The only advice I can give is that people will always put their hands on the top of the back of the chair to pull it out and push it back in, and it will get filthy. I say this from sad experience. So make sure the fabric is very easily cleanable.

It all depends on how much money you would like to spend. As your lounge is dark and your stools and bookcase are also dark I think white chairs would be fine, but then I would change the stools as well and take some white down to the lounge area. However you can buy stretchy covers for this style of chair for around $10 and there is quite a variety, so I would look on line for those to see if you like any of them as that would be a very easy fix.

Really hard to comment without seeing a picture the interior context of your home. I agree with staying away from solid dark colours though. The table is dark enough. No, I wouldn't be mixing timber colours. Neutral colours are good, but show every single mark/stain. Check out the Warwick website (or if your are in Sydney- check out the Glebe showroom), there are 1000's of patterned and textured neutrals that can be good at hiding stains.....inevitable if you have kids!. You could recover your current chairs if they are good quality? We did this recently, cost was around $150/chair inc. fabric/labour.

Thank you everyone, lots of shopping, many shops seen. I have pulled this look together. I am not sure about the heavy textured throw. Just walked in with it, thinking a white pot with a plant in the corner by the window. I wanted to find the beige colour in the blue cushion, a much darker colour than the plain one l found to the left of it. Take care everyone. Sue