ARMCHAIR CRITIC

Take a seat in style with Laura Cunningham’s pick of the best

During lockdowns home renovations were all the rage, alongside couch to 5K, banana bread baking and Zoom quizzes. Now, although many of us are back to being out and about, we’re still looking to upgrade our home interiors, and an armchair could be that little accent that makes a world of difference.

Whether you’re moving to a new home, jazzing up just one room or looking to completely overhaul your interior, buying new furniture should be exciting rather than all-consuming, and we’re here to help, with hacks and reviews of the best bits to buy

From finding stylish sofas to sorting which shelving units hold up better than the rest, here at IndyBest, we love a renovation, no matter how small, so be sure to take a look at our furniture section, which houses some key fail-safe finds.

When it comes to armchairs, it’s cosy comfort we’re after, and some of the most famous furniture retailers have some really fashionable finds.

So, whether you’re after a swivel chair or a leather-look lounger, keep reading to find out which armchairs we’ll be holding on to.

How we tested

Testing out these armchairs was a job we were all too willing to do, as we got ready to sit back, relax and review a range of the latest and greatest options from some of the most famous furniture retailers around.

Just as you would receive them at home, we unpacked boxes, screwed on countless legs and lounged about for hours (the best part of the job), to see which we’d happily bring into our homes – taking size, style, price and comfiness into consideration.

Montgomery armchair: £694.99, Oak Furniture Land

With its old-English style and vintage feel, we immediately fell in love with this Oak Furntitureland find. It looks and feels expensive, despite coming in at a rather reasonable price point, and is the largest armchair of all the ones tested, meaning we could really curl up and get cosy.

The navy blue colourway gave it a regal feel, and oak-finish feet finished it off with a grand design flair. Although it may not squeeze into every space, if you can find room for this in your home, we don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

To keep it looking lovely, we’d strongly encourage anyone to take a look at Oak Furnitureland’s furniture guard add-on, for extra peace of mind against spills, dents and pet damage.

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Nashville armchair: £299, Cult Furniture

Boucle fabric has been in the limelight for a little while now, adding a modern twist to mid-century designs. For those tight on space, this armchair may be the best pick. Despite being small, it is quite comfortable, so long as you screw the legs in properly – lest you be left with an off-balanced buy – and it certainly looks chic, to say the least.

Thanks to its small proportions, it can work in a whole host of ways – as a desk chair, armchair or used to fill an empty-looking corner in any larger home. Just be sure to keep messy hands away, as the white will pick up any mark.

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Jarrett upholstered armchair: £259.99, Wayfair

A sexy armchair may sound ridiculous, but just one look at this Wayfair find is sure to show you why we’ve given it this title. Available in six colours, from black to blush pink, with an option of black or gold legs, this may not be the cosiest of seats, but it certainly looks lavish. The one downside is it isn’t the sturdiest of options, meaning you wouldn’t want kids jumping around on it, but for an adult-only space, it’s sure to be a real statement piece.

It’s also quite comfortable and comes in at a great price, despite looking luxurious. It takes around 10 minutes to set up by simply screwing on the legs, so is fuss-free for solo dwellers as well, which was another reason why our tester loved it.

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Parker armchair: £499, Next

The Parker armchair was one of the most comfortable and cosy chairs we had the pleasure of perching on. It is on the larger side, meaning our tester could curl up in it, and the cushions were sumptuously soft and snuggly. Available in four neutral shades, it’s one for those who like things plain and simple, and you can pick oak effect or walnut-effect legs to personalise it a little bit further. The back cushion is also reversible and can be either plain or with two buttons on the front – also perfect for covering up any accidental spills – and a blanket or throw pillow will add just enough colour to keep it exciting too.

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Ernest swivel armchair in butterscotch cotton matte velvet: £1205.00, Sofa

Sometimes a swivel chair can make the world of difference, and whether you’re turning to watch the TV, reading a book or like to change around the layout of your living room every now and again, this Sofa.com find may be the perfect pick. It can be personalised in a whole host of ways, from selecting the look of the leg to the fabric type and colour, which are all handcrafted and delivered in around four to six weeks. It’s incredibly easy to assemble, was comfortable to sit in all day long, and the butterscotch colour really did perk up dull days. Although, as it is so bright, you do have to be extra careful of any spills, as they’re sure to show up.

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Anderson brown armchair: £399.99, Furniture Choice

Many people love the look of a leather armchair, but faux leather may be the way to go for a slightly cheaper and vegan-friendly find. With curved edges and countless cushions, this Furniture and Choice style is a more modern take on your typical leatherlook armchair and is incredibly comfortable. Thanks to its slightly larger size, you can curl up quite nicely to watch a film or read a book. The best bit about it is that you can wipe it clean, meaning there’s less worry about spilling that cup of tea or coffee.

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Harborough armchair: £649, DFS

Destined to sit in a drawing room, this armchair is incredibly suave. With a strong structure, long length and vintage feel, it’s elegant yet cosy enough to sit in all day, which our tester can certainly attest to. Made from 100 per cent recycled velvet, it’s soft to touch and available in eight colours, so you can really personalise it to your space, and you can even choose between light oak or walnut feet at no extra cost. Handcrafted in the UK, it will take around eight weeks to arrive, but we think it’s well worth it for a sturdy style that’s sure to elevate anyone’s home in an instant.

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Loaf squishbag: £835, Loaf

The Loaf squishbag was one of our favourite finds, combining Scandi-chic with trending neutral tones. While a whopping 136 colours of fabric are available – from pretty pinks to vibrant yellow – we loved the look of the natural linen, which can work in almost any space. The frame is handmade from solid oak, giving it a rustic feel, while the removal linen cushions are incredibly comfortable for long-term lounging. But this chair is seriously slouchy, so be prepared to sink right into it, so much so, you may need help getting out of it! The brand also offers cushion cover against spills for £45, which we’d encourage anyone to take advantage of, as accidents do happen.

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The verdict

Ultimately, finding the right armchair comes down to personal taste and space, so, although we may sway you with our opinions, be sure to check the proportions before you take your final pick.

Although incredibly large, the Montgomery armchair made its way into our top spot, thanks to its elegant design and incredibly comfy feel. While the Harborough armchair was similar with a

more formal style, which is sure to work wonders in any room in need of a more regal touch.

For those looking to keep costs down, the Jarrett upholstered armchair wowed us with its style, while the Nashville armchair is a bestseller in the trending boucle fabric, and the Anderson brown armchair provided a leather look without the high price tag. So, there really are plenty to pick from before you decide to sit back and relax.

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