Good Chairs for a Farmhouse Table

A farmhouse table is usually a sturdy table with simple lines made of a good wood. This type of table is not pretentious but often looks welcoming and friendly. Usually there are signs of wear and age that add to the table's ambiance. Farmhouse tables are common to country, lodge and rustic decor styles. Does this Spark an idea?

Rustic Wooden Chair

Antique wooden chairs work very well with farmhouse tables.

Visit antique stores, flea markets, garage sales and thrift stores looking for unusual rustic wooden chairs. Most wood chairs can be repaired easily if they feel a little unsteady. Look for broken wood or rot. If the chair's wood is solid, you can often find cool chairs at inexpensive prices. Worn edges, patina and old paint can all look really good when paired with a farmhouse table. The objective is not to match chairs but to match the feeling the chair evokes of comfort and a welcoming feeling.

Upright Wooden Chairs

Upright wooden chairs with tall backs are easy to find.

Look for upright wooden chairs with taller backs. These come in a variety of designs, but they were common to the early part of the last century and there are a lot of them around in barns and attics. Peeling paint can be sanded and a clear coat sprayed to give a chair enough of a finish to make it easy to wipe down after a spaghetti meal shared with children.

Benches and School Chairs

A schoolhouse chair may have unusual storage behind and below the chair for an added detail.

For smaller rooms, use an upright wooden bench along the wall on one side of the table and schoolhouse chairs mixed with other wooden chairs along the open side. The bench will anchor the table and allow a larger table to be used in a smaller room. The scale of older chairs is usually smaller than newer chairs so you can fit more chairs at the table and seat more guests.

Upholstered Chairs

Vintage upholstered chairs add comfort and whimsey to a seating arrangement around old tables.

Locate older style upholstered armchairs that have tapestry or vintage fabric. The arms of the chair should fit under the tabletop when possible. Look for simple shapes and interesting colors and fabrics. Position one upholstered chair at each end of the farmhouse table. If the fabric isn't in the best shape, throw a small quilt over the back or seat of the chair. Small quilt samplers can also be turned into cushions for the wooden chairs to maintain the look.