10 comfortable and stylish armchairs – in my opinion
17.5.2023
Translation: Julia Graham
Welcome to my deep dive, where I delve into our range to find the best of the best in all furniture categories. This time, it’s armchairs, because this is the category that got the most votes in the last poll.
In fashion, it’s pretty common to put on something timeless and add an eye-catching accessory to create a unique and winning look. This concept should also apply to interior design. Take a classic sofa and complement it with an armchair that stands out – or vice versa. In order to express our personal style, we need to get out of our comfort zone more often when it comes to optics and play with shape, colour and patterns. Here are ten upholstered armchairs that will help you with the latter.
1. The evergreen: «Rodeo»
A cognac armchair like Bepurehome’s «Rodeo» looks inviting purely because of its warm colour and generous seat. Over time, the leather cover will get even smoother. While it won’t ever feel as soft as a fabric cover, it’ll develop a patina that lends the surface a unique pattern. It’s also good to know that «Rodeo» comes in olive green or black if you don’t like the brown shade.
What kind of set-up is it suited to?
«Rodeo» blends seamlessly into spaces thanks to its geometric shape and natural colour. This armchair comes into its own alongside rectangular sofas from other brands or designs from the same «Rodeo» range. It slots well into reading corners and home bars and matches vintage and industrial looks. This armchair also goes well with wooden furniture. To keep the brown tone nice and rich, you’ll want to place it in a shady spot.
2. Like a hug: «Chesham»
Bloomingville’s «Chesham» armchair shrouds you with two cushions each. These drape over the armrests and create a feeling of comfort. It boasts an angular design in a restrained shade. But the double padding makes it a little more rounded and special. With a 90 cm seat depth, this design piece is also perfect for putting your feet up. To put that into context, conventional armchairs have a seat depth of about 50-55 cm.
Source: Bloomingville
What kind of set-up is it suited to?
The oversized, marshmallow-like proportions of «Chesham» would appeal to anyone looking for a sleek model with that certain something. Whether it’s for breastfeeding in the nursery or reading in the living room, this armchair complements Scandi, country and mid-century styles. However, it can also bring some visual calm to eclectic interiors and come up trumps in a seating group with matching sofas or those from other brands.
3. Puts the right spin on things: «Bar»
The first impressions of «Bar» are deceptive, it’s anything but a plain Jane. This Dutchbone lounge chair exudes 70s vibes with its swivel base and literally forces you to recline and sway back and forth as its generous backrest slopes backward. If grey is still too boring for you, «Bar» is also available in green, yellow or pink velvet as well as brown leather.
What kind of set-up is it suited to?
The coloured velvet version is perfect for anyone with a penchant for glamorous interiors, while the grey polyester model is at home in modern living spaces. And both are ideal if you don’t have space for expansive furniture, as there aren’t any armrests. Thanks to its swivel feature, «Bar» is also a good choice for the entrance or living room.
4. Square-shaped, practical, good: «Cube»
With just a flick of the wrist, Karup Design’s «Cube» shapeshifts from a stool to an armchair and matching stool to a mattress. So if the 60 cm seat depth doesn’t let you put your feet up, simply reach for the extender – the stool. This three-in-one solution stands out by its size alone. As if that wasn’t enough, it also comes in a number of other colours, from pink to red.
Source: Karup
What kind of set-up is it suited to?
Despite its size, «Cube» is adaptable. This armchair fits in with many styles, including modern, Scandi and Japandi and is perfect if you often find yourself needing a guest bed. The smaller version, «Mini Cube», on the other hand, looks pretty as part of a play area in a kid’s room.
5. Comes with a headrest: «Tyler»
Zuiver’s lounge chair «Tyler» takes the high back of a traditional wingback chair and modernises it with a swivel base. It boasts armrests and a removable pillow, and its cushions are covered in a coarse woven bouclé fabric that’s particularly wear-resistant. This means you can choose «Tyler» in a light colour without worrying about stains.
What kind of set-up is it suited to?
The «Tyler» lounge chair will definitely please vanilla-aesthetic fans who go for cream and beige tones, but also those who are mid-century at heart. This armchair is part of a series that also features bouclé dining chairs and a bouclé stool. However, thanks to the office chair look, it can also complete a study.
