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Armchairs & Footstools
When you’re sitting solo, you’ll want to be comfortable and well supported. This edit has options for every space in the home.
Pamela Woven Cotton Upholstered Chaise Accent ChairAnthropologieThis one will be a bit “Marmite” – but I’ve looked at a lot of chairs and, for my money, it makes the cut. It’s sculptural without being weird or off balance, or even trying too hard (and believe me there are a lot of those). It would benefit from being part of a pair with a curvy plain green or linen sofa. That said it’s clearly not for the sort of sitting room where you want to sit and watch TV all evening. It’s a chatting chair, but we need more of those spaces in our houses.
Abe Deconstructed Linen ArmchairNkukuLike those deconstructed puddings beloved of TV cookery competitions, you have to be careful with this (currently fashionable) look. It doesn’t sit well with every high-street modern sofa but it will provide a good contrast to a more traditional or country style floral number. If you do love this style, then Nkuku is a good place to buy from as it’s all ethically made and fairtrade, which means the frame (sustainable mango wood) looks good as well. The curved details and angled back will also make for a comfortable sit.
Suffolk ArmchairJohn LewisWe don’t use enough pattern when it comes to furniture. There’s a feeling that we need to be sensible with large sums of money and stick to plain colours, but a floral will hide muddy foot and sticky fingerprints much better than a plain – and a stripe is ALWAYS a classic. Imagine a pair of these with a pale pink sofa. Or two of them – one plain, one stripe – with a floral sofa. John Lewis offers 61 different fabrics – most of which are shades of grey and beige... But there are a few colours so you can play around and create a non-matching pair, which always looks considered.
Low Lounge Chair H&M HOMEThis was the runaway hit of the season when it launched and it goes out of stock as fast as it comes in. If you want one, grab it quickly – it won’t be there for long and eventually they will stop making it. Zara did a version, too. The cane makes it a little more elegant and refined than woven versions you'll find elsewhere.
Sanja Stripe ArmchairNkukuI’m a sucker for a striped armchair - stripes liven up a room full of plains, cut through a host of florals and work well in kitchens and bedrooms so they are super versatile. This traditionally shaped tub chair is brought up to date by the stripe and you will use it for ever moving it around the house as your needs and décor change. Plus it’s fair trade. There is a matching ottoman too if that’s your thing. Personally I’d choose one or the other.
Archie FootstoolM&SIf you’ve succumbed to the lure of the slouchy sofa then you probably need a footstool to stop you sliding to the floor. This will help with that. And be an extra seat for the extra guest. Or stick a tray on it and it will hold a cup of tea and a slice of cake.
Button Footstool John LewisThe classic round shape, but with fewer buttons so it’s a slightly simpler design. It’s John Lewis so you can choose from 176 fabrics. But don’t be sensible – have fun with it.
Elbu Deconstructed Linen ArmchairNkukuA great occasional chair from this B Corp-certified company that uses natural, reclaimed and recycled materials – and values transparent supplier relationships and sustainable craft. It would sit well in a small sitting room where there isn’t space for a traditional large armchair but is also great as a bedroom 'chairdrobe', or on a landing. The sustainable mango frame holds a hemp lining (requires no pesticides as its natural dense growth leaves no room for weeds) and a linen cover.
Garret ChairSoho HomeIt’s a giant marshmallow of a Sunday afternoon of a chair and who wouldn’t want to curl up in this for a couple of hours? It has a hardwood frame, which is key if you’ve been paying attention to how to buy a sofa/armchair and the textured boucle is bang on trend.
Effie Priyanka Print Tripod ArmchairAnthropologieThis is a tricky one, so listen up. Chairs like this demand to be the centre of attention, which is precisely what you mustn’t allow. If you let them dominate the room it will look like you are trying to hard to show off your style and coordination. Instead, it needs to sit casually in a corner – the furniture equivalent of “this old thing, just threw it on this morning”. That way it will be noticed (so you needn’t worry about that) but it will be as if you have so many interesting things that that one could afford to sit in the corner. Treat like it a like very beautiful, very sulky teenager.
