Shopping for furniture can be stressful. You may worry about whether the colors will work, whether the size is right, and what style to choose. A lot of furniture shopping has moved online, and some online stores have little drawings to help you visualize a chair’s shape, but it can still be confusing when you’re confronted with verbal descriptions. Before you go (to the showroom or online), read this quick guide to the classic types of armchairs you should know.
Chesterfield
If you like a chair with a posh pedigree, the Chesterfield fits the bill. Legend has it that in the mid-18th century, Lord Philip Stanhope, Fourth Earl of Chesterfield, asked a local artisan to create a sofa that gentlemen could sit on without creasing their suits. Based on the design of the sofa with the same name, Chesterfield chairs have low backs; high, rolled arms; and tufted leather upholstery with buttons.
Barrel
Imagine a barrel, with one quarter cut out from the top to the middle. Add seat support with a cushion and upholster the back, and you’ve got a barrel chair. Of course, current designs are a bit more sophisticated, but a barrel chair earns its name with its barrel-like, rounded, wrap-around shape. Sitting in one is kind of like sitting inside a hug.
Club
Brandy and cigars, anyone? Characterized by comfortable, deep seats; low backs; and high, usually rounded arms, club chairs are usually upholstered in leather (or something leather-like). These are the “sink in and have a drink” kinds of chairs that go anywhere you want to be comfortable.
Modern
Don Draper sat here. Midcentury modern design, which echoes the 1950s and 1960s, is enjoying a big moment. Its sleek, functional style works well with minimalist designs, but surprisingly, it also blends well with chunkier vintage pieces.
Wingback
Join the Dowager in the library by the fire. The wingback chair is a staple of slightly more formal rooms, but they don’t have to be stuffy. You can get them in lots of different colors and prints. These chairs have high backs and sides, and the sides extend at the top to form “wings” that partially surround your head when you sit—great for surreptitiously peeking at the mysterious guy sitting on the other side of the room.
There are many more variations of armchair styles, but most of them are just slightly different versions of these classic types of armchairs you should know. Now that you do know, you can shop with confidence and be more specific with salespeople to find what you want.
