A good armchair fits the person and the room. Look for a seat height of 42 to 48 cm, a seat depth of 50 to 55 cm and a width that suits the space: 65 to 75 cm for a compact chair in a bedroom or small living room, 80 to 95 cm for a deep lounge chair.
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Buying guide
An armchair is often the most personal seat in the house. It is where you read, drink a coffee before everyone wakes up or watch the end of a film when the sofa is taken. Because you sit in it for long stretches, comfort matters more than with almost any other piece of furniture, and it is worth measuring both yourself and the room before you choose.
Mark the footprint of the chair on the floor with masking tape and live with it for a day. Leave at least 75 cm of walkway in front, and 10 to 15 cm behind if it stands near a wall, so the back can recline slightly or the cushions can be plumped. Compact armchairs of 65 to 75 cm wide fit beside a bed, in a bay window or next to a fireplace. Larger lounge chairs of 85 cm or more suit open living rooms where they face the sofa.
A seat height of 42 to 48 cm lets most adults sit down and stand up easily, with feet flat on the floor. Taller people and anyone with stiff knees may prefer the upper end. Seat depth decides how you sit: 50 to 55 cm is upright and supportive, good for reading; 55 to 65 cm invites you to curl up but can leave shorter people with their feet off the floor.
High-backed armchairs support the head and neck, which makes them ideal for reading or a nap. Low-backed designs look lighter and suit a room where the chair sits in front of a window or in the middle of the floor. Wide, padded arms give a place to rest a book or a cup; slim wooden arms keep the overall width down. Check that the arms are at a comfortable height when your shoulders are relaxed, usually 15 to 25 cm above the seat.
Bouclé and wool feel warm and hide marks well. Velvet is soft and rich in colour but shows pressure marks at first. Linen and cotton blends are cool and relaxed but crease. Leather and faux leather wipe clean and age with use. For an armchair used every day, look for a fabric rated at 20,000 rubs or more on the Martindale test. Upholstered furniture sold in the UK must carry a permanent fire safety label under the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988, so check the label before you buy second-hand.
A frame of hardwood or engineered wood with corner blocks stays rigid for years. Foam seat cushions hold their shape; feather and fibre fillings feel softer but need regular plumping. Removable covers make cleaning easier. Exposed legs in wood or metal make the chair look lighter and let you clean underneath, while skirted bases feel more traditional.
Measure the width and height of your front door, any internal doors and the turns on the stairs. Many UK internal doorways are only around 76 cm wide. Compare these with the chair's width, height and depth, and with its diagonal depth if one is given. Chairs with removable legs or a back that lifts off make tight Victorian terraces and flats much easier to furnish.
Two matching armchairs facing a sofa create a conversation area. A single statement armchair works best angled towards the room, with a side table and a reading lamp beside it. Armchairs do not need to match the sofa; pick up one colour or material and keep the seat heights within a few centimetres of each other so the room feels settled.
In a small living room or a bedroom, look for armchairs with slim arms, a low back and exposed legs, which let light pass under and around them. Tub chairs and compact accent chairs of 65 to 75 cm wide fit where a full lounge chair would block the way. A swivel base lets one chair face the television in the evening and the window in the morning.
For reading, choose a high back, a seat depth of about 50 cm and firm arms at elbow height. Place the chair with the light coming over your shoulder, add a floor lamp or a table lamp on a side table, and a footstool at seat height. Armchairs in a bedroom work the same way, with a bedside lamp doing double duty.
Vacuum upholstery every week or two, turn and plump cushions, and keep the chair out of strong direct sunlight to avoid fading. Blot spills straight away and check the cleaning code on the label before using any product.
42 to 48 cm suits most adults. Choose the upper end if you are tall or find it hard to stand up from low seats.
Usually 65 to 75 cm, which fits beside a bed, in a bay window or next to a fireplace.
Measure doors and stairs and compare them with the chair's width, height and diagonal depth. Removable legs make a big difference.
No. Share one colour or material and keep seat heights similar, and the room will look planned.