White, upholstered, metal...so many options, no need to match wood tones of table.

What is your family like...the needs of adults only are so different from a family with toddlers.

It's just my husband and I. Oh- and 3 cats with eager claws...

I've heard I don't need to match wood, but my fear is that I'll pick wood colors that don't at least complement each other.

Yes I agree with suezbell ,wood chairs especially with cats and their claws

Carolina Classics Eloise Dining Chair in Antique Black · More Info

Is there any way to complement the wood without black or white? What if the black doesn't match anything else in the house?

I would try to match the wood and keep with the round style with chairs something like these, not square, but in a fabric you like, and also keep a look out for a rounded style light fixture to also pair with it over the table.

Yes the black may not work unless you have something else black in the room , find chairs that are comfortable to sit on too ,remember CATS AND CLAWS .

Martha's Vineyard Dining Room · More Info

The chair above looks really uncomfortable ... a hard flat seat and one slat across the back (hitting right at the shoulder blades on a smaller person).

If this is your main dining area, then comfort should be as important as looks.

Liking the dark wood chairs with rounded backs and light seat cushions suggested by Mon much more than the ladder back chairs .

Even if your cats eventually "enjoy" these chair seats too much, you can too.

With that kind of upholstery, you could usually easily replace the cushion and fabric as a DIY project yourself : pillow or other padding atop a piece of plywood covered w/your choice of fabric and fastened to the bottom of the plywood with a staple gun or upholstery tacks.

To delay any serious damage to the chair cushions, you could keep a suitably sized and shaped piece of plastic "table cloth" fabric (felt backed plastic) on hand for each chair -- you could even add a "table cloth" like it to the table, too, so the look doesn't irritate you too much -- to discourage the cats …

,,, while encouraging them to sit elsewhere: find a plant stand with sides as high or higher than the chairs and cut a piece of thick cardboard to go in the bottom, and an elongated piece of cardboard to "line" the sides. Then set it near a window. Your cats will very quickly claim it.

You can get solid black, much cheaper -- <$20 -- versions of this from most big box stores during spring/summer planting season:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/594769697/mid-century-hairpin-stand-shabby-chic?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=hairpin leg planter&ref=sr_gallery-1-18

Do sit in whatever chairs you buy before committing to it.

These chairs would be great from Design Within Reach, we just used them on a project and they came out great.

http://www.dwr.com/dining-chairs-and-stools/hoffmann-side-chair/5720.html?lang=en_US

Design Within Reach

Oh come on people! Read before you answer !!!!! 3 CATS LIVE in THE HOUSE, therefore no canes NO FABRIC and NO LEATHER keep it simple and comfortable .

I love the ladder back look for your dining table. Here are a few more chairs and see if you like these as well. Good luck!

Hooker Furniture Roslyn County Spindle Back Side Chairs, Set of 2 · More Info

Tuscan Spring Dining Chair · More Info

I love all of these suggestions!

I see now why the rounded chairs make sense with the round table.

I love the look of wicker but I'm so afraid it won't last. I think a few of the suggestions had some removeavle cushions that might be a little bit better

Wicker or mesh will attract your cats claws and get picked looking very quickly.

Like the look of the Tuscan Spring wood chair. Not sure the hard flat wood seat would be comfortable for sitting for an extended time … such as for playing cards or board games or putting together a puzzle -- but adding comfort is why individual cushions w/tie strings are sold.

The only fabric/upholstery you should want on the new chairs is something easily replaced as needed.

Ladder back chairs are only comfortable if the back slats are FLAT (in my opinion).

In my experience, horizontal back slats will last a lot longer than the vertical ones -- the longer vertical slats, especially the round end ones, tend to loosen more easily … not sure why. (Have had rocking chairs with each but not breakfast/dining chairs.)

If this table and the chairs are going in a small space, beware chairs with splayed legs -- toe stubs waiting to happen.

There are a lot of choices available; hope you find the ones perfect for you.

Thank you suzebell- you always give really thought out advice : )

i would never have thought about the comfort of different types of slats.

Thank you! : )

You're welcome.