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Comfy dining chairs?

5 years ago

I have gone down the wayfair rabbit hole SO many times. Help me!


I’m looking for comfortable, sturdy, wipeable (vinyl or leather) dining chairs suitable for the big butted.


We have vinyl parsons chairs from Pier 1 now that haven’t held up all that well.


any recommendations for me? I’m in Canada.


here’s my top contender but a little worried about the bucket.


Comments (42)

  • 5 years ago

    I find that seating is incredibly personal. What fits my butt might not fit yours. Comfort is in the rear of the sitter, as they say.

    I'm in a similar position. I need an easy chair. Finally got up my nerve to go to a store and actually try one that I had seen online and it looked perfect. It wasn't.

    robo (z6a) thanked sushipup1
  • 5 years ago

    Check out cb2 in Canada. They have some contenders. I would want to sit in them before purchasing, though. Also, check Ikea. I sat in one of their leather dining chairs recently and was surprised how comfortable it was, although it felt a bit spindly for my overweight bum.

    robo (z6a) thanked Fun2BHere
  • 5 years ago

    We have the Lowe chair from Crate and Barrel, upholstered in fabric but also comes in leather. Sturdy, comfy, and I think a great value for the price.

    https://www.crateandbarrel.com/lowe-pewter-leather-dining-chair/s306032

    robo (z6a) thanked Sueb20
  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    I’m very intrigued by the Lowe chair and I see they actually ship to my postal code now! (West elm does not)

    it’s very hard finding stuff to sit on, out here in the boonies!!


    curses - just read review for the Lowe and apparently the leather version cracks and peels in short order. Back to the drawing board!


    I checked out the cb2 site and they have VERY cool looking chairs but look more comfy for the svelte.

  • 5 years ago

    I love the look of this chair from IKEA but the back is surprisingly low and too flexible. It’s also apparently murder on hardwood.




  • 5 years ago

    I dont think is the style you are looking for, but this type of chair is very easy to clean, and comfy because the weave has give. This was one of the better deals I saw (two-for) and they do ship to Canada.


    They come in 5 colors, too. https://www.frontgate.com/paris-bistro-collection/648449?listIndex=0&offers_sku=68631%20BLA&SourceCode=ZZ51120&intlShippingCtx=US%7CUSD&catargetid=120245420002921652&cadevice=c&gclid=Cj0KCQiAhs79BRD0ARIsAC6XpaVgCOo8JQLXAHIHEiQ0BUs_8RKGapL6Hv2olqmmAOuLghNGkO3sLsEaAuz6EALw_wcB


    My only other idea would be Parsons with slipcovers.




    overstock has a deal too : featuredoption=12037026&kid=9553000357392&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=15820414-000-000&cnc=US&guid=271126b8-118a-4a3b-a459-05db81ee5524&sponsoredproductid=18408593&cid=248961&type=pla&targetid=pla-431180529754&track=pspla&gclid=Cj0KCQiAhs79BRD0ARIsAC6XpaU48IcVIUg1Cr6psJNBO77g6F97N53SLdCO79cyKqLjMfeOaJy67nkaAmrJEALw_wcB

    robo (z6a) thanked mtnrdredux_gw
  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago
  • 5 years ago

    mtn i love the look of your bistro chairs! I think they wouldn't tolerate yoghurt squished into their crevices quite as seamlessly as I'd prefer. Little kids! Ruining decor since forever.


    I really like the look of chair #2. White ... would be a big sell. I wish the blue ones were pleather instead of velvet! I'm so into blue right now.

  • 5 years ago

    Just a note: the bistro chairs Mtn shows can be hosed off. We have 2 incredibly comfortable Woven outdoor Braxton Culler chairs in our breakfast area. I just take outside once a year and hose off. We don’t have mashed food, but dust does collect within the weaves.

    robo (z6a) thanked deeinohio
  • 5 years ago

    Oy. I went through something similar looking for "executive" chairs for a conference room. Literally hours and hours trying to find the elusive "good value" option. Something that wasn't ridiculously expensive or crap. We ended up reupholstering what we had, since it contained REAL wood which is incredibly expensive to replace in a chair, the good stuff that is.

    The problem with the bucket chairs is it's one set angle, which you either love or hate . . . We had metal chairs with soft seats covered in vinyl growing up as a kid, in the informal dining area. Survived several easy reupholster jobs. In the dining room, same style but hardwood. They make clear vinyl guards you can put over the legs..

    I have one of these left linked below. A new one sells for $1,300. That is highway robbery. My dad would laugh considering how many of those he scrapped in the 60's, he was in the scrap metal business. That's how I got the one I have . . . . I suppose there are knockoffs but they aren't cheap either . . .


    https://hivemodern.com/pages/product3742/knoll-harry-bertoia-side-chair-back-pad-seat-cushion

    robo (z6a) thanked l pinkmountain
  • 5 years ago

    robo, I used to have that IKEA chair, the Bernhard. It's a good quality chair and looks great. It does have a bit of "give" to it, though, which could be disconcerting for larger occupants. It manifests as a bit of rocking front to back. It has those little skids on the bottom to protect it and hardwoods, but you still have to be careful. All that being said, my ex took them when we divorced and I don't miss them.


    I replaced them with the IKEA Odger chair below, in a brown paper bag color that it appears has been discontinued. This chair is made out of the same sort of plastic as Playmobil toys, and is similarly indestructible. I'm broad of beam, and I'm comfortable in these chairs. They also give you a good bit of design swag for low cost.


    IKEA Odger chair

    robo (z6a) thanked jakabedy
  • 5 years ago

    Avoid bicast or bonded leather (like the Lowe). That stuff is too fragile for serious use.


