Armchairs & Accent Chairs

An armchair is chosen for comfort: a deep seat and padded arms made for long evenings. An accent chair earns its place through what it adds to the room, such as a sculptural shape, a strong colour or a pattern, and may be smaller or armless. Many chairs do both. If you plan to read or relax in it, check the seat depth before the silhouette.

It should relate to the sofa rather than match it. Contrast in one way, whether colour, texture or shape, and echo the sofa in another, such as leg finish or arm style. Keeping the seat height within about 5 cm of the sofa's makes the two sit comfortably together. A rust or burgundy chair beside a neutral sofa is an easy way to warm a room.

Look for a seat height of 43–48 cm, a seat depth of 50–55 cm and a back tall enough to support your shoulders and, ideally, your head. Wingback and high-backed designs remain the classic choice for good reason. Place a floor lamp slightly behind and to one side, so light falls across the page without glare or shadow from your own head.

Allow the chair's footprint plus about 45 cm in front for legs, and 75 cm if a walkway passes it. Most armchairs are 70–90 cm wide, while slipper and compact chairs from around 60 cm suit bedrooms and smaller sitting rooms. If the chair will swivel or recline, check the clearance it needs behind it as well as in front.

Leather and tightly woven wool or performance fabrics handle the most use and are easiest to wipe clean. Velvet is surprisingly hard-wearing, though it shows pressure marks. Bouclé and loose-weave linen look soft and inviting but catch on claws and buttons. If a chair will be used daily or sat in by children, choose a removable cover or a fabric with a Martindale rating above 25,000.

A well-made armchair with a hardwood frame typically costs £400–£1,000, while statement and designer chairs often run £1,000–£3,000. If the chair is mostly decorative, save here and put the money into the sofa. If it will be your nightly reading chair, spending more on frame, springing and cushioning is worthwhile, because that is what you will feel after a year of use.