Shopping smart for dining chairs at Christmas comes down to planning ahead. Measure your table and room before you browse, decide how many seats you really need all year round, prioritise construction and fabric quality over novelty, and order early enough that delivery arrives well before your first festive gathering. A seasonal purchase should still be a chair you are happy to live with in March, not just on Christmas Day.
The festive season is when many households suddenly notice their dining chairs. Extra guests, long lunches and evenings spent around the table all put seating to the test. It is also a time when people browse more and make decisions more quickly, which can lead to choices that suit one week of the year rather than the other fifty one. A little preparation helps you avoid that.
Before thinking about Christmas itself, consider an ordinary week. How many people eat at the table most days? Is the table also a desk, a homework station or a place for board games? Do children sit there, or pets climb on the chairs?
Your answers shape what kind of chair makes sense. A household of two that hosts eight at Christmas does not necessarily need eight matching dining chairs. Four good chairs for daily use, plus a bench or folding chairs for guests, may serve far better. A busy family, on the other hand, might value wipeable faux leather or durable wood over delicate fabric.
Measuring is the most reliable way to avoid disappointment. Note the height of your table from the floor to the top surface and to the underside of any apron or frame. Most tables sit at about 75cm, and most dining chairs have a seat height of around 45 to 48cm, which leaves comfortable leg room.
Next, measure the length and width of the table and allow roughly 60cm of table edge per person for comfortable dining. Chairs with arms or wide upholstered backs may need more. Then check the space around the table: around 75cm between the table edge and the nearest wall allows people to pull chairs out and sit down.
If you plan to seat extra guests over the holidays, an extending table can make more of a difference than extra chairs. Our modern extending dining tables UK are designed for households that need more space on occasion without a large table all year.
A common mistake is buying enough chairs for the largest gathering of the year and then living with a crowded room the rest of the time. Think about where extra chairs will go when they are not needed. If you have a hallway, bedroom corner or study where two chairs can sit comfortably, a larger set may work. If not, consider flexible seating.
Benches are a practical solution. A bench can seat two or three people along one side of the table and slides underneath when not in use. Our modern dining benches UK pair well with chairs and make festive seating far easier to manage in smaller homes.
A chair can look appealing in photographs yet feel quite different in daily use. Take time to read product details carefully. Useful points to look for include:
If a product description is vague, it is reasonable to ask the retailer for more detail before ordering. A clear answer is usually a good sign.
Christmas brings red wine, gravy, chocolate and candle wax, sometimes all at the same meal. The fabric on your chairs should be able to cope. Velvet is a popular festive choice for its rich colour and soft feel, and many modern velvets are surprisingly practical, with tightly woven piles that resist crushing and can be spot cleaned.
Deep jewel tones such as emerald, sapphire and burgundy work particularly well in winter and continue to look elegant throughout the year. Browse our velvet dining chairs UK sale for designs that bring warmth to a dining room during the colder months.
If you have young children or frequent guests, faux leather and wipeable fabrics are sensible alternatives. For pale upholstery, check whether the fabric has a stain resistant finish.
Christmas lunch can easily stretch across an afternoon, followed by games, puddings and conversation that carries on well into the evening. A chair that feels fine for a quick breakfast may not be comfortable for four hours. Look for a seat depth of around 40 to 50cm, a back with a slight recline and padding that feels supportive rather than simply soft.
If you already own a chair you find comfortable, measure it and use it as a reference when comparing new options online. Seat height, seat depth and back angle are the details that most affect how a chair feels over time. Upholstered backs and gently curved shapes tend to be kinder during long sittings than flat, upright designs.
Festive styling is temporary; your chairs are not. A chair in a strong seasonal colour can be lovely, but consider how it will look in the brighter light of spring and summer. Deep green, navy and charcoal tend to transition well. Bright red or metallic finishes may feel less suitable once the decorations are packed away.
Shape matters too. Classic silhouettes such as a curved back, a simple wooden frame or a tailored upholstered chair are less likely to date. If you want to add festive character, do it through seat pads, table linen and centrepieces rather than through the chairs themselves.
The busiest weeks before Christmas are not the best time to be waiting for furniture. Couriers are busy, and it is stressful to wonder whether chairs will arrive before guests do. Ordering in November or early December gives you time to receive, assemble and use the chairs before the big day.
Check the delivery information carefully when ordering. We offer free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes, and Returns are available up to 30 days, which gives some reassurance if something does not suit your room once it arrives. Keep packaging until you are sure the chairs are right.
It is also worth thinking about access. Measure doorways, stairwells and narrow hallways if chairs arrive assembled or in large boxes. This is particularly relevant in older UK homes and flats with tight turns.
Seasonal sale collections can be a good way to discover chairs you might otherwise overlook, but they work best when you arrive with clear requirements. Keep your measurements, preferred materials, colour palette and number of chairs to hand. This makes it easier to filter quickly and avoid choosing something simply because it catches your eye.
Our dining room furniture UK sale section brings chairs, tables and sets together in one place, which is helpful if you are comparing options side by side.
If your current table is also due for replacement, buying a matching set removes much of the guesswork. The proportions, seat heights and styles are designed to work together, and you avoid the risk of chairs that do not fit neatly under the table. That said, mixing chairs and tables can give a more personal result if you are confident with measurements and style.
Once the chairs arrive, a few small steps make hosting easier. Add felt pads to chair feet to protect floors when chairs are moved frequently. Check that all fixings are tight after assembly. If you have pale fabric chairs, keep a gentle upholstery cleaner nearby for quick spot treatment.
Seat pads and chair covers can protect everyday chairs during large gatherings and add a festive touch. They are easy to remove afterwards, leaving the chairs ready for normal life in January.
At Furniture in Fashion, we encourage people to treat a Christmas chair purchase like any other: measured, thoughtful and focused on how the chairs will be used over years rather than days. With the right preparation, the chairs you choose for the festive season will continue to serve your home long after the last mince pie has gone.
Ordering in November or early December allows time for delivery, assembly and any exchanges before the busiest part of the season.
Performance velvet, faux leather and stain resistant woven fabrics are practical choices. They cope well with spills and are easy to spot clean.
Buy enough for everyday use, then add a bench or occasional chairs for larger gatherings. This keeps the room comfortable for the rest of the year.
A set guarantees matching proportions and saves time. Separate chairs give more freedom, provided you check seat height, width and the space under your table carefully.
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