Tufted Velvet Dining Chairs in Navy Blue, Sets of 2

The pile is what does the work on these Velvet Dining Chairs. Buttoning pulls the navy into a diamond pattern across the back, and every facet catches the light at a different angle, so the color reads several shades deep at once. The crest rail curves gently around the shoulders and stops there, with no wings to close the seat off. The legs are oak, left natural, which keeps the dark blue from turning somber.

The chair stands 37 inches tall, 20 inches wide and 25 inches deep. That height gives real support behind the shoulder blades, while the width stays modest enough to seat six along a standard rectangular table. The depth is generous for a dining chair without tipping into lounge proportions, so guests settle in for a long meal rather than perching through it. Two at the ends and four along the sides is the usual arrangement.

Navy velvet does its best work against wood with some warmth in it: walnut, fruitwood, a waxed oak table. Set the chairs on a pale rug so the color reads as depth rather than as shadow, and keep the table setting simple, since the buttoning already gives the room plenty of texture. In a dining room that leans traditional they add weight; in a plainer, more modern one they supply the only pattern needed.