6. The material mix: «Pilar»
While some leather chairs can get swallowed up by too much padding, this design from Hübsch strikes the right balance. It has puffy parts, but also a clear and graceful frame. The upholstered seat and back are set into an exposed, solid oak frame. Meanwhile, rounded armrests provide a visual highlight as well as additional comfort. The only thing softer than the inviting cognac-brown leather is the model made of grey fabric.
Source: Hübsch
What kind of set-up is it suited to?
The contrast of extremely comfortable seat upholstery and wooden frame makes «Pilar» an eye-catcher. Whether you opt for the grey or cognac model, this lounge chair is flexible due to the material combination and its compact size. It goes well in country- or Scandi-style rooms but also in chalets or hotels that use a lot of wood.
7. A touch of glamour: «Laurel»
In terms of optics, Rivièra Maison’s salon-style armchair «Laurel» combines the look of a bar stool with a comfortable armchair. It features custom-fit upholstery, rounded armrests, turned wooden legs and an opening in the backrest that makes it feel especially airy. Depending on the light, its velvet fabric shimmers and catches your eye (even more). If you find the pink too lovey-dovey, you can opt for beige or brown. A nice detail worth mentioning is the black, rubber wood legs shrouded in gold brass at the ends.
What kind of set-up is it suited to?
The «Laurel» armchair looks good in home bars and living rooms that opt for a bohemian or glamorous look. It doesn’t take up too much room and can complement spaces such as a nostalgic bedroom.
8. The floral one: «Vogue»
The «Vogue» seating collection includes armchairs with various floral patterns that will give any room a facelift, no matter how plainly it’s decorated. They mainly come in cappuccino colours, so they stand out but don’t lay it on too thick. If the desaturated designs are still a bit too stark for you, there are also plain velvet versions that add a touch of glamour.
Source: Bepurehome
What kind of set-up is it suited to?
«Vogue» is well suited to cramped spaces, as it only takes up a lot of space visually. Its pattern makes the armchair perfect for a style break in a no-nonsense interior. However, it also fits beautifully with eclectic and romantic styles.
9. A splash of colour: «Bobly»
This mustard yellow armchair from the «Bobly» series adds a pop of colour to any room. The armrests are elegantly curved and blend seamlessly into the backrest. To keep the colour bright, the fabric has been treated with a Teflon™ protective coating. «Bobly» is available in faux leather or chenille, a fabric with a velvety surface, made from chenille yarn. Meanwhile, the legs are always made of natural beech wood.
What kind of set-up is it suited to?
The warm mustard-yellow model gets fans of bold colours going. It harmonises with furniture that’s at least just as colourful – or the opposite. Minus the showy colour, a subtle design like «Bobly» blends into any reading nook or child’s room.
10. Made from one piece: «Dubna»
The «Dubna» lounge chair features the most unusual design in my top ten because it’s made from a single upholstered piece. It’s a By Georgsen piece designed with plush bouclé fabric for an extra inviting look. Although a reading chair without armrests might not seem that cosy, the sweeping silhouette and wide seat make up for it. The only drawback is its height. At 32 cm, this piece is lower than most models and therefore not suitable for people who already have trouble standing up.
Source: Dan Form
What kind of set-up is it suited to?
«Dubna» keeps a low profile in terms of colour but stands out with its shape. As a result, you can use the armchair as an intentional eye-catcher in a seating group or let it shine on its own. In any case, its sculptural character gives it the potential to be the centrepiece in any room.
This is the ninth instalment in the «Form Follows Function» series, in which I present particularly well-designed furniture - from A to Z.
Survey
Which piece of furniture should I present next?
- Dining table49%
- Sideboard32%
- Bar stool19%
The competition has ended.
Pia Seidel
Senior Editor
Pia.Seidel@digitecgalaxus.chLike a cheerleader, I love celebrating good design and bringing you closer to everything furniture- and interior design- related. I regularly curate simple yet sophisticated interior ideas, report on trends and interview creative minds about their work.
