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By Megan Wahn and Sydney Gore
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Aside from meeting the functional need of additional seating, the best accent chairs play an important role in characterizing the style of an interior. The occasional pieces add to the dialogue of a design scheme, whether a subdued addition such as a low-slung slipper chair, or a statement-making piece dreamt up by Arne Jacobsen or the Eameses. No matter the tone of a space, there’s a special seat to help define it.
If you weren’t already aware, there’s an abundance of reading and accent chairs out there. And we’re talking an overwhelming amount: More than 50,000 results come up when you search “accent chairs” on Wayfair. Sure, they all look nice on a computer screen, but anyone who’s accidentally purchased an especially stiff chair knows not to judge a piece of furniture by the professionally taken store photo. Here at Clever, we really wanted to sit and marinate to find the greatest options out there. So, we rounded up 24 chairs, and then reclined, assessed, scrutinized, and graded them. Keep scrolling to find out which chair styles made it to the top of our list.
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Sixpenny is known for approaching high-quality comfort with a natural, simple, cozy, and eco-friendly eye. That’s certainly the case with the Neva chair, which ditches the traditional wood frame in favor of an entirely slipcovered design reminiscent of something you might’ve sat in as a kid at daycare, but this time it’s way more chic. Underneath the slipcover, you’ll find three different layers of high density foam (for comfort and support) sandwiched between a mix of feather down and poly fill. The Neva’s shape is unassuming in a space, but its structured lines and plush cushions make it stand out as a great-looking and especially comfy reading chair for your living room or bedroom. Buy it in faux fur, linen, velvet, or canvas, all available in a variety of colors (and see which combinations will work with your space beforehand with the 12 fabric swatches Sixpenny lets you order for free). It’s also available as a sectional sofa (which, yes, we also reviewed!) if you want to round out the set.
Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman
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Furniture fads come and go, but the Eames Chair? Not going anywhere. The lounge chair was first made by iconic designer duo Charles and Ray Eames and debuted with Herman Miller in 1956. The two envisioned a 19th-century club chair when crafting it, and the result is this ergonomic and dramatically tilted swivel chair that looks like the best recliner and most luxurious office chair ever. “I wanted this chair to be bad,” tester Elise Portale said in her review. “The Eameses built the impossible: A chair that’s comfortable no matter how you want to sit in it.” Try to hate this timeless piece, we dare you.
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What do you get when an American architect directs a Finnish American designer to create a chair that feels like a “basket full of pillows”? The Womb Chair. Made by Eero Saarinen in 1946, the comfort level of the Womb Chair is right in the name—think of any verb that’s associated with sitting in a chair, add “like a baby” to the end of it, and that’s what the feeling of sitting in the Womb Chair is meant to be. Sure, on a purely surface level, the overall design and aesthetic is pretty simple. It is the sensation of actually sitting in this chair that’s helped it maintain its place in the canon of iconic chairs. You can practically feel yourself slowly lowering into the seat just by looking at it.
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Castlery is a well-known direct-to-consumer furniture brand that strives to offer high-end and well-made yet fairly affordable furniture, and the Desmond chair is a testament to that. From the brass tipped legs to the deep rubber wood frame to the neutral-colored foam and fiber-filled seat, the Desmond is a classic midcentury-modern-esque piece that stylishly lends itself to any home decor, and also functions as the perfect reading chair.
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This cult classic of a chair—which has done the rounds on Instagram—is the brainchild of popular designer Faye Toogood and Stockholm-based design company Hem. The minimalist design that looks a bit like someone threw a duvet cover over a steel frame simultaneously inspires coziness and the one-of-a-kind style that makes it eye-catching without feeling distracting. “It’s really shifted my perspective about comfort because I’ve always preferred getting cozy on the couch, but realizing that I could experience that same feeling in a chair that’s only big enough for me to fit into was mind blowing,” said tester and AD digital design editor Sydney Gore. It’s available in 18 different color combinations, and you can purchase a matching footrest for an additional cost.
