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Choosing a good armchair for a living room
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Cathy Smith
Oct 20, 2019, 22:49 EDT
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People buy recliners for living rooms on 3 occasions:
  • When they come in a set of upholstered furniture. The armchairs from the set perfectly fit into the interior, they visually and stylistically support the sofa.
  • When we choose an armchair or a pair of armchairs specifically as a single piece of interior design or as a special place to relax.
  • A bed chair as an extra place to sleep.
So how to choose a recliner so that it becomes a real cozy place to relax, and not just an unnecessary piece of furniture in the interior of the living room?

How to choose an armchair for a living room?

While choosing an armchair, keep in mind the following:
  • The seat should be tilted slightly backward. It’s not very comfortable to sit on a chair with a flat horizontal seat.
  • The tilt of the backrest should be 120 degrees or more to the seat. A chair with a straight backrest is also awfully uncomfortable: your back will start to hurt in a few minutes.
  • The optimal seat height is 40-50 cm. A seat that is too low puts too much strain on your thighs and buttocks. And it’s difficult to sit on a high seat.
  • Optimum seat depth is 50-60 cm, larger chair models require additional roller-shaped cushions.
  • The seat width should be 50-70 cm. Sometimes, a slightly wider model may be required. In a chair that is too wide, you will have to reach for the armrests, which is not very convenient.
  • Mind the height of the backrest: models with a low back are good if you plan to rest in a chair half-lying down. If you like to sit and lean back, these models are not good for you – your neck and shoulders will quickly get tired without support.
  • Both hands should be freely put on the armrests. If your shoulders are raised, choose a chair with lower armrests. Otherwise, the neck and shoulders will hurt after just a few minutes.

Frame

After all the numbers and facts, let’s move on to the inner filling of the chair – the years of your soft and cozy friend’s serving depends on it. The base of a chair is its frame. As a rule, it is made of natural wood, metal, and chipboard.
The wooden frame is durable, lightweight, and environmentally friendly. Beech, oak, walnut, and ash are perfect for it. Fir trees cope with the load worse – you shouldn’t choose them. Note: Parts of a quality wooden frame should be joined together with bolts, and not with screws or glue.
Metal frames are strong, durable, and relatively cheap. Steel is often used to manufacture the frame. There are also designer models of light-alloy elements.
Chipboard frames are the cheapest. Unfortunately, this has a strong impact on its quality, so it’s better to choose combined ones: for example, a combination of chipboard and wood.

Filler and upholstery

Polyurethane foam or hollow fiber is most often used as a filler. Spring systems are also used, but they are not so common. You can find silicone-coated polystyrene balls in sack chairs and frameless models. In luxury models, natural latex or horsehair is used as a filler.
The upholstery is the same as for sofas: all types of fabric, artificial or natural leather. 

Types of armchairs 

The functions of modern living room armchairs can be divided into several categories. In addition to the classic armchairs, there are several types that are worth telling about.
  • Bed chair
Simple chairs don’t unfold. But there is a separate category of armchairs that can be easily transformed into single beds. A bed chair comes in handy if one of the guests stays overnight. They are arranged in the same way as sofas.
  • Relaxation chair
A special category is an armchair, which is bought for relaxation. These are rocking chairs and recliners.
A rocking chair is available in a variety of options, starting from the classic rattan version to high-tech and modern models with programmable frequency and amplitude control.
A recliner is a special relaxation chair with a movable tilted backrest, and a special footrest. Usually, it is of rather solid construction, lightweight ones are less common. The mechanism of transformation of the seats can be either mechanical or automatic. The second option, of course, is much more expensive. If you buy such a chair for relaxation, be prepared that it will take up a lot of space.
  • Frameless sack chair
Another type of armchair is a special sack chair of dense material (scotchgard, microfiber, artificial leather) filled with small polystyrene balls. Perfectly fit into any modern interior, easy to move, easy to take care of. These chairs are very comfortable to sit in.
Another good thing about such furniture is the variety of shapes. It’s possible to choose the classical pear-shaped form, the form of a ball, the big pillow, or something non-standard. If you want, you can order a special sack chair – everything depends on your imagination and how much money you are ready to spend on it.
  • Hanging chair
A hanging chair is an attractive combination of a rocking chair and a sunbed, comfortable and unusual. The market for hanging chairs is huge: you can choose its shape, size, material, type of weaving. You can attach it to the ceiling or buy a special stand. Some models swing back and forth and from side to side, others hang motionless.
There are some flaws, too. For example, moving a chair attached to the ceiling after installation is a real problem. This method is also not suitable for suspended and stretch ceilings. The model with a support-pillar is more versatile – it can be placed in any room, and in summer, you can transfer it to a veranda.
  • Chair for work
While soft chairs are designed for relaxation, the chair for work should keep your body in the most comfortable position when writing, drawing or working at the computer. 
First of all, it should be comfortable, because you have to spend several hours a day on it. The best option is office chairs with adjustable seat height and armrests, backrest tilt and stiffness. You shouldn’t be confused by the name “office”: there are so many options on sale that it’s not difficult to choose an armchair for home interior.

Useful tips

  • Choosing a model in a store, be sure to sit in a chair, and not just on the edge. You should try to get comfortable in it: put your hands on the armrests and lean back.
  • Be sure to move when in the chair: you won’t sit still in it. If the furniture squeaks and staggers, it won’t last long.
  • When choosing a bed chair, be sure to try to disassemble and assemble it yourself.
  • If you have a cat or dog, choose a puncture-resistant upholstery: Scotchgard, flock, or microfiber.

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