Investment Button Back Dining Chairs: Pieces You’ll Love for Decades

Button back dining chairs have been part of British interiors for well over a century, and a well made example can be enjoyed for decades. This article explains what separates an investment chair from one that will look tired after a few years. We begin with the frame, the hidden structure that allows a chair to be reupholstered many times over its life, and explain how to recognise solid construction. We then look at the quality of the buttoning itself, the strengths of leather, velvet and woven fabrics, and the importance of sturdy legs and a supportive seat. You will find guidance on choosing a timeless shape and colour that will suit your home through redecorating and even a move, along with advice on building a dining room around your chairs with the right table, sideboard, walls and lighting. We finish with everyday, periodic and long term care, including when reupholstery makes sense....