I wouldn't spend a penny on chairs that so very date your room. Whatever you spend for fabric and the labor for reupholstering, it's likely you could purchase new chairs for less money.

Every new piece you add to the room makes the dining room set look more and more out of place.

Here are options from Target.

A new chandelier would help the room also

I love what you've done so far but I have to agree with Beverly. The table and sideboard are nice but the chairs aren't doing anything for the room. Reupholstering is expensive so unless you're very attached to these chairs or they're expensive I'd just replace them with all fabric ones.

I hope you will change your mind and use art rather than a mirror over your buffet. I know we USED to do that all of the time, but times have changed and so should we. Consider buffet lamps and a beautiful urn, some botanical prints, or perhaps a collection of plates that you may already have. Now, the upholstery. Nothing updates a tired upholstered dining chair like an animal print. Rather than paint the buffet, paint the chairs, then upholster them. Thanks for sharing! https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-country-french-home-traditional-dining-room-miami-phvw-vp~567650

I would upholster the frontback and seat in a Perennial (or similar) solid and the seat back in a print that includes the shade of your walls and orange. Because I love a touch of orange with that blue. (like this https://www.etsy.com/listing/633315605/one-or-both-sides-one-duralee-lisboa?ref=shop_home_active_47&frs=1 Of course you could use another blue,yellow, green,gray,most any accent shade. The print would determine the solid colour used. I would also stick with art over the buffet but a simple mirror that reflects a large piece of art might be fun. Good luck! ps-or maybe I'd put a OTT Josef Frank print on the back and very plain graphic botanicals on the walls...point is to have fun and make it yours.

Patricia, could you explain why mirrors over buffets are no longer done? I always loved how the mirror reflected a chandelier's light in the evening.

OP, you're not worried your cat will do a number on the newly covered chairs? :/ (Asking as a cat owner.) In any case, you could look into those Crypton fabrics that sound perfect for a dining room. Have you gotten an estimate from a good upholsterer?

Here are some fabric ideas:

https://images.fabric.com/images/400/400/0514719.jpg

https://images.fabric.com/images/400/400/0537505.jpg

Road to Canton - on sale at Tonic Living

(Sorry, I was unsuccessful at posting those images. Can find sources if interested.)

I like a formal wood table and chairs in a formal dining room. I think with new upholstery and maybe (maybe!) painting the chairs your room will look beautiful.

You could also break up the wood by putting the bench on the other side of the table and the two chairs by the buffet.

But to be honest I think I would prefer most six matching chairs rather than the bench. Do you have the sixth chair? Or would you consider adding in a slightly more formal style tufted upholstered bench, the colour of your walls or slightly lighter?

For upholstery this could be a nice look, updated but still quite traditional. Leather-look on the seats to match the wood, and a simple open floral in the wall colour on a light background for the backs.

it's going to cost at least 350-500 per chair to get them redone. why don't you just buy new chairs like Beverly mentioned?

I love your dark teal walls. a nice leopard print would look great, but I'd still do diff chairs.

this is one you may like. (you could paint your chairs a soft white/linen color and upholster w/something like this. maybe do the leopard on the back). Get two new captains chairs. I also really like this table instead of the one you have.

and of course you would need a peacock art piece.

other teal rooms. the cheetah print or snow leopard looks great w/teal and gold accents.

Make sure you put a scratching post in the corner or the cats will just keep scratching the chairs. (put cat nip on the scratcher and place one or two near the chairs. as they start to use the post, slowly move it away and into a corner. if you have to show them how to scratch, then do so. in the interim, cover your chairs w/towels. yeah i know, not the look you want, but they already have the habit. you have to slowly break it)

coordinating colors w/your teal

Your dining room ideabook has lots of examples of color and pattern. I think you could do something along the lines of this sea-foam I found in your idea book. Perhaps with some pattern on the upholstery.

Here are a few fabrics that I found and Lewis and Sheron that might appeal to you, as well.

Here's why it's good to select upholstery before you paint. Here is a great chair that won't work your paint unfortunately.

http://catalog.zgallerie.com/be-our-guest/product/2037568

Thank you for all the great feedback! I appreciate everyone’s input.
The dining table and chairs belonged to my grandmother - that’s the reason I wanted to reupholster rather than replace the chairs. My friend’s mother does reupholstery and offered to help me out if I go that route. The 6th chair is broken and we enjoy having a bench but I’m not opposed to painting it or the chairs.
That being said, if I find chairs I like...I may just purchase new ones instead. I like some of the ones from target that were suggested by Beverly but do you think the legs on those will look out of place with all the wood?
Someone commented about it & I know you are supposed to pick fabric/chairs out before paint but I knew I really wanted that wall color (it flows nicely with the mustard yellow in the kitchen) - bottom line was that the walls had to change and I was hoping that would help me find a direction to go with the rest of the room.
I’m not dead set on a mirror over the buffet and prefer having art or some other type of decor.... but my husband and I haven’t been able to find a large unique piece that we agree on. (That includes before we painted and didn’t have a particular color to keep in mind) He suggested a mirror because I complain about how bare the walls are & once we find something we like we can put it on the opposite wall. For example, I like the peacock that someone suggested but he doesn’t care for it.
Yes, the chandelier will be replaced when we figure out the rest of the room!

Remember that the art doesn't have to "go" with the wall colour! If you and husband find something you both love you can hang it here with no problem. Art is not decor :-)

According to this chart, you'd probably need 4.5 yards of fabric. Perhaps that can help you budget. As you've seen above, you can do different fabrics on chairs like yours so if you fall in love with a pricey fabric, you can put it on the back and find something less expensive for the front and seats. Reupholstery offers you endless customization opportunities.

FWIW, I like your furniture and chandelier. I don't know what your budget is for this room but when I see quality furniture that has been handed down, I think it's usually worth keeping. (Provided the owner likes it, of course!)

ETA: Can't believe I forgot to share this inspiration link! Someone shared it on another upholstery thread and I bookmarked it to remind myself of the transformative power of creativity. And this one, shared by partim1.

Love these two examples of using fun complimentary fabrics to remake an old chair.

Wow ! Is reupholstering really that expensive !
I was thinking of doing that instead of replacing our dining room set

Sometimes if you ask around you can find people that will do upholstering for much less. It doesn't mean they're not as good either. But it's still not cheap and neither is fabric. Your chairs have piping on the back and seat cushions and that's more work. You could skip the tufting with buttons.

dabjg, here is a recent article on upholstery costs for dining chairs with prices from two upholsterers, one in Miami and one in L.A. Labour per chair was $70 to $100.

If your chairs are a simple seat design, you can probably do it yourself. DIY - Dining seat

i agree, chairs today can be really crappy, it may not make sense to get rid of them, on the other hand, if they are already at the end of their lives, it may not make sense to reupholster, would slipcovers work? a beautiful landscape, portrait or still life would suit your traditional decor.