When buying restaurant furniture, it should be fairly straightforward to put yourself in the role of an imaginary diner - and ask yourself, what would they expect from your tables and chairs?
Restaurant chairs are often more formal than other types of seating, designed to keep the occupant in a sensible position for eating, and to provide unobstructed access to the table.
They may also be designed to fit more closely together, to maximise the number of place settings that any one table can accommodate.
For this reason, you are less likely to see restaurants furnished with leather armchairs or tub chairs, which might restrict elbow movement.
In contrast, where armrests are desired, carvery-style chairs can provide a low, firm arm on which the elbow can rest, which does not restrict the diner's own arm movements.
Ergonomically carved wooden seats can be surprisingly comfortable, simply by conforming to the shape of the diner's body when in a seated position.
Alternatively, wooden restaurant chairs with sprung or cushioned upholstered seats combine the durability of solid wood with the comfort of fabric upholstery.
Finally, chairs whose inner carcass is entirely upholstered, for an all-round softer and more cushioned effect, can be suitable particularly in modern restaurants with a bar-like design scheme.
Remember to accommodate families - whether this means seating that allows children to reach the table easily, or to which a harness can be attached for toddlers who are making the transition from high chair to sitting at the table with their parents and siblings.
A variety of complementary chairs can leave diners with a feeling of control over which they choose to sit on; but by contrast, having a matching set of the same design and upholstery offers a consistent visual effect.
Finally, of course, you should ensure your chairs and tables are at complementary heights to one another, particularly if you want to specify unusually tall tables to give your diners a sense of elevation.
By choosing styles that complement one another well, you can ensure that guests of all heights - including younger diners, who are likely to be shorter - are able to easily reach their meal, while sitting at a comfortable distance from the edge of the table.