Skempton 7-Piece Dining Set vs Erinberg 6-Piece Dining Set

The Skempton is the better pick for most families: six separate chairs mean everyone gets a back, and the acacia veneer top over solid and engineered wood is a sturdier build than the Erinberg's rubberwood-and-MDF construction. The Erinberg trades one chair for a bench, which suits a bench-friendly dining room or a tight wall, and its white finish with light gray upholstery reads cleaner and more modern. Both are 30-inch standard-height rectangular sets that seat six and both need full assembly. Owners of the Skempton praise the two-tone finish and cushioned ladderback seats; the Erinberg's bench is the dividing line, loved by some households and a compromise for anyone who wants six proper chairs.

• Choose the Skempton if you want six matching chairs with cushioned seats and a two-tone farmhouse look that hides wear better than all-white.
• Choose the Erinberg if a bench fits your room better than a sixth chair and you prefer a crisp all-white finish with gray upholstery.