the dining room what the bedroom is to the living room. It's a more intimate and casual space, and the styles of kitchen chairs and other furnishings tend to reflect this more homey and unpretentious atmosphere.

Like casual dining chairs, kitchen chairs often feature a country, cottage, Mission/Craftsman, rustic/log, Shaker, or shabby chic style. These styles tend toward simple and functional designs with little to no ornamentation. Farmhouse-style objects such as dining benches also epitomize the laidback, utilitarian nature of kitchen seating.

The weightiness that is often an element of dining room elegance seldom looks at home in a kitchen. Instead, white or light wood finishes are commonly used. Windsor chairs with their spindle or arrowback designs are perennial kitchen favorites, as are slat-back cottage style chairs. Wicker and rattan chairs possess the sort of down-to-earth lightness that's magical in kitchens. For a quirkier retro touch, metal dinette chairs with soda pop-colored seats make fun accent pieces.

Kitchen chair uses

Today's kitchens often feature multi-purpose areas for entertaining, cooking, or even working on a laptop or desktop. Kitchen chairs can help turn your kitchen into a versatile extra room for both family and guests. Here are a few examples:

• Kitchen islands

Add a pendant light and a comfy kitchen chair or two, and the kitchen island could become your favorite new hangout spot. Browse through cookbooks, experiment with new recipes, or share finger food with a close friend, all while staying off your feet.

• Breakfast bars

Installing a breakfast bar between your kitchen and dining room could make entertaining a lot more fun. Add a few counter height kitchen chairs to better enjoy oatmeal in the morning and cocktails at night.

• Computer desks

Modern kitchens are sometimes the default computer station for single-desktop families. A cottage- or country-style kitchen chair and a computer armoire with a light wood finish would help to maintain a consistent decorating style even while the kids (or your spouse) are playing World of Warcraft.