Creating a truly modern, stylish home comes down to the details. Everything from the lighting above your head to the flooring beneath your feet contributes to the overall aesthetic of your home. That’s why even something as simple as chair height requires thoughtful consideration and planning. At the end of the day, the design of your built-in bar or the beauty of your table settings won’t matter if your guests can’t fit their knees under the table to comfortably enjoy sitting there.
Luckily, choosing the right chair height isn’t a big mystery to be solved. For every potential setting, there is an easy formula you can follow to ensure your guests are comfortable and the results are visually pleasing. In fact, you can probably guess right now what the first rule of chair height should be: the chair height should follow the height of the table.
But what does that mean in practice?
A good rule of thumb is that there should be a 12-inch difference between the top of the table and the chair itself. Simple, right? It is! But there are a few caveats to consider. First, you’re going to want to make sure to factor the thickness of your cushion to ensure you’re actually getting the full 12 inches of space. For adjustable office-style chairs, you’ll want to make sure to match your seated elbow height with the table surface for the best ergonomics. You’ll also want to consider the height of the people using the chairs. If you’re family is on the taller side, you might want a little more clearance, whereas shorter individuals may want access to a footrest so as to not feel like they’re left dangling.
You’ll also want to keep an eye out for table aprons or under-supports that reduce legroom and factor that into the 12-inch clearance rule. Chair arms should fit under the table if present, and backless stools should be able to easily slide under the table for storage.
Now that we’ve talked chair height basics, let’s chat about the three types of chairs you’re most likely to have around your kitchen table, bar, or countertop.
Table Height Chairs
Table height chairs are the most common type of chairs you’ll find around the dining table in any home. Because a standard table height is 28-30 inches, that means you’re going to want your table height chair to be around 17-19 inches. This leaves everyone around the table a comfortable 10-12 inches of space between the seat and the underside of the table, which is comfortable for most people.
Of course, you’ll want to keep all the considerations we mentioned above in mind — from cushion thickness to the height of those most likely to be seated around the table. You’ll also want to do some measuring on your own to double-check the height of your table against these numbers and adjust your chair height math accordingly.
Then, voilá! You’ve created a comfortable environment for holidays, dinner, and family time around the table.
Counter Height Chairs
Another common chair you’ll find in the modern kitchen is the counter-height chair. The standard counter is 36 inches, so, using the same handy chair height equation we just applied to tables, that means your ideal counter height chair will be anywhere from 24-26 inches.
You’ll often see these types of chairs around a kitchen island, as a way to foster the communal kitchen experience that works perfectly with the modern Italian design aesthetic we often create for our NOLI clients, as you can see in the home of this client in Covington, Kentucky.
Bar Height Chairs
The least common chair height you’ll encounter in a private residence is the bar height chair. As you can probably guess, these are chairs that are most likely to be found around a bar, which is why you’re more likely to see them in a restaurant or commercial space. Standard bar height is around 40-42 inches, so using the same handy math we’ve been using, that means your ideal chair height is going to be around 28-30 inches.
With bar height chairs, you’re going to want to be extra diligent to ensure guests comfort by taking into consideration things like footrests, cushioning, and back support, so your guests can enjoy having drinks around your home bar in style and comfort.
NOLI has experience designing for all types of table heights
Whether you’re designing a space that needs table height chairs, counter height chairs, bar height chairs, or all three, NOLI has the experience you need to select the perfect chairs for your modern home. Stop by our Cincinnati showroom or reach out via our contact page to get started.
