An armchair is often bought as an add-on to the sofa: same fabric, same colour, same set. Later it turns out to be awkward for reading, and guests struggle to get out of its deep seat. The reason is simple: an armchair’s shape determines what it is for. Reading, conversation and stretching out to relax require different postures, and therefore a different seat and back.
The reading chair: upright back, supported head
When reading, you sit in roughly the same position for hours, arms holding the book and head tilted slightly forward. A chair for that posture should have:
- A high back. Support for the head and neck reduces fatigue. The classic wing chair was designed for exactly this: the side wings give the head somewhere to rest.
- A seat of medium depth. Your lower back should touch the backrest while your knees bend comfortably over the front edge. In a very deep seat you end up adding cushions.
- Firm armrests. Resting your elbows makes holding a book much easier. The armrest height should match the natural position of the elbow.
- A slightly firmer seat. In very soft filling the body sinks and posture collapses.
Plan space next to a reading chair for a light source and a small table for a book or cup. Placing the chair side-on to a window lets daylight fall on the page without shadows.
The occasional chair: compact and easy to get out of
Armchairs set opposite or beside the sofa are for conversation. You sit upright, facing the other person, often with a cup in hand. What matters in an occasional chair:
- a seat that is not too low, so an older guest can stand up unaided;
- shallow to medium depth and an upright back;
- visual lightness: slim legs, an open base and a compact shape keep the room uncluttered;
- low weight, so it can be moved easily when needed.
Two matching occasional chairs placed symmetrically opposite the sofa clearly define a conversation area. They need not share the sofa’s fabric; a contrasting colour or texture adds life to the room.
The lounge chair: deep seat, reclined back
In a lounge chair the aim is complete relaxation. The seat is deeper and softer, the back more reclined, and there is often an ottoman or a pull-out footrest. On chairs with a mechanism, the back angle adjusts and the footrest rises.
That comfort has its own requirements. A reclining back needs clearance behind it, so the chair cannot stand tight against a wall. Getting up from a deep seat is harder, so for people with limited mobility a model with a lift-assist mechanism or a shallower seat is more suitable. In a living room, a lounge chair is best placed in a quiet corner facing the TV or window, away from the main walkway.
Size and placement
In a showroom an armchair always looks smaller than it really is. Marking its footprint on the floor at home with paper or tape helps. Distances to consider:
- space between the chair and coffee table to stretch your legs and walk past;
- a distance to the sofa that allows conversation without raising your voice;
- the full open size of a reclining chair;
- no clash with a door swing or radiator.
Test it: sit for at least five minutes
You cannot choose an armchair after sitting in it for a few seconds. Sit the way you normally would: hold a book, look at your phone, lean back. Notice how much you push on your arms when standing up. If the front edge of the seat presses into the back of your knees, the seat is too deep for you. If your head sits above the backrest and your neck feels strained, look for a higher back for reading.
Fabric choice also depends on use. For reading and lounge chairs used every day, a tightly woven fabric with good abrasion resistance lasts longer; an occasional chair that is sat in less often can take finer, more decorative materials.
Zaferoglu Mebel makes upholstered furniture, including armchairs, to individual sizes with a choice of fabrics. Seat depth and back height can be discussed when ordering, based on the user’s height and what the chair is for.
