The Perfect Seat: Choosing Dining Chairs That Actually Work

Buying dining chairs should be fun, but it’s also one of the fastest ways to waste money if you skip the basics. Bree Banfield and Lauren Li, are getting practical about how to choose dining chairs that look great, feel comfortable, and actually work in your home day to day.We start with the brief most people forget to write: who’s sitting there, how long they’ll stay, and what kind of meals happen at your table. That simple thinking leads straight into the details that decide whether you’ll love your chairs for years or quietly resent them. We talk arms and mobility, casual versus formal dining, and why your location matters more than you think (hello beach towels, chlorine, and fabrics that can’t cope).From there we go deep on fit: chair width, how many seats you can realistically fit, and how the chair interacts with your table base. We also cover the underrated annoyances like chair legs snagging on a dining rug, scratched timber floors, and why “matching” can backfire. If you want upholstered dining chairs but you’ve got kids, we share what’s changed in outdoor fabrics and why they’re now a genuinely stylish, durable option. We also get into leather, vegan leather, patina, and what you’re signing up for with each.You’ll hear our favourite chair picks, plus a more grounded shortlist of brands and stores to explore when budget matters. We also share what’s coming up for Design Anatomy, including our Sydney Milan in Review event at Hali Rugs on 24th June at 6 pm and our live podcast on 17th July at the Melbourne Convention Centre where we answer your questions.Sydney Milan in review 24th June 6pm event tickets hereLive Design Anatomy Podcast Melbourne - Decor + Design Show 17th July 12pmHit play, then subscribe, share with a design mate, and leave a review. Got a question you want us to answer live? Send us a DM and tell us if you want to stay anonymous.Bree is now offering a 90-minute online design consult to help you tackle key challenges like colour selection, furniture curation, layout, and styling. Get tailored one-on-one advice and a detailed follow-up report with actionable recommendations—all without a full-service commitment. Bookings now open -  Book nowLauren also offers design consultations, so if you're needing expert guidance & inspiration for your project, please reach out  @sisalla_interior_designWould you love to be part of a small group of 8 designers joining Lauren & Bree on The Design Anatomy Tour of Paris & Milan Design Week in 2027?Please reach out to us via DM @design.anatomy.podcast, or @sisalla_interior_design & @bree.banfield