Retro Style Diner Chairs

The Diner Chair: What Makes It Work?

Whether it’s a milkshake, smashburger, or soda and a basket of fries, there’s nothing quite like the atmosphere of a classic 50s diner. Stools, booths, chairs, checkered floor and formica countertops all come together to produce an establishment that’s both classic and timeless. Call it Retro, call it Americana, call it what you like; guests will come just as much for the atmosphere of a diner as they will for the food. So the question is: how does one get that feel?

It’s All in The Style

The foundation of a diner theme is in the furnishings. For classic Retro diners, chances are the floor will be checkered tile, the countertops will be formica, and the colors will be either bright and saturated or soft pastel. For diner booths, stools, and chairs, the designs should be kept simplistic and sleek. Exceptions can be made depending on the slant of theme and if you want a touch of refinement.

Diner Chairs

For those looking to bring a retro feeling to their establishment, the lynchpin of the style will become the diner chair. Retro diner chairs are simple, dependable, and classic: most feature chrome-plated aluminum or steel frames and foam-core vinyl upholstery, which are both excellent for ease of maintenance and cleaning. Designs vary, but a majority of diner chairs combine a set of constant features:

• Minimalist frame: in diner settings, this often means legs without embellishment, while in more refined settings, it can translate to subtle curves or even a single post bolt down support reminiscent of a bar chair.
• Wide seat and backrest: regardless of level of refinement, the contact surfaces should have solid coverage and good support as well as facilitate dynamic range of motion for guests.
• Colors: single-tone colors with or without white accents are par for the course for diner chairs; vibrant and saturated colors can also be used, but be sure to keep added flair such as logos or prints to a minimum.

An important note is consistency: the Retro diner is an establishment where vibrant social environment is front and center. Tables and booths can be packed a little more tightly together and sectioning is distinct but more about customer preference than sequestration. With this in mind, it’s important to make sure differences between booths, tables, and counters is as minimal as possible so that the whole layout has a single consistent flow.

Outside The Diner

The diner chair is a very versatile piece of furniture, and the sheer variety of styles can be very effectively integrated into settings where it might not be common to see what’s often considered a more casual theme. Establishments such as nightclubs, coffee shops, and even bistros can use diner chairs to good effect, utilizing less common retro styling such as more complex or modern frame designs and focusing on sleeker construction styles to bring diner chairs into establishments other than just diners. The universal message of the diner style is one of an open, fulfilling social environment, and whether that’s confined to a single table between two friends sharing coffee or lunch or a large group of people who’ve come simply to bask in the aura of your establishment, the diner chair can provide it for everyone.