16 Midcentury Dining Chairs (and Their Contemporary Counterparts) We’re Currently Coveting
Whether you mix and match or grab a set, these seats will give your home a timeless touch.
Text by
For chair design that pays no attention to trends, look no further than this collection. Below are midcentury classics—and newcomers that play the part—and all will give your dining area a major upgrade (even if your dining table turns into an office now and then).
Arne Jacobsen helped shape design history when he accommodated three different bends in one piece of plywood, simply by narrowing the center. The resulting Ant Chair (1952) has a back with a gentle give and comfortable curved seat.
Geroge Nakashima was an MIT-trained architect who described himself as a “Japanese Shaker” – an expression of his interest in creating unadorned, functional objects.
Ward Bennett based the design of his Landmark Chair on the shape of a classic English chair. He then pared away what he deemed to be nonessential elements of the design to reveal the beauty inherent to the chair’s function: in a word, comfort.
Matthew Hilton created the Profile Chair (2005) to accompany his Cross Extension Table, which was honored with the 2006 Elle Decoration Best in Furniture Award. An ergonomic solution for dining, this chair is simply shaped with splayed legs and an angled back that’s curved for comfortable support.
Modern with a sculptural silhouette, our Kelso Arm Chair is defined by an elegantly curved backrest and a comfortably contoured solid wood seat. Designed to pair with our selection of dining tables, Kelso is available in three wood types.
Proof that an inexpensive mass-produced plastic chair doesn’t have to sacrifice form or color. The Élémentaire Chair (2018) has a delicate look but is strong enough for everyday use. Not too loud, not too shy, just exactly balanced.
Industrial designers Alex Selma and Clara del Portillo met at an exhibition for young designers in 2004.
Three years after designing his iconic Wassily Chair, which is believed to be the first bent tubular steel chair design, Marcel Breuer created the Cesca Chair (1928).
The Decade Dining Chair is a dining chair made of 100% recycled plastic. Highly robust, Decade's smooth surface features gentle curves and slopes. Because of its simplicity, the Decade Dining Chair will pair easily with any dining room set.
Møller furniture is made by a company founded in 1944 by Niels Otto Møller, a craftsman who “never compromised on anything,” says his son. Even today the company uses old craft traditions like handwoven seats, which on the Model 78 Chair (1962) are made from a single 425-foot-long cord.
Bringing together the design philosophies from Japan and Denmark, the Karimoku Case Study Chair (2018) by Norm Architects delivers exceptional craftsmanship in a minimalist, inviting piece.
A 1999 revision to the classic Panton chair--and the last version authorized by Verner Panton. The plastic in this model has been completely re-engineered and molded out of a single piece of dyed polypropylene. It also has a matte surface (the 1959/60 original version has a glossy finish). Finally..
After opening his own workshop in 1923, Jean Prouvé began producing furniture of his own and collaborating with some of the best-known French designers of the day, including Le Corbusier and Charlotte Perriand.
Inspired by an unlikely source – the wire shelves inside a refrigerator—designer Hee Welling created the Hee Collection (2004) for HAY. The durable powder-coated finish makes the Hee Dining Chair suitable for indoor and outdoor use by protecting the solid steel underneath.
Meet a chair that brings a new kind of comfort to everyday life with its unique versatility and dynamic, an earth-friendly design that enriches your home, your well-being, and our planet.
In his groundbreaking collection of 1957, Eero Saarinen transformed executive seating into a fluid, sculptural form. Comfortable and beautiful, the Saarinen Executive Chair with Wooden Legs is a silhouette that is a cornerstone of modern design.
The Kelso Chair is presented in partnership with Rejuvenation.
We love the products we feature and hope you do, too. If you buy something through a link on the site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Related Reading:
Architects Zoe Chan Eayrs and Merlin Eayrs on Creating a Captivating Dining Area
Our Favorite Rectangular Dining Tables That Cost Less Than $1,000
Published
Last Updated
Get the Shop Newsletter
Smart shopping for the design obsessed. Find what you love in our expertly curated selection of finely crafted home, office, travel, and lifestyle products.