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Don’t know what smooshy means? Sit in the oversized beanbag that is the Floyd Squishy Chair, and you’ll find out (or consult Zoë Sessums, AD digital design editor and tester of the Squishy Chair). The Squishy Chair was inspired by the original 1960s Italian Sacco chair, and features a playful kindercore style. In keeping with its sustainability-forward approach, Floyd uses foam offcuts left over from its sofa and mattress production process as the Squishy chair’s filling and repurposed recycled plastic from the ocean for the actual fabric. It’s also large. “The only way you should sit down is falling into the Squishy chair,” Zoë said. “It’s a very fun floor seating option, and every time I see it, I do delight in the roomy smooshiness of it all.”
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If your standard for finding the perfect reading chair is “something that looks like a giant hug,” then the Yoji chair from Urban Outfitters deserves a bookmark. Its 40-inch-long, 35-inch-wide, and 29-inch-high real estate is covered in a soft and sherpa-looking high-performance fabric, making it “impossible to find an uncomfortable position,” according to tester and AD’s global editorial director assistant, Andrea Lewis. The chair’s topped off with small wood legs on the bottom, which you can remove if you want to fully lean into the chunkiness of the chair.
When the design studio Yabu Pushelberg—founded in 1980 by George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg—created the bulbous Pukka, they did so with the 1969 Gaetano Pesce sponge-inspired UP50 show in mind. The chair, made by high-end French furnishings company Ligne Roset, has a faint soft and “feminine design” meant to fill any space with “sensual comfort,” according to the product’s description. It’s craftsman-made and available in six upholstery options, so you can get a mustardy velvet chair or a deep maroon wool knit chair, among other options.
Material and color aren’t the only ways to make a statement. You can also do it through shape, like the Egg Chair by Danish architect Arne Jacobsen. This modern interpretation of a wingback chair was first created by Jacobsen in 1958 for the Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) Royal Copenhagen Hotel in Denmark. It was manufactured in Poland by Fritz Hansen, which continues to produce the chair today. “I felt nothing but sturdy support to back me up while lounging for hours,” said our tester Collier Sutter. “I definitely won’t be taking any lengthy naps in this chair, but each time I retreat to my living room, the winged lounge chair is still shockingly inviting to nestle into with a cup of tea in hand or to curl up into with a good book.”
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We all know and love Anthro Living. Just like its clothes, the massively popular retailer’s home decor and furniture section features a plethora of vintage and cozy-looking products that help subtly (or boldly) to make a statement. The Havana chair in particular lends a Western-vibe to a space with its removable top grain leather upholstery that attach to the armrest with saddle-like buckles. Although it’s not strictly a recliner chair or rocker, the over 15-inch high back and 19-inch deep seat offers enough real estate to sit back and relax. It’s a great option for an office chair or comfortable reading chair for leaning back with a good book.
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This seat takes the phrase “accent chair” to heart. The Uma T4 modular chair keeps things fun, quirky, and distinct with a shape straight out of your favorite campy, futuristic space film and eye-catching colorways while also staying super comfortable—so comfy that it left our associate digital features editor Rachel Davies typing in all caps. If you need something groovy and unlike any other chair you’ve ever seen, look no further for the future focal point of your living room.
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Although Rachel Davies initially felt hesitant of the Easy Chair’s comfortability considering its handmade paper cord seat, they soon discovered the piece truly lived up to its name. The construction takes after your classic Adirondack chair, and features a sloped seat especially ideal for leaning back and reclining. “Like a lot of Danish design, I think it’s hard to appreciate the genius, deceptive simplicity of the chair without actually seeing and experiencing it in person,” Rachel said. “I think when you spend time lounging in it, you can really gain an understanding of the design’s thoughtfulness.”
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A stellar design from Maiden Home, one noteworthy quality to the Dune chair that reviewer and digital design editor Zoë Sessums found was its height—which she felt made her sit with better posture. The neutral look also makes it especially versatile for most decor styles. And if you feel concerned about how a high quality chair like this would fare in a home, worry not. The chair can get covered in a number of performance fabrics that are resistant to stains and spills, and you can purchase slipcovers whenever you want to change things up.
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As tester Erika Owen writes in her review, you probably already know about the Wassily chair, even if you haven’t sat in it yourself. Inspired by a bicycle frame and first made in 1925, it’s stylish and especially ideal for a Scandinavian-style home while still staying durable and practical. Plus the negative space of the chair means it won’t feel like it takes up as much real estate in your home.
