Armchairs, Recliners & Accent Chairs

Which type of chair do you need?

Start with what the chair is for. A chair you sink into for an evening of television needs different things to one that fills a bedroom corner.

• Recliners with stool: the Malmo, Lugano and Aria recliners come with a matching footstool. Malmo is available as a swivel recliner or a massage recliner.
• Rise and recline: the Helena chair, in charcoal fabric or pebble faux leather, lifts you towards standing as well as reclining, which helps if getting up from a low seat is hard work.
• Swivel chairs: Bowline, Caspian and Bowery turn on their base, handy where a chair needs to face both the room and a window.
• Accent and lounge chairs: smaller and lighter on the eye, such as the Lulu, Gigi and Amari boucle chairs, the Dahlia and Lunetta chairs, or the Pettine chairs with gold legs.

Measuring before you buy

Check three numbers on the product page: overall width, depth, and seat height. Deep chairs suit taller people and lounging; a shallower seat suits people who sit upright or have shorter legs. For recliners, allow extra room in front for the footrest and check the depth when fully reclined, so the chair does not end up hard against a wall or radiator.

Then measure the route in. Doorways, hallways and stair turns are where big armchairs come unstuck, so compare the narrowest point with the chair's smallest dimension.

Fabrics and finishes

You will find boucle, chenille, velvet, linen effect, and faux leather here. Boucle and chenille have a soft, textured feel. Velvet has a sheen that changes with the light. Faux leather wipes clean easily, which counts for a lot with children or pets. Each product page lists the exact cover and leg material.

Putting a chair in the room

An armchair usually sits at an angle to the sofa, close enough to chat without raising voices. Add a side table for a cup and a lamp, and a footstool if the chair does not come with one. For the bigger picture, see sofas and the full living room furniture range.