    Your contender looks very tall! Is that actually table height? I think a bucket would be nice. :)


    Have you considered slipcovering your existing chairs until we're in the covid clear?

    robo (z6a) thanked Fori
  • 5 years ago

    I happened across these today.

  • 5 years ago

    Wow, Jakabedy's suggestion is nice looking, clearly indestructible, and a bargain. I'd never guess they were comfy and sturdy too. I think they would work well w your MCMish vibe?


    Dee - yes, we hose ours too. I am a big fan of those chairs!

  • 5 years ago

    jakabedy, I need new chairs at the lake (DD2 smashed one to bits sitting on it the wrong way) and those look perfect. I don't suppose you've seen the blue colour in person? I'd like navy, but I'm not a fan of navy that reads purple.

  • 5 years ago

    Daisychain01 I HAVE seen the blue in person, and it’s very nice. Not purply at all. More of a true deep midnight blue. I really liked it, but I have no blue at all in my house — all reds and greens and wood tones. I will say that the “white” reads ever so slightly pink to me in person. I went in thinking I was going to buy the white, but couldn’t get past that pinkish cast and shifted instead to the perfectly-fine-if-boring paper bag color.

  • 5 years ago

    That's helpful. Thanks so much, jakabedy.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    I wouldn't dismiss solid wood because of durability or cleaning concerns. We've used our solid wood farmhouse-ish kitchenette chairs, covered in factory poly, for over 30 years. They are comfortable and basically indestructible. DH is 6'4", my girls (now grown) are 5'8" and 5'10".

    The problem is that you do have to sit in chairs and try them for comfort. If you find a good prospect I would consider ordering one to try it out before I committed to a whole set. Easier to return just one or you could use it as an accent chair if return shipping is expensive.

  • 5 years ago

    They look really fun! And comfy.

    robo (z6a) thanked l pinkmountain
  • 5 years ago

    Re solid plastic and solid wood ... was hoping for more of a cushy, lounging experience. We’ll see if these fit the bill. obviously a beautiful big upholstered chair with generous seating foam would be the best option, but that conflicts right now with our yoghurt and spaghetti sauce heavy lifestyle.

  • 5 years ago

    I'm late to the party, but want to say I have Bob's Furniture dinning chairs. The seat is microfiber and red wine, olive oil (yes I spilled at lest 1/4 cup) and yogurt have just wiped up. The style isn't MCM, but the comfort of a cushy large seat and sturdy wooden construction can't be beat. You might not be able to buy from Bob's, just wanted to say don't be afraid of microfiber just because you have a wonderful toddler.

  • 5 years ago


    Update: my new chairs came and I really like them! I’m on the hunt for a new table (failed pickling experiment ruined the finish on this one) but other than that very happy!


    I chose the yellow after much consultation here but now hankering for a cooler wall color. or maybe wallpaper. I move slowly, though.

  • 5 years ago

    They look great in your space. Much nicer than in the pic from the site.

  • 5 years ago

    Wow, they're very nice and look super comfortable. I think wallpaper would look amazing in your room.

  • 5 years ago

    If you know of any cute wallpaper that might make this room feel less like a windowless nook, I’d love to see it!

  • 5 years ago

    Maybe consider one accent wall (maybe the wall with the buffet) and use a larger pattern? Very expensive, but Anthropologie has some good inspiration. wallpaper




  • 5 years ago

    Ooohhh, I like that last one. What is the scale?

  • 5 years ago

    bbstx, the repeat is 14.5". There is image of it in a room on the Anthropologie website.

  • 5 years ago

    Those chairs look really comfortable!

  • 5 years ago

    Dang it! That second wallpaper is calling to me. Love your chairs Robo. DIning room chairs are so tough to find without spending a fortune!

  • 5 years ago

    I’m kind of into, like, cranes but I know objectively it would be awfully busy.




  • 5 years ago

    Love that ^

  • 5 years ago

    OP, do you have a link to the chairs you bought from Wayfair? I'm also on the hunt for kid friendly/budget friendly dining chairs. I do really like those IKEA Odger chairs, but I really like to check out the type you purchased as well. thanks!

  • 5 years ago

    https://www.wayfair.ca/furniture/pdp/brayden-studio-braeville-side-chair-c002687440.html?piid=941703142

    They are comfy. Screws need occasional retightening. The metal legs are BEYOND sharp and tore up my floor. I ordered leg caps for them as the felt floor protectors kept coming off.

  • 5 years ago

    A few tears already so the upholstery is not super durable.

  • 4 years ago

    Well, that was what my thought has always been on vinyl upholstery. It's just not durable, very subject to punctures and tears, (belt buckle, random kids shoe heel, etc.). Can be redone, but that's an expense and chore. Those of us who grew up with vinyl upholstered kitchen chairs can attest to the tears and the tape used to mend them . . . One could re-upholster those chairs in a durable fabric though . . . but there goes the savings. But that's how difficult it is to find chairs that are comfy, which is why I am totally fine with reupholstering mine . . . btw, you might peruse restaurant supply sites, they have a lot of options for very durable chairs . . . wood or metal chairs can also be outfitted with cushions . . .

  • 4 years ago

    Robo - which leg caps did you order? Those adhesive felt pads are worthless and I definitely need something to protect my maple floors. I may end up ordering a rug - but I'd like to try a different cap first.

  • 4 years ago

    I has some luck finding caps in a variety of sizes on that place named after the river in S. America . . .

  • 4 years ago

    @maire_cate I got silicone ones with pads - the chair legs are narrow at the bottom.


    https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B082XQ3QF5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

  • 4 years ago

    Robo and Pink - thanks for the info. I like that I can find different shapes and sizes.

    They look very promising.

  • 4 years ago

    Marie - I had to order a ton of these when I only needed two. Let me know what size you need amd I might have them.