Furniture Styles of Chairs & Tables

When buying furniture for your home, choosing the right style can make all the difference in creating the right look for a room. In particular, the chairs and table in a dining room or living room can make a significant impact in the room's feel and help establish an ornate, classical, modern or rustic look, depending on the style that is chosen. Homeowners have a wide range of options when it comes to furniture styles for chairs and tables, so there should be an option to meet most design schemes and budgets. Does this Spark an idea?

Tudor

Tudor style furniture has English origins and became fashionable in Britain during the reign of the Tudor family. The style is heavily influenced by medieval and Renaissance furniture designs and is traditionally made from oak. Tudor style chairs and tables feature intricately carved legs and woodwork and have a heavy, imposing look. Not known for comfort, Tudor chairs, along with the matching tables, can make a striking statement in a dining or living room.

Jacobean

Jacobean style furniture also originated in England and borrows from medieval style for its designs. Jacobean chairs and tables feature straight lines and rigid construction. The pieces usually contain intricate carving details and a dark finish. Oak and pine are traditionally used to make Jacobean chairs and tables, which often have heavy turnings that are used as spindles or legs. In some pieces, turned legs are cut in half and used as ornamentation on the sides of table or backs of chairs.

Queen Anne

Queen Anne style furniture gets its name from Queen Anne of England who ruled the country in the early 16th century. Chairs and tables in this style are known for their graceful, elegant appearance, and typically feature cabriole legs, which are offset, bowed legs that begin at the floor and surround the entire piece. The cabriole legs on Queen Anne tables and chairs usually end with a drake or pad foot for a sophisticated look. Woods often used for Queen Anne chairs and tables include walnut, cherry, maple and mahogany.

Chippendale

Chippendale style furniture gets its name from English designer Thomas Chippendale, who was well known for his cabinets. Elements of Gothic, French and Chinese furniture designs can be seen in the Chippendale style as well as an expansion of the Queen Anne style. Chippendale chairs and tables typically feature cabriole legs, as well as intricate scrollwork and ornamentation. Chippendale chairs often have a ribbon-back, which contains two large C-scrolls that are intertwined with carved ribbons and terminate in bow at the top. Ladder-back and upholstered chairs may also be seen in Chippendale style furniture. Chippendale tables may feature striking cluster-column legs or a tripod leg design.

Shaker

Shaker style furniture is known for its simple, utilitarian design. The pieces are highly functional and practical and have a more modern feel. Shaker chairs are known for their traditional, straight backs and woven seat while tables in this style typically feature clean lines and straight, tapered legs

Craftsman

Like Shaker furniture, the craftsman style features simple, functional designs. Also known as mission style furniture, craftsman pieces do not feature intricate, ornamental designs, but instead have a rustic, country-type look. Chairs and tables in this style typically contain clean lines and are sturdy looking. However, they are proportionately designed so the pieces do not overwhelm a room. Craftsman chairs and tables usually feature a medium to dark stain. Chairs in this style typically have leather upholstery, and craftsman tables may also feature a hard leather top.