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Furniture Guide: Types of Dining Chair Backs

 

An underestimated detail when furnishing your dining room is considering and curating what types of side chairs to pair with the rest of your dining room furniture. While many dining chairs and other wood accent chairs can look similar, there are a few different iconic types of chair backs that can be found across different furniture styles. 

 

Learn the definitions of each type of chair back in this furniture guide and discover which is your favorite!
 

Types of Chair Backs

Types of Chair Backs: Slat Back

A slat back refers to a type of chair back which offers a rectilinear form and series of vertical slats to support one’s back. The slatted look is timeless and is found in everything from traditional and rustic spaces to casual dining rooms or kitchen nooks. 

Briar Fork Side Chair

Types of Chair Backs: X-Back

An X-back refers to a type of chair back where the primary support is provided by two pieces of wood crossing over each other in an “X” shaped design. These X-shaped supports are usually connected to the top and bottom corners of the chair back for optimal reinforcement.Belle Manor Chair

Types of Chair Backs: Windsor Back

A Windsor back chair, sometimes called a "spindle back chair", features turned spindle supports arranged into a timeless round bow shape. Traditionally, this chair back style achieved its iconic look from an interesting steam bending process used by expert furniture makers. True Windsor chairs traditionally also feature turned or spindle armrests as well as turned or spindle flared legs. Below, the Manchester Side Chair is an example of this classic chair type. Manchester Dining Chair

Types of Chair Backs: Splat Back

A splat back refers to a type of chair back that features a central, vertically-aligned support element. Splat backrests can come in many different shapes and styles so long as there is some sort of central structure to provide back support. Often incorporating the themes of different furniture periods, splat back chairs can range from traditional to contemporary. 

 

The District Chair

Types of Chair Backs: Parsons

A parsons chair has a solid back with no arms and upholstery which traditionally covers both the backrest and the seat. Parsons chairs are usually padded, and they often instill a high-end or sophisticated aesthetic that works well in both modern and classically-minded spaces.

The Edge Chair

Types of Chair Backs: Ladder Back

A ladder back chair features a series of horizontal cross-rails which connect the backing posts and provide support, and they often resemble the rungs of a ladder. Though sometimes seen as traditional and classic, ladder backrests are common and found across all styles. 

 

Interlude Ladderback

 

We hope you enjoyed our primer on the different dining chair back styles you're likely to find the next time you go furniture shopping. For more helpful information about types of furniture, furniture terminology, and interior design styles, be sure to check out our new and improved Furniture Glossary!