15 Modern Dining Chairs That Bring Style to the Table
Chairs might not be the flashiest part of a dining room, but when they’re chosen with intention and a desire to showcase good design, they become the best part of the room. The right chair does more than pull its weight style-wise—it anchors your dining setup, complements your table, and lets you sit comfortably through every meal. So pull up an amazing modern chair from HORNE’s extensive collection to weekday breakfasts and long, lingering dinners with friends.
Iconic Chairs that Bring Style to the Table
If you’re looking for an iconic chair from a master of Mid-Century design, or an understated Scandinavian stool, or just a chair that is plain comfortable, there’s a modern dining chair out there that feels made for your space. We’re always curating the best for our customers, but here are 15 of our favorite options that bring personality, craftsmanship, and everyday usability into perfect balance.
1. Wishbone Chair by Carl Hansen & Søn
The Wishbone Chair is an icon of Mid-Century furniture, and for good reason. Designed by Hans Wegner back in 1949, Wegner’s continual practice of simplification and purification is showcased in this career-defining piece. Wegner’s famous Wishbone Chair features a deeply curved, steam-bent combined back and armrest, and a hand-woven paper cord seat—a composition that never looks dated. Introduce the luxurious expression of the naturally finished beech wood and Wegner’s legacy as Master of the Chair into your dining space.
Style Tip: The Wishbone Chair effortlessly slips into just about any space that leans warm, organic, or mid-century.
2. Collector Dining Chair by Kristina Dam
Where gentle Brutalism meets the excellence of Scandinavian furniture design. Clean, unfussy, and comfortable without looking like it’s trying too hard, the Collector Dining Chair catches the eye with its stark edges, extended third leg that adds extra support to the backrest, and beautiful natural oak. This is the kind of chair you can picture in a Scandinavian kitchen, your local café with the most amazing brunch, or even a pared-back city apartment.
Editor’s Tip: Use the Collector Chair with a strictly modern dining table for an eclectic look.
3. Eames® Molded Plastic Side Chair by Herman Miller
It’s hard to beat the Eames chair when it comes to versatility. The famous couple knew how to capture our hearts with a chair. Their cleverness and unwavering dedication to the craft makes even the most humble chair—like the Molded Plastic Side Chair—a masterpiece. The injection-molded recyclable polypropylene shell and spindle legs works around just about any modern dining table, holds up to daily use, and still feels as fresh and contemporary today as it did decades ago.
Bonus: It’s surprisingly comfy—even without cushions.
4. Beetle Dining Chair by Gubi
If you want your dining room to feel a little softer, the Beetle Chair is a great pick. The Gubi Beetle Dining Chair perfectly captures the essence of what the Beetle collection is all about with its luxuriously curved backrest and seat, and thin, cascading base. This fully upholstered adaptation is a versatile and ergonomic addition to the Gubi collection becoming the most coveted seat in any modern dining room—domestic or commercial.
Styling Tip: Pair the Beetle with round tables, statement lighting, and a moody color palette.
5. Vendia Chair from Skagerak by Fritz Hansen
Don’t forget your outdoor dining spaces, they deserve beautiful seating, too! The Vendia Chair from Skagerak is a gorgeous, slatted, folding chair crafted from timeless teak. This compact chair is perfectly designed to not only withstand the wild weather of the great outdoors but also the long, lovely nights under the stars with friends.
Feels Right At Home In: Garden and patio spaces alongside other teak furniture and décor made from natural materials.
6. Highland Chair by Kalon Studios
Don’t let the slab-like construction of the Highland Chair deceive you—the elegance and grace are in the details. It’s gentle, turned legs, soft lines, and romantic curves are hidden amongst the sharper lines of the backrest and seat. Natural oak absolutely shines in this modern dining chair from Kalon Studios.
Styling Tip: The Highland Chair has fellow Highland pieces, so you can bring them all together for a cohesive dining space.
7. 111 Navy Chair by Emeco
Looking for something a little more eco-friendly? Emeco’s 111 Navy Chair is the perfect fit. In partnership with Coca-Cola, Emeco has recycled PET bottles into this clean, elegant, and sculptural dining chair. The ergonomically shaped 111 Navy Chair is incredibly comfortable in addition to a sustainable alternative to your classic dining chair.
