Accent Chairs: The Complete Buying Guide

On this page (9 sections)

1. How do you choose accent chairs for a living room?
2. How do you measure an accent chair for your room?
3. Which accent chair shape suits your living room?
4. Which fabric and color should you choose?
5. How do you compare comfort and construction?
6. How should you set up an accent chair after delivery?
7. How do you care for an accent chair?
8. Which accent chair buying mistakes should you avoid?
9. Which accent chair should you choose for your living room?

The best accent chairs for living room seating fit your body, leave clear walking routes and serve a clear purpose beside your sofa. Choose the chair’s job first, then compare its usable seat, outside dimensions and care needs.

A chair for frequent reading needs more attention to arm position and sitting posture than a seat used during short visits. A swivel base helps with changing views, while an ottoman makes sense only when there is room to use it.

Start with what an accent chair is if you’re deciding what role one should play in your room. The steps below will help you narrow the shape, avoid sizing mistakes and choose among four different designs.

How do you choose accent chairs for a living room?

Choose accent chairs for a living room by matching use, body fit and room fit, in that order. Color and shape matter once a chair passes those three checks.

Write down who will use the chair most often and what they will do there. “Reading each evening” gives you a clearer brief than “something beige for the corner.”

If two people with different heights will share the chair, compare both people’s needs. A seat that suits the taller reader may leave the shorter person sitting forward with no contact against the back.

What should your living room accent chair do?

Give your living room accent chair one main job and treat other uses as extras. This helps you decide which compromises are acceptable.

For conversation, face the chair toward the sofa or another seat rather than squarely into an empty corner. Check that people can hear each other without leaning forward or turning their bodies throughout a visit.

For reading, plan a lamp and a reachable surface for a book or drink. Those pieces need space too, so include them before you decide how large the chair can be.

A decorative chair still needs a usable seat if guests will sit there. If the room already has enough seating, consider whether another chair would improve the layout or simply narrow the walking route.

For a fuller step-by-step process, see how to choose an accent chair for a living room.

How do you measure an accent chair for your room?

Measure the chair, the space around it and the route into the room. A chair can fit its intended corner and still fail at the doorway or leave no room for your legs.

Start with overall width and depth, then mark the outline with painter’s tape suitable for your floor. If you plan to angle the chair, turn the taped outline to match that position.

An angled chair can project farther into the room than expected. Check the outer corners rather than assuming its straight width equals the space it needs when turned.

Which measurements should you record?

Record the following measurements separately so you don’t confuse a roomy frame with a roomy seat:

• Overall width: The widest outside point, including arms.
• Overall depth: The full front-to-back space occupied by the chair.
• Overall height: Useful beneath windows or beside shelves, but different from seat height.
• Seat width: The space available between the arms.
• Seat depth: The distance from the seat’s front edge to the back support.
• Seat height: The distance from the floor to the sitting surface.
• Arm height: Useful for comparing forearm support and nearby table clearance.

Use our accent chair dimensions guide to keep these measurements straight. If a needed measurement is unavailable, ask for it rather than estimating from a photograph.

How much clearance does a chair need?

Leave a clear main walking route and enough space to sit down, stand up and use nearby furniture. Aim for about 30–36 in along a main passage where your layout allows.

That range is a planning guide, not a reason to force a chair into a tight room. Walk the route with the footprint marked, including while someone occupies the proposed seat.

Open nearby drawers, cabinets and doors fully. Check curtains and the space needed to reach outlets, since a chair that must be moved for routine tasks can become a nuisance.

For a swivel chair, allow for the outer back and arms as they turn. For an ottoman, mark both its resting position and somewhere it can go when you need the floor clear.

Will the chair reach its intended spot?

Check doorway openings, hall turns and stairs before ordering. Compare those spaces with the packaged dimensions and any parts that can be removed for delivery.

The narrowest point may be a turn beyond the door rather than the doorway itself. Include handrails, fixed shelving and low ceilings along the route.

Don’t assume a chair arrives as small, separate pieces because assembly is required. Confirm the package size and handling needs before arranging delivery.

Which accent chair shape suits your living room?

