9 best dining chairs that are comfortable and stylish for all budgets

Beautifully made and brilliantly retro, this mid-century-inspired dining chair oozes cool. Handcrafted in India using top-quality buffalo leather, the button-tufted seat pad and backrest offer firm but comfy support in an otherwise hard-edged, angular piece. It may look laidback, but the upright Curzon ensures good posture at the dining table. The frame is crafted from tubular matt-black iron, while the chair boasts a 50cm seat height, making it slightly taller than most. Seven rich dyed-leather tones are available, but we loved ours in blue. It brought style, sophistication, and a welcome splash of colour to our rustic wooden table.

Our top luxury pick comes in the form of this sculptural beauty from Sazy. Thanks to its cocooning curved frame, the Lester works just as well as a standalone statement armchair as it does in multiples around an equally stylish dining table. The sturdy black wooden frame is sleek, clean-lined, and contemporary with its striking plinth-like back (to be admired while the chair is tucked in), while the padded seat and backrest offer a glamorous 1970s vibe, whether you choose the mustard, black and white, or khaki-blue colourway. Upholstered in a rich polyester velvet, it is both sumptuous and hard-edged, while its deep seat and hugging backrest offer a comfy and luxurious sit.

Designed to blend with the brand’s stylish wishbone dining chairs, bar stools and benches in the same range, Dunelm’s Lara junior dining chair is as cute as it is functional. Downsized to suit little diners, and with a raised footrest and wraparound backrest to keep them steady at the table, it’s one for design-savvy parents and kids alike. The woven cane seat is shaped for support, while the wooden frame is either a natural beech or sleek black for a pleasing contrast. We loved this thoughtfully designed piece, which gave our little tester a proper seat at the table.

Combining laidback Seventies appeal with a cool, Scandi aesthetic is this generously proportioned dining chair, sold in a set of two. The Turner requires some very simple self-assembly with an allen key to attach the seat and backrest to the tubular frame. Once put together, the chair gives instant impact, with its sleek silhouette and attractive contrasting materials: intricately woven PVC rattan is outlined in black wood, while the frame is a shiny chrome. The seat may look perfectly flat, but it gives a little bounce when you sit down, making it firm but comfy. We also loved the way the chair slides under the table, keeping the look clean-lined and fuss-free.

Also sold in a set of two is this deceptively real but actually faux leather dining chair from Wayfair. Simple in form with its continuous curvy and ergonomic shaping, the upholstered chair is padded for extra comfort and it offers excellent support for the lower back, allowing diners to sit for longer. The upholstery material has all the tonal variations and mottled visual texture of real leather, while the contrasting solid steel looping legs in black offer a slice of cool, industrial chic. Surprisingly real-looking and surprisingly comfy.

With its open back, the Scottie proves a striking, design-led piece, but one that offers enough support where you need it. In fact, the curved wishbone backrest proves perfectly comfortable, as does the paper rattan seat. Crafted from solid oak with a light blond finish, the dining chair brings a welcome Scandinavian cool to the table. Thanks to its simple design, the Scottie also tucks in and blends neatly, whether it’s paired with an equally calming light wood dining table or a contrasting rustic reclaimed wooden number. This one is sleek, well-crafted, and effortlessly stylish.

If you’re after seriously plush seating at your dining table, Oak Furnitureland’s Marlene hits all the right notes. As with all the brand’s wooden furniture offerings, this dining chair is crafted from a high-quality solid wood, yet in this case we only see the mid-toned, honey-hued oak legs. Upholstered in a rich polyester velvet, the ergonomically designed seat proves incredibly comfy with both lower and upper back support, while the material itself is reliably hard-wearing.

Temptingly, you can get this one at half price (£95) if you buy a table to complete your dining room set-up.

Country kitchen charm can work just as well in an informal dining room as it does in an eat-in cooking space. Homebase’s offering awards the traditional spindle chair an elegant uplift, with cleaner, modern lines, and in this case, a vibrant splash of forest green – a much-loved colour trend that’s still going strong. Crafted from solid birch, and lacquered for a silky-smooth finish, the high-backed chair brings homely warmth and a welcome colour pop, while its delicately moulded seat adds extra comfort for longer stays at the table. This one’s also available in black, charcoal or navy for those who prefer to tone it down.

Inspired by mid-century modern design, the Layla is an instant classic. But where true vintage dining chairs of this ilk are often upholstered in squeaky man-made materials, Atkin and Thyme’s take is seriously plush. Both the seat pad and backrest are given more depth than usual, and both are covered in a rich cotton velvet that feels luxurious to the touch. The dark, stained-wood frame is stylishly curved yet solid and chunky enough to give it some pleasing weight, and a feeling of being grounded and steady. A luxe update on a Danish original.