Your guide to buying a chair

Seeking an extra seat in your sitting room? Feel like your sofa needs a comfy companion to really bring the room together? Adding an armchair could be the all-important finishing touch that completes your living room set-up.

Read on to find out how to choose the best armchair for your home.

House Beautiful Maura cuddler chaise in natural in a calming living space with pink curtains and a neutral side table

All chairs

French Connection Hoxton chair with wooden bamboo style frame finished with green scatters and a throw

Armchairs

Wylde leopard print accent chair in a dark wooden room next to an orange patterned rug

accent chairs

French Connection Carlisle cuddler chair with green and patterned scatter cushions and a green patterned rug

Snuggle Chairs

French Connection Molten swivel chair with a purple scatter cushions next to an olive tree in a cosy living space with orange rug

Swivel chairs

Brown winged accent chair with walnut angled legs with pink patterned scatter cushion next to an olvie green wall

Winged chairs

Why should I buy an armchair?

Whether you want to create a cosy reading nook in the corner of the room, or need a living room throne to kick back and watch television - armchairs and accent chairs always offer that satisfying comfort.

All you need to do is pick the perfect armchair style and material to suit your current décor. Opt for a bright and vibrant velvet armchair to make a statement in your living room, or perhaps you’d prefer to partition the lounge with the sleek sophistication of a chaise longue chair.

Whatever your personal preferences, we’re here to help. Just read our in-depth armchair buying guide, below, to get to grips with all our top tips.

What are the different types of chairs?

Let’s start with style. After all, when imagining how an armchair could look in your living room, you first think about the shape and silhouette. Let’s run through the different armchair styles to help you decide which shape best suits your décor.

White boucle accent chair with oak arms and feet on a wooden floor with a brown patterned scatter cushion

Accent chairs

While an accent chair makes a super comfy seat, its main purpose is to complement the décor or add contrast. Whether you opt for a stately high-back armchair or a vivid velvet armchair, an accent chair can really bring the wow factor!

Blue winged chair next to an oak and white gloss dining table with colourful tablewear

Wingback chairs

Another chair choice that wouldn’t look out of place in a 19th century stately home, a wingback armchair gets its namesake from the distinctive rear ‘wings’. The result is a bold design that makes you feel more cosy and enclosed.

Amanda Holden Luvvie sofa in white boucle with monochrome scatters, white rug and a black coffee table

Armchairs

Prioritising comfort and relaxation, a traditional armchair style is all about plush cushions and super soft seating, with plenty of silhouettes to choose from. Perfect for solo sitters who love that throne-like feeling in their living room.

Cream cuddler sofa with green patterned scatter cushions next to a sage green wall and rug

Cuddler chairs

Do you and your partner love nothing more than getting cosy for a Friday film night? Also known as a loveseat, cuddle chairs are slightly wider than standard armchair designs, allowing two sitters to snuggle up - or one to spread out.

House Beautiful Maura cuddle lounge chair in a neutral cosy room with pink curtains and a light marble side table

Lounge chairs

Evoking the elegance of an Edwardian manor, lounge chairs get their name because, well, they’re best for lounging! Also known as a chaise longue or a bedroom chair, this design demands to be admired wherever you put it in your home.

Black boucle swivel chair next to a blue wall and a marble effect coffee table finished with a white fluffy cushion

Swivel chairs

Perfect for laidback living, think of swivel chairs as oversized armchairs that can spin a full 360 degrees. Much like loveseats, swivel chairs can seat two people – or one person who likes to spread out across the cushions. 

What’s the best material for an armchair?

Once you’ve selected an armchair style, the next thing on your ‘to do’ list is to think about the upholstery. Namely, which armchair material is best suited to the style, colour scheme, and lifestyle of your home? We breakdown the benefits of each armchair material, below.

Country Living Arundel green and white plaid style accent chair with wooden feet on a pink patterned rug with sage green scatter cushion

Fabric armchairs

Stylistically, fabric armchairs are the most versatile option available. You can find a wider array of colours, textures, and patterns with fabrics, compared to leather and velvet, which makes it much easier to mix and match with other fixtures and furniture in your current décor.

