Our Tips for Choosing the Right Armchair
Many households choose to complement their living room by adding an armchair. Prized for its minimalist design, this piece of furniture adds character to the room and provides an extra seat. However, it’s important to choose your armchair carefully. It should blend perfectly with the living room furniture and the room’s decor. In addition, it’s important to consider how it will be used, the comfort it provides, and its dimensions before making a purchase.
How do you choose the right armchair? Here are some tips.
Check the dimensions of the armchair and the available space in the living room
It is important to choose an armchair whose dimensions perfectly match the size of the living room (or the room where it will be placed). The armchair’s size should complement the living room’s space and the rest of the decor. Larger armchairs are better suited for daily and extended use. A smaller armchair is more appropriate as a temporary seat that can be stored away when not in use.
If the room is spacious, not cluttered with furniture, and has a minimalist decor, you can choose a large, bulky armchair. On the other hand, if the room is small and already quite cluttered, it’s best to opt for a smaller, more unobtrusive armchair. In this case, choosing an armchair without armrests is an excellent idea. It gives the impression of taking up less space and not overwhelming the room.
Identify Your Needs
Before choosing the best armchair for your living room, it’s important to clearly define your needs. If the armchair will be used daily by the whole family and the family has pets that shed, it’s best to opt for materials that are easy to maintain. Conversely, if the family is small, has no pets, and the armchair will be placed in a quiet area, you can opt for more luxurious materials. Depending on how the family plans to use the armchair, it makes sense to choose one that:
- ready and willing to work;
- with a high backrest for comfortable reading;
- more reclined, with a wide, plush seat for a relaxing spot;
- with armrests, for placement around the dining table.
Choosing the Right Coating
The texture and material of the armchair are also important factors. On the one hand, it should blend in easily with the living room’s decor, but on the other hand, it should be suitable for family life. If your family includes young children who might get the armchair dirty, it’s best to choose an easy-to-maintain yet durable upholstery, such as cotton or microfiber.
Conversely, you can opt for more luxurious upholstery materials, such as leather, velvet, or even linen. Generally speaking, cotton works well with all room styles and in all homes. Velvet, wool, and linen are better suited to a refined interior.
Analyze the level of comfort provided
The chair must provide the person sitting in it with a sufficient level of comfort. Therefore, it is essential to take the time to test the backrest, the depth and firmness of the seat, the shape of the chair, and the width of the armrests. The backrest of the chair can vary in length and softness, depending on personal preferences and individual support needs. In general, a density ranging from 20 to 25 kg/m³ is sufficient for the backrest.
The depth of the seat, on the other hand, depends on how the residents sit. If this chair is used as an additional seat, a piece of furniture that is fairly wide, deep, and comfortable will be more suitable. If it is an occasional chair, the seat depth can be shallower. However, in either case, be careful not to buy an armchair with a seat that’s too hard, as this could cause discomfort.
Finally, don’t overlook the seat padding. The thicker the padding, the softer and more comfortable the chair will be. For a chair in which residents will spend long hours, this is an important consideration. High-resilience foam, for example, is considered the most comfortable material due to its elasticity. It also ages very well. Bultex, on the other hand, is lighter and more durable. Generally speaking, for a comfortable seat, it’s recommended to choose foam with a density between 30 and 35 kg/m³.
Determine the appropriate style, shape, and color
To choose the right armchair to complement your living room, you should also consider its shape, style, and color.
The Shape of the Armchair
It's important to choose an armchair style that complements your living room. A minimalist style is the perfect choice if the room is on the smaller side. Otherwise, you can treat yourself to more substantial armchairs, such as:
- the straight armchair—simple and practical—that fits in almost any living room;
- the rocking chair, perfect for relaxation and a great fit for both a bedroom and a living room;
- the hanging chair, which frees up floor space and is ideal for interiors with high ceilings;
- the recliner, which offers unparalleled comfort;
- the convertible armchair, which can be turned into an occasional guest bed.
Having armrests is a significant bonus, as they provide a place to rest your arms when using the chair at a desk, for example. The headrest is also perfect for properly supporting the sitter’s neck. Finally, the footrest—which is sometimes included as an accessory—significantly increases comfort.
The style of the armchair
When it comes to the style of the armchair, it's best to choose colors and designs that blend seamlessly with the rest of the decor. For example:
- The velvet armchair blends perfectly with Baroque and Romantic-style interiors;
- The Scandinavian armchair helps create a fairly modern Nordic atmosphere;
- The vintage armchair adds a retro touch to the room;
- The wooden armchair gives the living room a very contemporary feel;
- The wingback chair provides ideal support for the lower back and neck of the person sitting in it;
- The rocking chair creates a cozy atmosphere that doesn't go unnoticed;
- The shell-shaped armchair envelops its occupants in comfort during moments of relaxation;
- etc.
The color of the armchair
To choose the right color for the armchair, it’s important to consider the decor and atmosphere of the room where it will be placed. The key here is to maintain a sense of harmony. Therefore, opt for light tones if the room is already quite busy. Conversely, if the room is relatively sparse, homeowners can have fun with more original colors and patterns. Generally speaking, the only rule to follow is that this new piece should blend seamlessly into the overall atmosphere of the living room.
Style, color, shape, dimensions—ultimately, it’s easy to choose the right armchair. What’s more, you can customize it by adding cushions or throws, for example. You could also add a side table to keep books within reach, or even to set down remote controls and hot drinks.
We recommend these other pages: