My husband is 6’ 2" - I’ve been looking with him for new dining room chairs that are comfortable.
In every one we try he looks so uncomfortable with his knees angled up. I said: “These all look waaay too small for you.” He replied: “That’s just how it is. Standard chairs are too small.”
Seems he’s been tolerating this most of his life (I didn’t realize!).
I’ve looked around and can’t seem to find chairs made for tall people (heavy folks, yes, but not tall).
Does anyone have a possible resource? I feel he can’t be alone in this!
Is this for a formal dining room? If so, if the chairs are higher, your husband’s knees will touch the bottom of the table.
If this is for your kitchen eating area, have you considered a pub height table? Does your husband have any issues with counter height stools? If not, a pub height table and chairs could help.
What is the source of his discomfort? Knee pain, back pain? I am 6 feet and have no issue with standard chairs to our older dining room table. If it’s the height you might want to start with something like a seat cushion. Even if it’s temporary to see if this brings some comfort. This is where I would start. Once you know what makes him comfortable then to me it would be much easier trying to find a solution.
All the males in our household are 6’4" or taller. The key is to have plenty of room to stretch out. I think room under the table to position long legs is the most important factor. Our dining table is loooong so we aren’t scrunched, and the supports under our table don’t interfere with stretching out.
Also, none of us (all very tall) love pub height tables. They make you kind of lean forward as if you were on a stool, which can sometimes get uncomfortable. Normal height dining chairs and table are fine as long as there is room to stretch the legs. You can rest back or lean forward in your chair which maximizes comfort. Do ensure that the underside of the table (including any pesky edges) is higher than the bottom of the foot to top of the knee height so you’re not banging knees when you scoot in.
Can you put something under the feet of the table to lift the table height a bit not so high that everyone else need to sit on phone books, but enough that he is comfortable if you get taller chairs?
We tried pub tables and they seemed a little high and uncomfortable (feet not resting on the floor).
It now appears the key is to not necessarily get chairs that are higher (evidently regular table height are all the same height - looked everywhere!) but have the spaciousness in other ways.
As suggested we got a table (sort of pedestal style) that allows for more stretch-out leg room.
And husband says an armchair style will help (I think so he can lean back from table and rest arms while stretched out, rather than leaning on the table like us shorter people!)
Reasonably priced dining arm chairs are a bit hard to find (the ornate styles from the late 1990s had tons - few now). But at least I have a plan.
(Seriously though, you have a good idea)
Some antique furniture is on casters so that they could move furniture on wood floors more easy. Something like a caster would give you maybe a couple inches.
We have an old set of dining room chairs which I expected to get rid of when we bought Stickley dining room chairs (reproductions) which better matched the vibe of our current house.
The old set is classic 1980’s light wood, hugely padded chairs, massively heavy. We have two armchairs (one for each end) and although with the Stickley chairs you can comfortably seat two people at each end of the table, with these bruisers, you can only seat one person (head and foot).
We have ended up using the old chairs more often than I want to… I’m dying to get rid of them and clear out the storage space, but we need them for tall people, people transferring out of a wheelchair onto a rigid chair, me when I broke my arm and was in a cast and needed heavy back support, and they’re so sturdy they are perfect bases for the booster seats my grandchildren use.
They are nothing special- bought at Thomasville in an ordinary midwestern city. Not expensive, but big, heavy, VERY padded (ugly 1980’s upholstery). I hate to admit it, but they are the most comfortable chairs in the house. Wooden backs, padded seats, wide and sturdy, you just melt into them.
See if Facebook marketplace near you has vintage Thomasville dining room chairs? That was their look back then-- and they had at least a dozen options when we bought ours ranging from ugly to hideous. I never paid to reupholster them- but if you did, they wouldn’t be as ugly and they sure are great for tall people!!!
Stickley not so much! I like the austere look, but we know from experience a large person is extremely uncomfortable on such spindly legs…
In terms of discomfort - he hasn’t sat o t eh possible new chairs for very long (just at store) - but the really looked like he was sitting in dollhouse furniture - everything wa so slim and short. Will check out state sales and used furniture stores!
Try antique style stores. In Chicago we have tons of them. Second hand stores etc. We got most of our chairs that way and mixed and matched then had them stripped and redone including fabric. The mixed styles work. Kinda cool.
Found the perfect chairs on Facebook Market. $80 for four! They are wide, sturdy, and not too antique-y looking! (also mint condition - prior owners used full fabric chair covers!)
These are my Thomasville chairs except mine are a light stained wood and the backs are all wood, not upholstered. And of course- mine have ugly and dated upholstery.
But as I’ve said- they are the most comfortable chairs most people have ever sat on, even though they are BRUISERS when you’re vacuuming underneath! GREAT find!!!
I know I can’t actually believe it lol! Thanks for sharing that they are Thomasville - that will please my furniture- appreciating spouse!
I just messaged the seller to see if she would sell me the two remaining chairs she has.
Thinking I could store them in the basement - if we ever move and want a bigger table (maybe if live near son/daughter/their significant others ) - would be nice to have the matching chairs. I really like them!
Def get the matching chairs. You’ll never find these again locally, and it will cost $$$ to ship if you find them somewhere else. My mom had something similar (big, heavy, solid wood) and I had them shipped to the cousin that wanted them after she died and even though H “cubed them” so we could do the most economical shipment possible, the carrier’s formula was volume plus weight. And they weigh a ton as you’ve already seen!!!
Thank you!! I just communicated with the seller - scheduled to get remaining two chairs Saturday morning!
I haven’t seen anything as nice as these and I’ve been scrolling through websites for days and visiting store after store. I feel like if/when we move I will def take these along!
) - would be nice to have the matching chairs. I really like them!