Choose a living room chair that’s destined to be the hot seat
Living and family rooms are the hubs of the home come fall and winter. From holiday entertaining to family movie night, it’s important to have enough comfy seating for everyone.
I’ve had many people (readers, neighbours and associates) asking me what to look for and where to buy the perfect upholstered chairs to accompany their sofas. Yes, that means you, Arlene, Eva and Christine so read on …
The right living room chair needs to check off many boxes: comfortable, durable, in most cases be not too big, and it mustn’t cost a fortune. A tall order. Here’s how fill that order with the right seat for the right spot.
SIZE
The average upholstered armchair is around 30 to 36 inches wide and 36 to 42 inches deep. If space in your home is tight, choose a smaller size chair. Keep in mind chairs with higher legs and no fabric skirt show more floor and create an airy feel in your room, making it look larger. The narrower the arms, the more room for seating within the overall width. If you want a deeper seat, then choose a chair that does not have the extra comfort back pillow.
COMFORT
For some, the comfort of their sofa is the most important thing and side chairs are used only for the odd man out or occasional guests. But for many, the chairs used to watch television need to be as comfy as the sofa. Chairs that have down-filled seats and
back cushions let you sink into the chair and create a cosy feeling.
Keep in mind you will sit lower than average, as downand feather-filled seats will sink you lower than a foam seat, and feather-filled back cushions with sink you deeper into the chair. For those who want comfort and support, choose a feather
wrapped foam cushion (it’s like a feather duvet wrapped around a piece of foam). This will offer a lofty appearance and you will sink only slightly into the seat while still having support to sit upright.
Any user with mobility issues should probably choose firm foam cushions to offer seating support, making it easy to get in/
out of the chair. Small decorative cushions can help to add additional comfort to a firm foam chair.
EASY CARE
Chairs in use every day or night will probably be where users eat and drink while watching television or chatting. For furniture that’s easy to clean and stays stain-free, look for chairs that are upholstered in performance fabrics — synthetic fabrics that look and feel like cotton, wool or linen, and are also used as outdoor fabrics.
If you are a stickler for cleanliness, but have a busy household, consider investing in a washable slipcover for the chair. Nowadays, slips are fitted trim to the chair and look like tailored upholstery.
PRICE
I always find it hard to tell people how much to spend on furniture. The best advice is to do your research on quality. Specifically ask about the frame (hardwood is best); seat support (handtied coils are a mark of quality); filling (are cushions filled with foam, feathers or other material?); and fabric content (natural fibres are great for light wear, but opt for synthetic fibres for more durability).
My advice is to spend the most you can afford. A rule of thumb: A living room chair should cost around 50 per cent of the cost of the sofa. For instance, if you paid $2,000 for a sofa, then a chair should cost $900 to $1,100.
Keeping the quality of furniture consistent ensures you won’t be replacing one before the other (because of a lower-quality piece wearing out faster). If your favourite chair is a bit out of your budget, ask the store if they are scheduled to have a sale; you might have to wait to order it, but you’ll get the one you want and have it for a long time.
In the end, you get what you pay for. Some people are fine with spending less on something so they can choose to have a different style in five to 10 years.