The sofa is for everyone; the armchair usually belongs to someone. It is where one person reads, naps, watches the match or has a first coffee. That is why choosing one by looks alone so often goes wrong. Start with what the chair is for, then the size, then the style. Here are the main types we sell and who each one suits.
The five types, and what each is for
| Type | Best for | Typical footprint | From our ranges |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accent chair | Adding colour and a spare seat; reading corners; bedrooms | Compact | York, Nora, Merlin |
| Swivel chair | Open-plan rooms; turning between TV, window and conversation | Compact to medium | Edie, Spencer, Plage |
| Recliner chair | Feet-up evenings and naps | Medium; needs space to recline | Nellie, Riya, Archie |
| Cuddle / love chair | One adult and a child, or someone who likes to curl up | Wide | Affinity swivel cuddle chair |
| Lift and rise chair | Anyone who finds standing up difficult | Medium; sizes vary | See the collection |
Accent chairs: the finishing piece
An accent chair is the easiest way to bring a second colour into a room without committing a whole sofa to it. They are usually compact, upright and quick to move. Look at the legs as much as the fabric: the York comes with a choice of five wood finishes and a 45cm seat height, the Merlin sits on tapered legs in finishes including gold and chrome, and the Throne has a 122cm high back "that frames whoever sits in it". Browse all accent chairs.
Swivel chairs: made for open-plan living
If your living room also has a dining table, a kitchen or a view, a swivel chair lets you face whichever you want without dragging furniture. The Edie is compact at 76cm wide, 82cm deep and 81cm high, in royal blue, rust or green. The Spencer, 80cm wide and 80cm deep, has a pocket sprung seat. For a statement, the Plage is a high-backed Italian leather swivel chair with a 121cm tall back that supports your head. See all swivel chairs.
The Affinity cuddle chair turns a full 360 degrees on a hidden swivel base, and you can pick a contrasting fabric for the scatters.
Recliner chairs: feet up
A recliner chair gives one person the comfort of a recliner sofa without changing the whole suite. The Nellie "glides, swivels and reclines", with built-in lumbar support in its cushions; the Riya is a slim electric reclining swivel chair, 65cm wide, with USB and a battery pack. Not sure whether to go manual or power? Read electric vs manual recliners, then browse recliner chairs.
The Nellie: glides, swivels and reclines manually. 100cm wide, 105cm deep and 107cm high.
Lift and rise chairs: when standing is the hard part
If the chair is for someone who struggles to get up, a lift and rise chair is the right type, and size matters more than style. Our guide to choosing the right size lift and rise chair walks through measuring, petite versus standard and single versus dual motor.
Measure before you fall in love
- Footprint: mark the chair's width and depth on the floor with masking tape and live with it for a day.
- Recline and swivel space: recliners need room behind and in front; swivel chairs need clearance all round.
- Seat height: lower seats feel relaxed, higher ones are easier to get out of. Compare with the sofa so the room does not look uneven.
- Route in: check doors, stairs and turns with our Will it Fit guide.
Pairing a chair with your sofa
You do not have to match. Two easy rules: either repeat one element (the same leg finish, or a colour picked from the sofa's cushions), or contrast deliberately (a rust or teal chair beside a grey sofa). Leather sofa? A fabric accent chair warms the room. Our grey sofa colour guide and living room ideas have more combinations, and our free fabric swatches let you test them at home.
Armchair questions, answered
What is the difference between an armchair and an accent chair?
Every accent chair is an armchair, but accent chairs are chosen mainly for style and colour and are usually more compact. A matching armchair from a sofa range is designed to sit alongside that sofa.
Are swivel chairs stable?
A well-made swivel chair turns on a weighted base and feels as steady as a fixed chair. Sit in it and turn before you buy.
Can I get a chair in the same fabric as my sofa?
Many sofa ranges include a matching chair; the Affinity also lets you choose one fabric for the body and a contrasting one for the scatters.
Sit in it before it comes home
Accent, swivel, recliner and lift and rise chairs on the floor at Parkgate, Rotherham, with free parking. Free UK mainland delivery by our own two-person team.
Shop all chairsSee swivel chairsAlso read: The best sofa fabrics for pets and kids · Fabric chairs · Leather chairs