9 Modern Dining Chairs All Under $120
After a decade, it was finally time to upgrade our dining chairs. I considered many options and scouted thrift stores and barn sales for months. I knew I wanted something sturdy and timeless to fit into our neutral home decor. From casual to formal, there were so many chair options! It was difficult to decide. Today, I’m sharing some of my favorite modern dining chairs (all under $120) and some tips on choosing the right ones for your space.
(Part of my design journey includes sourcing products and sharing them with you! Naturally, some of my content includes affiliate links, which means, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a commission if you click and purchase. This commission allows me to write more content and support our family, so thank you!)
dining chair tips
- The top of the chair should be above the table height
- If you’re working with a small room, choose an armless chair that can push all the way in under the dining table
- The chair seat should be about 12″ from the table top for leg room
- Black Wishbone Dining Chairs (these are the ones we have now and what I chose for our Dining Room Remodel)
- Natural Wood Chairs (and these ones too!)
- Wood and Black Dining Room Chair
- Metal and Woven Chairs (perfect for a California Coastal Dining Room Design)
- Mid Century Armless Chairs
- Faux Leather Dining Room Chairs
During my search, I found these beautiful wishbone chairs. They definitely feel at home in remodeled dining room! The rounded chair backs, balances all of the lines going on in here. I wasn’t sure how comfortable they’d be but everyone seems to enjoy sitting in them (even Gnocchi!).
What’s Your Interior Design Style?
Additionally, the contrasting woven seat on these chairs adds texture I’m always looking for! Texture is one of the 7 Elements of Interior Design so these chairs are a nice way to add that depth and warmth to the space.
While searching for chair options, I came up with a list of contenders. Here are a few other modern dining chairs I think would work work well in many dining rooms that I had on my list:
Dining Chair Options
Update 2023: I moved homes after this original post and with the smaller dining space, I opted for these more streamlined wood chairs. They slide under the table and have a beautiful natural wood shade.
And so you might be wondering, what are the types of dining chairs? There are quite a few options. First, the arm chair which is slightly more formal. The wishbone chair I originally selected is a type of arm chair. Arm chairs also take up more room since they don’t usually slide under table.
There are also Parsons chairs, wingback, and ladder back chairs among other styles.
If you’re not sure about what size dining chair you need, dining chair size guide can be helpful. I also like using furniture I already have on hand to test out different heights and sizes. For example, I might pull in an office chair or outdoor chair to see get a rough idea of seat height, proportion to table, or general shape. Sometimes, this gives me a whole new idea about possible decor styles!
And if you’re looking for a splurge, I adore these Woven Side Chairs which are neutral but also create quite the interior design impact!
Looking for other types of chairs? Check out my roundup of Low Profile Accent Chairs which offer a great solution for smalls spaces or open concept living areas.