Best Chairs for Commercial Dining Areas: Wood Chairs vs. Soft Chairs

Whether you’re designing a laid-back café in a tourist area or an exclusive country club dining room, the seating you choose sets the tone. Chairs that are plush and cushioned indicate that guest comfort is a top concern. Wood restaurant chairs (featuring a wooden seat and backrest) suggest a greater focus on operational efficiency. Hard wooden chairs indicate that although comfort isn’t prioritized, guests won’t have to wait for their order. Guests who are seated on hard chairs may be more likely to complain about wait times than those on upholstered chairs.

There are distinct benefits of hard-surface (all-wood) chairs and upholstered options. Selecting chairs for dining areas can be tricky — particularly in commercial or restaurant settings. To make the right choice of seating for your restaurant or commercial dining area, consider the following factors: guest comfort, aesthetics, maintenance, cleaning, flexibility, budget, and life cycle.

1. Guest Comfort

Hardwood Chairs: All-wood chairs have a clean, classic feel, but can be uncomfortable for long dining sessions. Unpadded wood chairs are best for cafés, quick-service, fast casual, and other high-turnover dining where guests aren’t seated for hours.

Upholstered Chairs: Upholstered seating is more comfortable, especially for multi-course meals or fine dining. Padded seats encourage guests to linger, which can be good if your business model benefits from longer stays.

2. Aesthetics

Hardwood Chairs: Solid wood chairs convey durability, authenticity, and timeless style. They fit rustic, casual, and minimalist spaces. Wood grain adds natural warmth.

Upholstered Chairs: Soft chairs bring a touch of luxury and sophistication. They add color, texture, and an upscale vibe, which can elevate the overall ambiance of the dining room.

3. Maintenance

Hardwood Chairs: Wooden seating is extremely durable and long-lasting. Scratches or dents can often be sanded out. Wood is also easy to wipe down and is great for high-volume traffic.

Upholstered Chairs: Cushioned seats are more comfortable than all-wood options, but soft materials equate to more wear over time (fabric fading, foam compression). Spills and stains will require extra care, and reupholstery may be needed down the road.

4. Cleaning

Hardwood Chairs: Solid wood seating is easy to sanitize and clean, which is ideal if you’re serving kids, messy dishes, or want faster table turns.

Upholstered Chairs: Soft chairs require more careful care and cleaning. Choose performance fabrics or vinyl if you want the comfort of upholstery without the maintenance headaches.

5. Flexibility

Hardwood Chairs: Often lighter and stackable (depending on design), making them easier to store and rearrange for events or changing layouts.

Upholstered Chairs: Tend to be heavier and less stackable, which can matter if you frequently reconfigure your dining room.

6. Budget & Lifecycle Costs

Hardwood Chairs: All-wood chairs, if they are made well, can last for decades. There may be lower upfront maintenance costs and a longer lifespan with wood chairs, but they provide less comfort.

Upholstered Chairs: Soft, upholstered chairs require a higher initial investment and have a shorter lifespan than solid wood chairs. However, upholstered seating enhances the guest experience and can increase the perceived value of your restaurant. If you purchase high-quality upholstered seating with a hardwood frame, you can reupholster to extend the life of chairs.

All-Wood Chairs

The Bulldog collection and the Carlo are some of MityLite’s most popular all-wood chairs for dining areas. The sturdy Bulldog family features sculpted wooden seats, slat backs, and classic schoolhouse styling. Coming in at a slightly lower price point, the Carlo Stacking Chair is sturdy and practical, stacking tidily at the end of the day for cleaning.

Let’s Compare: All-Wood Chairs

Upholstered & Partially Upholstered Wood Chairs

The Carole, the York, and the Sussex Side Chairs are popular in restaurants, bars, and commercial dining areas. These chairs all feature a hardwood frame made of sustainably sourced European Beechwood but offer the enhanced comfort of an upholstered seat. This makes them ideal for full-service restaurants, country clubs, and other higher-end dining areas.

Let’s Compare: Upholstered Chairs for Dining Areas

Bottom Line

The chairs you choose for a restaurant or commercial dining area will affect the style and functionality of your space.

Smart, hard surface chairs (like the Bulldog and Carlo) deliver optimal stain resistance and long-term durability. They’re highly practical for busy, no-frills dining areas or places with a lot of traffic (such as busy bars and restaurants).

Upholstered or partially upholstered chairs (such as the Carole, York, and Sussex) will enhance comfort and aesthetic appeal. Upholstered seating is ideal for mid- to high-end establishments focused on ambiance and customer loyalty but will require more maintenance and investment.

AUTHOR

Kristin Cooke

Kristin Cooke has a bachelor’s degree in English and over 20 years of experience in writing, marketing, and product research. Over the years, she’s written for several furniture companies, from luxury to commercial. Her work has been featured in PCMag, Shoshone News Press, Forbes, Ashland Town News, and Space.com.