Pierre Jeanneret design chairs work in almost any interior. That is one of the things that makes them so special. Whether your home is minimalist or eclectic, modern or more classic, there are many ways to make them work beautifully.
This guide is meant as inspiration, not as a rulebook. We share ideas on materials, colours, and combinations that we think look great. But there is no single right way. Many of our customers find their own approach and it looks wonderful. Take what is useful, leave what is not, and make it your own.
We will focus mostly on the teak and rattan chairs from our Chandigarh collection. We will also mention the upholstered Chandigarh chairs where relevant, as they bring a slightly different feel to a space.
Interior styles that suit Pierre Jeanneret design chairs
These chairs appear in a wide variety of interiors. Here are some of the styles where we see them most often. Think of this as a starting point, not a shortlist.
Warm minimalism.
Clean lines, natural materials, nothing unnecessary. The strong silhouette of the chair and the honest combination of teak and rattan sit naturally in this kind of space. The design brings texture and warmth without adding visual noise.
Japandi.
The blend of Japanese and Scandinavian design principles. It values restraint, natural materials, and a sense of calm. The Chandigarh design chair shares all of those values and feels completely at ease in a Japandi interior.
Mid-century modern.
This is where the design has its roots. Conceived in the 1950s, with its characteristic V-shaped legs and open rattan seat, the chair belongs to the same design era and sensibility as the mid-century modern movement.
Mediterranean and earthy interiors.
Stone floors, limewash walls, terracotta tones, natural light flooding in. The teak and rattan feel completely in their element here, connecting to the material traditions of warm climates.
Contemporary eclectic.
Interiors where different styles, periods, and cultures are mixed together. The chair has a strong enough identity to hold its own alongside very different pieces and add depth to the whole.
These are just examples. Pierre Jeanneret style chairs also look great in maximalist interiors, in more traditional homes, in Scandinavian all-white apartments, and in industrial loft spaces. Trust your own instinct. The design is more flexible than any list can capture.
Materials that work well with them
The teak and rattan chairs have a warm, natural character. Here are some material combinations that tend to look beautiful alongside them.
Stone floors, tables, and worktops are a classic pairing. Limestone, travertine, and honed marble all share a calm, mineral quality that complements the organic warmth of teak and rattan. The contrast between hard stone and woven rattan is one of the more refined combinations in contemporary interior design.
Limewash or plastered walls make a very beautiful backdrop. The slight texture and tonal variation of a limewash finish respond to the texture of the rattan in a way that adds depth to the room. As the light changes through the day, both surfaces shift together.
Linen and cotton for cushions, curtains, and upholstered pieces bring the same natural, unprocessed quality. Heavyweight unbleached linen in particular sits very comfortably alongside teak and rattan, both visually and in terms of material sensibility.
Solid wood tables and shelving create a coherent, material-led interior. Oiled or wax-finished woods tend to feel most in tune with the teak. There is a quiet logic to a room where all the materials have been treated with the same honesty.
Metal accents in brass, bronze, or blackened steel add a layer of precision and contrast. Pendant lights, side tables, door hardware. They give the room an edge without competing with the natural materials.
For the upholstered Chandigarh chairs, the same combinations apply and their softer silhouette also makes them easy to layer into more classic or textile-rich interiors.
Wall colours to combine with Chandigarh design chairs
The teak in our chairs has a deep, warm tone. The rattan is a natural cream. Together they are versatile and sit well alongside a wide range of colours.
Warm whites and off-whites are a reliable foundation. Farrow and Ball's Pointing, Wimborne White, or All White. Little Greene's Gauze or White Lead. These colours feel clean and considered without being cold or clinical.
Earthy tones create a warmer, more enveloping atmosphere. Farrow and Ball's Elephant's Breath, Mole's Breath, or Dead Salmon. Little Greene's Mushroom or Masonry. These colours feel grounded and work naturally with the organic materials of the chairs.
Deep greens create a striking contrast with the warm teak and cream rattan. Farrow and Ball's Calke Green or Studio Green are popular choices. A dark green wall makes the rattan stand out and gives the room a more dramatic, considered quality.
Terracotta and clay tones sit tonally very close to the chair's own palette. Warm ochres and clay colours create a rich, atmospheric interior that feels connected to the South Asian origins of the design.
Darker, moody tones like deep blues, charcoals, and near-blacks are also worth exploring. Against a dark wall, the rattan weave becomes a focal point and the chairs take on a more dramatic, gallery-like presence.
