Armchairs

Armchairs That Suit Your Style

An armchair is the most personal item of furniture in the house. As a single seater chair, an armchair provides solace, comfort and respite. For this reason, choosing the right armchair is an important task. Whether you opt for a recliner, a chaise lounge or an accent chair, your selection will depend on a variety of factors.

Types of Chairs

There are various types of armchairs to choose from. Understanding your seating needs will guide you on the type of chair to select. The most prominent types of armchairs include traditional armchairs, accent chairs, easy chairs, recliners and chaise lounges.

Accent armchairs provide the most style out of all the options. Although they are more compact, they include more of a design feature. Some accent chairs have a wingback or high back design, for example. Accent armchairs can work as a feature item in a living room set, particularly if you choose bright colors like hot pink, lime green or canary yellow.

A chaise lounge is a French creation translated to “long chair”. It is a hybrid chair and bed which allows for reclining, much like the Persian divan, but higher up from the ground level. A chaise lounge is a good option for those who wish to have the option of reclining.

While the chaise lounge is long and static, recliners work on a lever system. This way, you have the option to sit upright, much like a traditional armchair, or recline. Recliners work by either pulling a lever or pressing a button to expose the footrest and lower the back of the seat. Recliners also can be static or come on a swivel.

Another more traditional, yet still very comfortable option, is the easy chair. The easy chair combined the static style of a traditional armchair with the recumbent position of a recliner. Easy chairs are more for relaxation or sleeping than sitting upright and watching TV. Recliners work best with a minimalist Danish design, using muted tones such as grey, beige, brown, blue or even mustard.

Space & style

The most important factors when selecting an armchair are space and style. Some armchairs take up a large amount of space, like plush recliners with high backs and protruding armrests.

Consider other furniture items in your living room like sofas, footstools, ottomans or poufs. Do you have a coffee table, side table or TV console? Will it add to the clutter or supplement the living room set?

You can also use an armchair as a complement to your existing furniture or as a way to add some contrast. It’s best to think about upholstery options too, like leather, velvet, or something completely different like rattan or wooden finishes. Pair colors and materials with existing furniture to create the perfect living room.