Choose the shape around how you sit and where you need to turn. Curved sides, exposed arms, broad frames and separate footrests change both the sitting experience and the floor plan.

A barrel chair has a curved back and sides around the seat. A swivel describes movement, so a chair can be both a barrel design and a swivel.

For more on that enclosed shape, read what a barrel chair is. Decide whether you like arms close beside you before choosing it mainly for its rounded appearance.

When does a swivel chair make sense?

Choose a swivel chair when you regularly turn between the sofa, television or a window. It is less useful in a corner where surrounding furniture prevents much movement.

Keep a side table beyond the chair’s turning path, then check whether you can still reach it comfortably. A table placed close enough to trap an arm defeats much of the swivel’s purpose.

Choose the CANMOV for a seat with changing views. Its beige teddy fleece, curved back and padded arm shape suit a seating area where you want an upholstered look rather than exposed wooden arms.

The chair measures about 28 in deep and 29 in high, with a 21 in wide by 22 in deep seat. That depth deserves attention if you usually prefer upright sitting with your feet flat.

The cushion combines foam and pocket springs. Those materials explain its construction, but don’t establish whether you’ll prefer its firmness over a foam-only seat.

Skip it if you need a fixed seat or a confirmed higher weight limit. CANMOV gives conflicting capacity figures of 300 lb and 350 lb, so confirm the applicable limit before relying on either.

When is an oversized chair the better choice?

Choose an oversized chair when you have space for its full frame and its seat suits your posture. A broad outside width can come from thick arms rather than extra sitting room.

That distinction matters if you want to sit cross-legged or change positions often. Check the space between the arms before treating “oversized” as a promise of a wide seat.

Choose the Howjoe for a dedicated reading area with room for broad arms. It combines beige chenille, an arched back and curved armrests with foam and springs in the seat.

Its main dimensions are 38.58 in wide, 33.07 in deep and 34.25 in high, although other measurements conflict. Confirm the assembled footprint if your available space is close to those limits.

The chair has a 400 lb capacity and wood-and-iron frame construction. Neither fact changes the need to check seat fit, especially if you expect an oversized chair to let you tuck both legs beside you.

Skip it if your priority is maximum usable seat width within a compact frame. Its outside width takes up substantial room compared with the seat between the arms.

For more sizing help, see how to choose an oversized reading chair.

Should you choose a small chair or a chair with an ottoman?

Choose a compact chair to preserve floor space, and add an ottoman only if feet-up use is a real priority. The chair’s small footprint does not represent the space needed by the whole arrangement.

A movable footrest can work well in a reading corner. It works less well when every use requires shifting a coffee table or blocking the path to another room.

Choose the LINSY for a small reading nook with a separate footrest. Its gray velvet upholstery and flared, petal-like back and arms give it a more decorative curved shape than an exposed-frame chair.

The chair measures 27.4 in wide, 25.6 in deep and 26.8 in high, with a wood frame and 300 lb capacity. LINSY specifically describes it as a small chair, so check the usable seat before expecting generous lounging room.

Skip it if you want an oversized seat or an attached reclining footrest. This set provides a chair and separate ottoman, and you need the ottoman’s dimensions to plan the full layout.

Compare other layouts in our guide to accent chairs with an ottoman. Focus on where the footrest will sit during use, not just where you can store it afterward.

Which fabric and color should you choose?

Choose upholstery by care method, texture and household use, then narrow the color. A fabric that looks right but needs care you won’t keep up with is a poor fit for a busy seat.

Ask what the chair will face: snack spills, pet hair, denim, frequent guests or mostly occasional use. No fabric name alone establishes resistance to all of those demands.

Texture can disguise some small marks while making crumbs or hair harder to remove. Choose around the mess you actually expect rather than a broad “easy care” label.

How do you make a chair work with the sofa?

Repeat one detail already in the room, then allow the chair to differ elsewhere. A shared warm color, wood tone or rounded edge can connect pieces without matching all their materials.

If your sofa, rug and curtains already have strong patterns, a quieter chair can give the seating area a calmer focal point. If the room is mostly plain, a textured chair can add interest without another print.

