Designers Say Mismatched Dining Chairs Are In

Experts share tips for elegantly mixing and matching dining chairs

Apr. 7, 2026 at 8:34pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a single, iconic dining chair repeated in a tight grid pattern, capturing the playful and personalized nature of the mismatched dining chair trend.Designers are encouraging homeowners to embrace a mix-and-match approach to dining chairs, creating visually interesting and comfortable spaces that reflect personal style.Round Top Today

Designers are embracing the trend of mismatched dining chairs, moving away from uniform sets. While there's a logic to the process, the goal is to create a cohesive yet comfortable look that avoids stiff symmetry. Experts recommend incorporating antique, vintage, or whimsical chairs, keeping seat heights consistent, and choosing sleek silhouettes.

Why it matters

This trend reflects a broader shift in interior design towards livability and personal style over strict formality. Mixing dining chairs allows homeowners to infuse more character and personality into their spaces, moving away from the rigidity of matching sets.

The details

Designers suggest several strategies for elegantly mismatching dining chairs. Incorporating antique or vintage chairs from places like the Round Top Antiques Fair can create an 'Alice in Wonderland' feel. Reusing existing chairs from one's own collection helps maintain a cohesive aesthetic. Experimenting with whimsical shapes and materials adds a playful touch. Keeping seat heights consistent is key to ensuring comfortable dining. And choosing chairs with sleek, simple silhouettes helps the look stay cohesive.

  • The trend of mismatched dining chairs has emerged in 2026.

The players

Stelly Selway

Co-principal of the design firm Stelly Selway.

Tanya Selway

Co-principal of the design firm Stelly Selway.

Lauren Buxbaum Gordon

Partner at Nate Berkus Associates.

Britt Zunino

Partner at Studio DB.

Garance Rousseau

Interior designer.

Ryan Maxwell

Founder of Apartment Therapy.

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What they’re saying

“There's an Alice in Wonderland feel to the dining experience here, so we wanted each of the chairs to have its own character.”

— Benjamin Stelly, Co-principal, Stelly Selway

“There's something that's both formal and beautiful about the construction of each of them, but it's balanced with the casual nature of being mix-matched.”

— Tanya Selway, Co-principal, Stelly Selway

“When styling a table, I always pull from my existing vintage accessories so that it's coming from a collection consistent with what's already around my home.”

— Lauren Buxbaum Gordon, Partner, Nate Berkus Associates

“Our work doesn't shy away from mixing unexpected materials, colors, or furniture from different eras. We have a lot of fun in homes where we lean into the original architectural details of the space while using furniture and accessories as an opportunity to infuse the more playful personality of the people living there.”

— Britt Zunino, Partner, Studio DB

“Beyond that, I don't have strict guidelines.”

— Garance Rousseau, Interior designer

The takeaway

The trend of mismatched dining chairs reflects a broader shift in interior design towards embracing personal style, comfort, and livability over strict formality. By incorporating a mix of antique, vintage, and whimsical chairs, homeowners can infuse more character and personality into their dining spaces.