Fabric armchairs also offer that sumptuous sink-in softness, with the kind of armchair materials that you just need to feel between your fingers! To find out more about the features of fabric, take a look at our fabric sofa buying guide.

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Black leather recliner chair with walnut frame in a bright living space with sage green walls

Leather armchairs

Leather armchairs are all about that understated elegance, enhancing both timeless and contemporary living room set-ups. For example, a leather low-back armchair is perfect for a mid-century modern style, while a leather chaise longue is decidedly more traditional.

Sleek sophistication aside, leather armchairs are also extremely low maintenance. They can stand up to the general wear and tear of daily use, such as spills and stains, making them a great choice for households with pets or children. If you want to find out more about the characteristics of leather, read our leather sofa buying guide.

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Yellow velvet accent chair with gold metal legs on a stripy rug next to a pale blue wall

Velvet armchairs

A popular choice for glamorous homes, velvet armchairs look and feel luxurious, adding depth and dimension to your décor. This plush material always demands your attention, often becoming the show-stopping centrepiece of your living room.

And while velvet is typically thought of as a delicate material, these chairs are actually quite durable if properly cared for. You just need to be vigilant with any spills or stains, taking care of the mess in a timely fashion. For more maintenance tips, head over to our sofa care guide.

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Pink curved accent chair next to a light marble side table and a wooden panelled wall

How to measure for your new armchair

Want to add an accent chair to your current living room set-up? Or maybe you’d like to squeeze a loveseat in the corner of your room? Well, you first need to break out the measuring tape before going on a shopping spree!

Read on for a step-by-step guide to measuring your home for an armchair.

Icon of a doorway

Measure hallways and door frames

First up, you’ll want to make sure that your chosen chair can be effortlessly transported through your home and installed without any fuss. That includes taking measurements of entrances and hallways. You will also need to consider if the armchair is going to be placed in the living room, or if you need to measure the staircase, for bedroom or accent chairs that are going to live upstairs.

Icon of a chair in front of a fire

Decide where you want to place the armchair

With the route from delivery van to intended room mapped out, you need to pick out the perfect position for your new chair. Armchair size is an important consideration for this step. If you fancy buying a loveseat, for example, you’ll need to accommodate for the wider dimensions when rejigging your current set-up. On the other hand, an accent chair can slip more easily into the floor plan without much rearrangement.

Icon of a tape measure

Measure the maximum space

So, you’ve earmarked the ideal spot for your new chair – now you just need to measure the dimension limitations of that position. Start with the length measurements, one along the front and the other along the back of the armchair space. This is especially important for loveseats or chaise longues that typically have wider silhouettes than accent chairs. You then want to measure the maximum depth between your two length measurements.

Armchair FAQs

Still unsure whether an armchair or accent chair is the best choice for your home? Take a look at the answers to the most common questions that our customers ask, below.

Comfort is a matter of personal preference. Some people might prefer the cosy, enclosed feeling of a wingback armchair, while others would rather sprawl out on a chaise longue. Think about how you currently sit in your living room and decide from there. If you really aren’t sure, visit your local DFS store to test out the different options for yourself.

Armchair size largely depends on the dimensions of your living room or bedroom. After all, it’s all well and good wanting a huge high-back armchair for your lounge, but do you actually have the space to accommodate this style of chair? To find out for sure, fish out the measuring tape and start rearranging the other pieces of furniture in the room.

When weighing up budgets, it’s important to think about how often you intend to use the new chair. For example, if you’re looking for an armchair that will become the best seat in the house come family film night, then we’d recommend stretching the budget to pick out the perfect one. On the other hand, if you’re shopping for an accent chair that’s more for style than sitting, then you might prefer to opt for a less expensive model.

So, you’ve taken on board our armchair buying guide and have picked the perfect chair for your home. All you need to do now is keep the chair in tip top condition – which can be easier said than done! But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with our fabric sofa care guide. Just follow these helpful tips and your chair will look brand new for years to come.

If you want to find out more about our range of armchairs and accent chairs, just get in touch with our team of experts. We can offer more information of specific products, as well as provide interior advice that could inform your next purchase. You can also start browsing our range of chairs, if you want to put this armchair buying guide into action!