Compare the size of the pieces as well as their colors. A broad, heavily upholstered chair can look crowded beside a compact sofa even when the fabrics coordinate.

For more examples, read whether accent chairs have to match.

How should you judge color in your room?

Judge color in the light where the chair will sit, using a fabric sample when available. Screen settings and room photography can change the appearance of beige, gray and green.

Look at the color beside your floor and sofa in daylight and under evening lamps. Similar neutrals can have different warm or cool tones that become more obvious when placed together.

Velvet and other pile fabrics can also change appearance with the direction of the surface. Decide whether you enjoy that variation before expecting a flat, uniform color.

How do you compare comfort and construction?

Compare seat fit and support position before cushion descriptions. A soft cushion cannot compensate for a seat that leaves you too far from the back or arms that hold your shoulders too high.

Use a chair you already like as a reference. Note where its front edge sits beneath your thighs, whether your feet rest comfortably and how your forearms meet the arms.

Choose the MAXYOYO if you prefer exposed wooden arms to padded sides. Its dark green corded upholstery, tufted cushions and metal frame create a different look from the three more enclosed upholstered designs.

The seat and back use shredded foam, and the chair has a 300 lb capacity. Its wooden arms give you a defined resting surface, though they won’t provide the same cushioning as upholstered arms.

Skip it if padded arm contact is a priority. Also confirm the assembled height and usable seat measurements if fit is close, since the overall height figures differ.

MAXYOYO advises allowing about 48 hours for the cushion to regain its shape after unpacking. Plan that recovery time before deciding whether the initial cushion shape suits you.

How can you judge comfort before buying?

Match the chair to your usual sitting position, not the position shown in a room photo. Reading upright, leaning back and sitting with a leg tucked under you place different demands on the seat.

For upright sitting, check that you can reach the back without pressure behind your knees. For lounging, make sure the seat allows your preferred position without forcing you against the arms.

A small back pillow can reduce usable depth, but it also takes away seat space. Don’t rely on several added cushions to rescue a chair that is much too large for you.

If several people will use it, give priority to the most frequent user while checking that others can enter and leave it comfortably. See are accent chairs comfortable? for more fit guidance.

Which construction details deserve a closer look?

Check frame materials, cushion fill, weight capacity and joints as separate details. A metal frame is not automatically better than wood, and a weight limit does not describe cushion comfort.

Look for clear assembly instructions and a way to obtain missing hardware. Before ordering, check return terms, packaging requirements and how a bulky chair would leave your home if it didn’t fit.

Removable cushions and removable covers are different features. A cushion that lifts out does not necessarily have a washable cover, and a zipper does not mean machine washing is allowed.

How should you set up an accent chair after delivery?

Set up the chair by checking parts, assembling on a protected surface and confirming stability before regular use. Keep the packaging until you’ve checked condition, fit and included pieces.

Follow the assembly sequence rather than tightening each connection fully as soon as it goes in. If the instructions call for aligning the frame first, complete that step before final tightening.

The CANMOV and MAXYOYO include assembly tools, while Howjoe includes assembly instructions and packages its components in one box. LINSY stores the legs in the bottom of the chair, so check there before treating them as missing.

What should you check before sitting down?

Check that all required parts are installed and that the chair rests evenly on the floor. Inspect the frame, upholstery and attachment points for damage before putting the chair into daily use.

Use floor protectors suited to your flooring and the chair’s feet where appropriate. Lift a stationary chair when moving it rather than dragging its legs across the floor.

For a swivel design, turn it slowly through its full intended movement and check the surrounding furniture. Keep cords, throws and curtains away from the moving base.

How do you finish the room layout?

Place the chair so sitting and reaching feel natural. Set the lamp and table while seated rather than judging their positions only while standing.

Keep drinks on a stable table instead of balancing them on an arm. Check that the table remains reachable without leaning far forward or twisting around the chair.

Sit in the finished arrangement while another person walks through the room. This reveals whether feet, an occupied ottoman or a turned chair intrude into the passage.

How do you care for an accent chair?

Follow the chair’s specific care label and remove loose debris before it builds up. Avoid treating chenille, corded fabric, fleece and velvet as if they share one cleaning method.