Colour is always personal. These are directions we find inspiring. There are many others.
The dining room
The dining room is where most people first think of these chairs, and it is a wonderful setting for them. A long table with eight, ten, or twelve Chandigarh chairs is one of the most impressive dining room compositions in contemporary interior design.
Table ideas
These chairs work beautifully with many different table shapes. Each creates a different feeling in the room.
A long rectangular table is perhaps the most dramatic option. A raw oak table, a concrete table, or a marble slab on a simple base, lined with eight, ten, or twelve chairs on each side, makes a strong architectural statement. The repetition of the V-shaped legs along the length of the table is visually very powerful.
Round and oval tables create a more intimate, convivial atmosphere. A round marble table, a concrete oval, or a bleached oak surface all sit very naturally alongside the teak and rattan. There is a warmth and flow to a round dining setup that many people love.
Square tables work well in a more compact space and give the room a balanced, considered feel.
All of these can look exceptional. The table shape is as much about how you like to dine as it is about aesthetics. Table height should be between 74 and 76 cm, which is the standard European dining height the chairs are designed for.
Mixing models
One approach is to use the armchair version at the heads of the table and the armless chair along the sides. At a long table this creates a clear hierarchy and a nice visual rhythm. Another option is to use the same model throughout for a cleaner, more uniform look.
Choosing a rug
A rug under the dining table grounds the whole composition and softens the acoustics of the room. Natural fibres like jute, sisal, or wool sit well with the chair's materials and add another layer of texture. Make sure the rug extends at least 60 cm beyond the table on all sides so that chairs remain on the rug when pulled out.
Lighting
The rattan weave reads especially well in warm light. A colour temperature around 2700K works well. Woven pendants in rattan or jute, ceramic shades, or brass fittings all complement the material palette of the chairs. Position the pendant around 75 to 85 cm above the table surface to get the best relationship between light and table.
The living room
In a living room, Pierre Jeanneret style chairs make a beautiful reading chair or accent piece. A chair placed in a corner, next to a window, beside a bookcase or a floor lamp creates one of the most inviting spots in any home.
With a sofa
The chair and sofa do not need to match in material or style. A linen sofa, a leather sofa, a velvet sofa: the teak and rattan chair brings its own quiet confidence and tends to complement rather than compete. The upholstered Chandigarh chairs work particularly well here if you want something that integrates more softly into an existing seating group.
Placement
A classic arrangement is one or two chairs angled slightly away from the sofa, forming a relaxed conversation area. Alternatively, a single chair in a dedicated reading corner with a side table and a floor lamp becomes a room within a room. Both approaches give the chair the space it deserves.
Upholstered Easy Arm Chair from the Chandigarh Collection
The home office
The Pierre Jeanneret design chair was originally made for the offices and institutional buildings of Chandigarh in the 1950s. It is, in every sense, a chair designed for work.
The office chair model, with its open rattan back, is comfortable for longer working sessions and brings a sense of intention to a home office that a generic desk chair rarely does. It pairs naturally with desks in oak, walnut, steel, or most other materials.
A space furnished with objects that have a genuine story behind them feels different from a generic workspace. This chair has one of the most interesting stories in 20th century design.
The bedroom
A Chandigarh design chair in the bedroom adds a considered, personal touch to one of the most intimate rooms in the home.
The lounge chair model, with its lower seat and wider proportions, is a beautiful reading chair beside the bed. Add a small side table and a reading light and you have a quiet corner with a real sense of comfort and design. Two chairs, one on each side of the bed or placed as a pair near a window, create a more complete and considered bedroom layout.
The upholstered Chandigarh lounge chair is also a wonderful option here. The soft seat and back bring a particular warmth that suits the bedroom very well.
An armless chair at a dressing table is an option that many people overlook. It brings a quiet design sensibility to a corner that often gets less attention.
Chandigarh Collection Lounge Chair
Your space, your way
This guide is a starting point. Not a checklist.
Some of the most striking interiors we have seen with Pierre Jeanneret design chairs do not follow any of the combinations we described here. They are unexpected, personal, and completely their own. That is exactly the point.
These chairs are versatile enough to work with what you already have. They are strong enough to anchor a room that is still taking shape. If you are exploring what might work for your home, our team is always happy to help. And if you want to try a chair at home first, we offer free returns.
View the full Object Embassy Chandigarh collection. Our chairs are handmade from A-grade teak and natural rattan, or available in an upholstered version, made with tremendous respect for the original 1950s designs.