Real the full review here
If you’re looking for a large-scale chair, you can’t beat the Benchmade Modern Uncle Sal. Our reviewer noted that it’s more like a chair and a half coming in at 35 inches wide and 39 inches deep. This seat can fit you and your pup or kiddo easily while making a stylish statement. Available in 90+ fabric options you can go as bold or neutral as you’d like without sacrificing comfort.
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A more classic armchair design, the OKA looks like the type of chair you’d want to fall into, and feels like it too—at least according to our reviewer. “I appreciate that it’s comfortable and cozy, while still remaining structured enough for me to sit with a laptop and write—which ultimately is just as much the use of an accent chair in an office for me,” says Rachel Davies. OKA’s a British design company and offers many traditional pieces with more contemporary spins, so if your vibe is “cozy cottage, this might be the piece for you.
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What could be cozier than the Ingrid? Made out of a 100% polyester teddy fabric, this Sherpa chair feels like sitting on a cloud. No matter your design aesthetic, AD contributor Jake Smith is confident that anyone can find a corner for this stylish seat. As if it couldn’t get any better, the Ingrid is also super easy to assemble.
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Saatva’s Logan Chair is designed with a high level of craftsmanship that “stands the test of time. Both elegant and eco-friendly, the midcentury-modern-style chair is “very satisfying” according to AD contributor DaVonne Onassis Bacchus. “I love a supportive seat,” he highlights in his review.
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Under the influence of ’70s design, the Studio Chair offers a fresh take on the era’s signature shapes and patterns. Constructed with a sturdy frame and plump cushions that our associate editor Charlotte Collins claims will “encourage an ergonomic correctness,” Buchanan Studio revives the classic stripe through deep shades of navy blue, rich red, and “dirty” pink.
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While certainly larger in person than our tester anticipated, this Knitting Chair from Copenhagen-based design brand Audo provides “midcentury-modern at its very best," according to special projects editor Dan Howarth. The construction of the seat feels low and relaxed, while not venturing too far into feeling too reclined. It’s not the most ideal for small spaces, however Howarth states it could fit right into the living space of a midcentury-modern or Japandi style loft.
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Need a whimsical pop of color and personality? The doughnut-reminiscent Boa Pouf by Sabine Marcelis checks all the boxes. Weighing in at a whopping 50 pounds, our senior digital design editor Sydney Gore needed someone to carry it up the stairs and into her flat for testing, but once inside it fell perfectly into place. An ideal statement piece for spaces with a modern look that also embrace color, this seat is sure to bring joy to your room and you. “The photos are cute, but it looks even better IRL!” Sydney insists.
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Described by senior commerce editor Rachel Fletcher as “a lovely little lily pad of a seat with a slight recline,” HAY’s Chisel Lounge chair is especially ideal if you’re in need of some extra seating that doesn’t compromise on character or space. Rachel found she could easily move the Chisel around her apartment throughout testing. With no seat cushion (unless you go for the upholstered option), it’s certainly not a reclining chair meant for you to spend hours on hours in—but the wood softens the modern design just a bit and allows it to inject plenty of personality into a space.
Vitra Gehry Wiggle Side Chair
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“When you hear ‘cardboard furniture,’ the idea of luxury likely doesn’t come to mind, but I truly believe any space would be instantly elevated with the Wiggle Side Chair,” said reviewer and commerce editor Audrey Lee. Inspired by a pile of cardboard and constructed using the same material, Frank Gehry’s luxe Wiggle chair functions as the perfect compact statement piece that will slot right in next to a library bookshelf or stand on its on in an ultra modern space. It holds up surprisingly well over time (though you’ll probably want to keep food and drinks away from it) and you can purchase a stool with it if you want a matching ottoman.
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If you’re looking for a chair that floats more into chaise territory, then the MR Lounge chair is right up your alley. Described by Rachel Fletcher as the “Birkin bag of chairs,” this design classic offers beautifully crafted and ultra plush leather that curves in just the right way to mold to your body. Its longer profile lends itself to larger homes with big spaces that allow the piece to spread out. Plus, the premium leather will positively perfume the air.
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