Where approved, use an upholstery attachment with gentle suction. Pay attention to seat edges, seams and textured surfaces where crumbs and dust collect.

Blot fresh spills with a clean cloth rather than rubbing them across a larger area. Check the care directions before adding water or cleaner, and try an approved product on a hidden spot first.

Can you wash the cover or use a steam cleaner?

Wash a cover or use steam only when the care instructions permit it. Heat, moisture and agitation can affect upholstery, backing materials and cushion fill differently.

Do not saturate a seat cushion during spot care. Let cleaned areas dry fully before use, and avoid covering damp fabric with a throw.

If the instructions are unclear or a stain covers a large area, seek upholstery-care advice before trying stronger methods. Repeated cleaning attempts can make a small mark harder to address.

How do you reduce daily wear?

Keep shoes, sharp objects and pet claws away from upholstery where possible. Use a washable throw in a high-contact area if it stays secure and clear of any moving parts.

Reduce prolonged direct sunlight to limit uneven fading. Rotate or flip cushions only if their shape and construction allow it.

Check accessible fasteners as directed by the assembly guide, especially if movement develops. Stop using a chair with a loose joint or unstable base until the cause is addressed.

Which accent chair buying mistakes should you avoid?

Avoid choosing by overall width, fabric name or appearance alone. Those details can hide a poor seat fit, difficult care routine or awkward room layout.

• Assuming oversized means a wider seat. Compare the space between the arms with the outside width before planning to curl up.
• Treating compact as comfortable for everyone. A small frame still needs enough usable seat and suitable support for its main user.
• Forgetting occupied space. Your legs and an ottoman extend beyond the chair’s taped footprint.
• Crowding a swivel with a table. Check the back and arms throughout the turn, not just in the starting position.
• Expecting foam type to predict firmness. Cushion shape, thickness and construction also affect how a seat feels.
• Buying pale upholstery without checking care. Confirm the approved spill-cleaning method before making it a daily snack seat.
• Ignoring delivery and returns. A chair that cannot reach the room or be returned conveniently can become an expensive sizing mistake.

If floor space is the main constraint, compare accent chairs for small spaces before committing to a broad frame. Start with the route people need through the room, then work inward toward the available chair space.

Which accent chair should you choose for your living room?

Choose accent chairs for living room seating by identifying the feature you’ll use most, then rejecting any option that fails your seat or space measurements. A clear shortlist is more useful than trying to find one chair that suits every posture.

Before ordering, keep a short written checklist: seat measurements, taped footprint, clear walking route, care method and delivery access. Resolve conflicting measurements or capacity figures before choosing, especially when your needs sit close to a limit.

If two chairs remain, choose the one that requires fewer daily compromises in your main activity. Use our guide to choosing an accent chair for a living room to make that final comparison around your own room and sitting habits.

Frequently asked questions

How do I choose an accent chair for my living room?

Choose an accent chair by matching its usable seat to your body and its full footprint to your room. Decide whether you need conversation seating, a reading spot or somewhere to put your feet up, then check seat dimensions, back shape, arm position, cleaning instructions and delivery access.

Should an accent chair match the sofa?

An accent chair can coordinate with the sofa without matching it exactly; repeat a color, wood tone or curved shape already in the room, then vary another detail. Consider the chair beside the rug and curtains too, so the whole seating area feels connected rather than chosen piece by piece.

What size accent chair works in a small living room?

Choose the smallest overall footprint that still gives you a usable seat and clear walking routes; mark the chair on the floor, then allow room for your legs, nearby doors and any swivel movement. A narrow chair with a deep frame can be harder to place than its width suggests.

Are accent chairs comfortable for everyday use?

Accent chairs can suit everyday use when their seat depth, height, arms and back match your sitting habits; compare those measurements with a chair you already like. For long reading sessions, check that you can sit back with supported feet and rest your forearms without raising your shoulders.

Which fabric is easiest to care for on an accent chair?

The easiest fabric to care for is one whose approved cleaning method fits your household; fiber name alone does not tell you whether you can use water, a solvent cleaner or machine washing. Check the care label, consider likely spills and pet hair, and choose a manageable texture and color.