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In a recent #AskBen takeover on Domino’s Instagram account, a reader asked our style director, Benjamin Reynaert, about his favorite dining room set. The only problem? Reynaert isn’t exactly a huge fan of coordinating tables and chairs. 

“A room can fall flat with a set,” he says. “When a table and chairs are in the same material, color, and style, it all kind of blends together.” He prefers a layered approach that creates contrast instead of one big blob of color.

For example, a rustic farm table can look especially fresh with modern Marcel Breuer chairs, says Reynaert. And a tulip-style Saarinen in white gets more interesting next to wood seating. But it’s not just about mixing materials. Colors can create a cool contrast, too. “When you put a white table with black chairs, you can see the chairs clearly,” he notes. 

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In the spirit of mixing it up, we gathered some of the best Reynaert-approved pairings that give a room visual interest and keep your dining room from looking one-note. 

For a Vintage Mashup

Our Style Director Doesn’t Do Dining Room Sets—Try These Chair-and-Table Combos Instead
Saarinen Dining Table, Design Within Reach ($2,464)
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Our Style Director Doesn’t Do Dining Room Sets—Try These Chair-and-Table Combos Instead
Set of 6 Dining Chairs in Oak with Rush Seating, 1st Dibs ($3,850)
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For a Modern Take on the Farmhouse Trend

Our Style Director Doesn’t Do Dining Room Sets—Try These Chair-and-Table Combos Instead
Salvaged Wood Farmhouse Rectangular Extension Dining Table, RH ($3,560)
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Our Style Director Doesn’t Do Dining Room Sets—Try These Chair-and-Table Combos Instead
Bertoia Side Chair, Knoll ($900)
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For a Nature-Inspired Combo

Our Style Director Doesn’t Do Dining Room Sets—Try These Chair-and-Table Combos Instead
Mattea Oval Dining Table, Lulu & Georgia ($659)
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Our Style Director Doesn’t Do Dining Room Sets—Try These Chair-and-Table Combos Instead
ODGER Dining Chair, Ikea ($89)
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For a Hard-Meets-Soft Pairing

Our Style Director Doesn’t Do Dining Room Sets—Try These Chair-and-Table Combos Instead
Strut 56” Medium Table, Blu Dot ($999)
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Our Style Director Doesn’t Do Dining Room Sets—Try These Chair-and-Table Combos Instead
Eames Molded Plywood Dining Chair, Herman Miller ($1,025)
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For a Clean, Crisp Contrast

Our Style Director Doesn’t Do Dining Room Sets—Try These Chair-and-Table Combos Instead
Snaregade Dining Table by Menu, Batten Home ($1,649)
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Our Style Director Doesn’t Do Dining Room Sets—Try These Chair-and-Table Combos Instead
Valzer Natural Rattan Dining Chair, CB2 ($319)
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