Feels Right At Home In: Minimalist, modern dining rooms and spaces that are used hard by families or restaurant diners.
8. Fan Dining Chair by Tom Dixon
Bold, lightweight, and just a little bit dramatic, the Fan Dining Chair takes point of pride in modern and Scandinavian dining rooms alike. Beautiful natural oak is turned into spindles and arranged in a wide, arching backrest and pedestal stand. Reminiscent of the British Windsor Chair, the Fan Dining Chair is a refreshing take that pulls you into a conservatory aesthetic while dining in any modern dining room.
Great Option For: High-contrast interiors and provincially elegant dining spaces.
9. Violin Dining Chair by Gubi
Crafted as delicately and purposefully as its namesake, the Violin Dining Chair is an elegant and soft design with bold details that draw the eye and create a masterful chair silhouette. This chair banishes all fears of using an upholstered chair in your dining room with its lightweight construction, soft beauty, and delicate details.
Styling Tip: Pair the delicate expression of the Violin Chair with a bold marble table.
10. Ready Dining Chair by Audo Copenhagen
Lightweight but sturdy, the Ready Dining Chair brings a little Nordic soul into any dining room. The wavy combined seat and backrest provides ergonomic comfort and an intriguing silhouette that pairs beautifully with wood, stone, and glass dining tables. This visually striking dining chair exemplifies Danish design excellence and showcases a specialized understanding and appreciation for architecture’s role in home furniture design.
Styling Tip: Mix and match upholstered and unupholstered Ready Dining Chairs for an eclectic look around the dining table.
11. Cover Chair by Muuto
Embodying Scandinavian design values – from the form to the EU Ecolabel certification – the Cover Side Chair breathes refreshing life into any room it enters. Featuring a smooth veneer wrapped into an elegantly curved backrest, folded details, and the option of a leather-upholstered seat, the Cover Side Chair is the perfect smart alternative to the typical wood chair.
Feels Right At Home In: Modest dining rooms epitomizing authentic Scandi design aesthetics.
12. Broom Stacking Chair by Emeco
This chair’s story is almost as good as its design. Made entirely from reclaimed waste materials, the Broom Stacking Chair is versatile, easy to use and store, and effortlessly elegant in all the best ways offered by minimalist design principles. Despite its softer lines and the Broom Chair still manages to look sharp and stylish in all contemporary dining rooms.
Perfect For: Restaurants and offices, or anywhere that needs to accommodate a lot of people.
13. Spanish Dining Chair by Fredericia
A one-of-a-kind take on one of designer Børge Mogensen’s strongest and most iconic designs, the Spanish Dining Chair draws its inspiration from traditional Spanish techniques and materials. The stretched leather of the seat and backrest age gracefully as it becomes weathered and worn – but can then be stretched taut again with the straps and buckles. Combined with the wide armrests and sturdy frame, the organic expression of the leather creates an authentic composition.
Styling Tip: Pair the Spanish Dining Chair with the Library Table.
14. Noa Chair by Tronk
Balance and strength meld with sculptural angles for an easy-going presence in the Noa Chair. Artistic to its very core, the Noa Chair features a metal seat and backrest with a split cutting it down the middle. Bent and molded to form an effortless transition from natural oak legs to the metal seat, the Noa Chair brings an air of sleek calm and warmth to modern dining rooms.
Feels Right At Home In: Industrial spaces that need a subtle splash of natural wood to soften the aesthetic.
15. Herit Chair by Normann Copenhagen
Simon Legald’s Herit Armchair stands at the crossroads of tradition and the future. Named for the heritage that inspired it, this crisp chair design spares no thought for the extraneous while keeping the needs and comfort of the user at heart. What’s more, the Herit Chair is assembled using innovative production methods and offers a versatility and timelessness that makes it a spark of hope for the future of sustainable and desirable design.
Final Thought On Modern Dining Chairs
There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to dining chairs. The best ones are the pieces that feel right in your home, are comfortable to sit in, and durable enough to stick around for years. HORNE has chair options to suit all style preferences, from the strictly modern to the gracefully Nordic, there’s a chair that elevates both the aesthetic of your home and the experience of dining with people you love.
Don’t see what you love? Check out the entire HORNE collection of modern dining chairs.