How to choose an accent chair: types of armchairs and how to pair them

Start with what the chair is for

"Accent chair" covers everything from a deep lounger to a small armless seat in a hallway. Before looking at styles, decide what the chair needs to do:

• Lounging and TV: deep seat, reclined back, padded arms. Think club chair, lounge chair or recliner.
• Reading: upright to slightly reclined back, head support, a lamp nearby. Wingbacks excel here.
• Conversation and extra seating: moderate depth, easy to get in and out of, light enough to move. Slipper chairs and compact armchairs.
• Linking zones in open-plan rooms: a swivel chair turns between the TV, the fireplace and the kitchen.
• Bedroom or hallway corner: small footprint, often armless.

The job sets the dimensions; style comes second.

Types of armchairs

Club chairs

The club chair takes its name from gentlemen's clubs, where deep leather armchairs were standard. Today it means a low, enveloping chair with a deep seat and substantial arms, in leather or fabric. It pairs naturally with a sofa because it shares the same relaxed posture. Our Dondolo is a club chair available with a rocking-swivel option, which makes it work in open rooms too.

Wingbacks

Wings originally shielded sitters from drafts by the fire. They also give your head somewhere to rest and create a sense of enclosure that suits reading. Modern wingbacks range from traditional to pared-back; the Ventaglio wing chair is a contemporary take. Place wingbacks where their height won't block views, typically against a wall, in a corner or flanking a fireplace. If you want head-height support without wings, a tall pleated back like the Sartoria armchair's gives a softer, tailored alternative.

Lounge chairs

Lounge chairs prioritize reclined comfort and often form. Seat heights can drop to 14 to 16 in. They're excellent for unwinding and work as the sculptural piece in a room. The Petalo chair's petal-shaped shell is an example of a lounge chair designed to be looked at from every side.

Swivel chairs

A swivel lets one chair face several directions, which makes it useful where a room serves several activities. Check whether it returns to a set position (a "memory return" swivel) and whether it also rocks or glides. Allow clearance around it, typically around 30 in for the arc and walkway.

Slipper chairs

Originally designed for dressing in bedrooms, slipper chairs are armless with a low seat. Their narrow profile, often under 28 in wide, makes them ideal in pairs where a pair of armchairs would crowd the room.

Recliners

A recliner chair gives you a footrest without an ottoman. If you're considering one, our recliner guide compares power and manual mechanisms and clearances.

Seat height, depth and other dimensions

Comfort comes from fit. These are typical ranges for armchairs; individual designs vary.

How to check fit: sit all the way back. Your feet should rest flat with knees roughly level with or slightly below your hips, and there should be a few inches between the seat edge and the back of your knees. If your legs dangle or the edge presses behind your knees, the seat is too high or too deep. Shorter people can tuck a lumbar cushion behind them to reduce effective depth; tall people should look for at least 22 in of depth.

If the chair is for an older family member or anyone with limited mobility, favor a higher seat (around 18 to 19 in), firm cushioning, and solid arms to push up from.

Pairing an accent chair with your sofa

The chair should look like it belongs to the same room without looking like it came in the same box. A reliable approach:

1. Match the seat height. Keep it within about 1 to 2 in of the sofa's so everyone sits at a similar eye level. A chair much lower than the sofa leaves its occupant looking up.
2. Balance the scale. A heavy, low sofa suits a substantial chair; a leggy, slim sofa suits a lighter, open chair. Overall back heights don't need to match, but a big difference should be intentional, such as a high-back wing chair beside a low sofa.
3. Contrast one thing. Change shape, material or color, or two of the three. A curved chair beside a boxy sofa, or a fabric chair beside a leather sofa, adds depth. Matching all three tends to look flat.
4. Repeat a detail. Tie the pieces together through one shared element: leg finish, a color pulled from a cushion or the rug, or a similar arm profile.

For placement, chairs typically sit at an angle facing the sofa across the coffee table, or as a pair directly opposite it. Keep facing seats within roughly 4 to 10 ft so conversation stays easy; our living room layout guide covers distances and walkways.

On fabric versus leather: a fabric chair can bring texture to a leather sofa, and vice versa. If the chair will take daily use, choose a durable upholstery; our upholstery fabric guide explains double rubs and weaves.

Pairs, singles and the number of chairs

A pair of matching chairs creates symmetry and works well facing a sofa or flanking a fireplace. A single chair suits asymmetric layouts, a reading corner, or a room where space is tight. Two different chairs can work if they share a scale and seat height.

A common rule of thumb for a main seating group: one sofa plus one or two chairs for everyday use. Add a slipper chair or ottoman for guests rather than permanently crowding the room.

Where the side table goes

Every chair needs a surface for a drink, a book or a phone. The side table should:

• Sit within easy reach, typically on the side of your dominant hand, close enough to reach without leaning.
• Be roughly at arm height, typically within about 2 in of the chair's arm. For armless chairs, aim near seat height plus about 6 to 8 in.
• Be small enough not to block the walkway; 15 to 24 in across is common.

Where a chair is near the sofa, one table can serve both. In a reading corner, pair the table with a floor lamp positioned slightly behind the chair so light falls on the page without glare. The Coppia nesting tables split into two surfaces when you need more than one.

Quick buying checklist

1. Decide the job: lounging, reading, conversation, or flexible.
2. Measure the space, including clear walkways of about 30 in and swivel or recline clearance.
3. Check seat height against your sofa, and depth against your body.
4. Sit in it for several minutes; get in and out a few times.
5. Choose upholstery for how the chair will be used, and check its cleaning code.
6. Plan the side table and light before delivery day.

Browse our armchairs, or ask our interior design service to help pair one with your sofa.