If you’re wondering how to choose an armchair for your living room, start with what you’ll do in it most. A chair for reading on a Sunday morning needs different proportions from one you pull into a conversation when friends come over. Decide what the chair needs to do, then check how it fits your body, your room and the furniture you already own.
Give the armchair a job
A reading chair should support the way you actually sit. If you read upright, look for a supportive back and arms you can rest your elbows on without lifting your shoulders. If you tend to curl up, a wider seat and softer upholstery might matter more. If you like to put your feet up, measure for an ottoman from the outset. It takes up floor space even when nobody is sitting in the chair.
An accent chair has a different job. It might add a new colour or shape to the room, but it still needs to earn its place as a seat. For a chair you’ll use when guests visit, consider how easily someone can sit down, stand up and turn towards the sofa. A deep, low seat can be great for lounging but less practical for a quick catch-up.
Measure the chair in the room, not just on paper
An easy way to work out how to choose an armchair for your living room is to mark its footprint on the floor with painter’s tape. Use the widest and deepest points of the chair, including any arms that flare out or a backrest that leans beyond the base. If you plan to angle the chair towards the sofa, tape out the footprint at that angle. A chair that fits square against a wall can project surprisingly far into a walkway once you turn it.
Now walk through your usual routes. Can you still get from the kitchen to the sliding door without stepping around the chair? Can you open the cabinet beside it? In an open-plan living room layout, keeping the main route clear often matters more than arranging the furniture symmetrically.
If you’re choosing more than one piece, browse the living room collection and compare dimensions before settling on a layout.
Look beyond the overall dimensions
Overall depth tells you how much room the chair takes up. Seat depth tells you how much usable space you have between the front edge and the backrest. Two chairs with the same footprint can feel very different if one has a thick back cushion and the other has a slim upholstered shell.
Compare the measurements with a chair you already enjoy sitting in. If you prefer to sit upright with your feet flat, a very deep seat might leave you reaching for a cushion to bring the backrest closer. A low, generous seat can suit a more reclined posture, particularly if you have room to extend your legs.
For a reading chair, also look at where the arms sit relative to your elbows and how high the back reaches. When comparing lounge chairs, use the side view as well as the front photo. It gives you a better sense of the backrest angle and whether the chair encourages you to sit up or lean back.
Pair it with your sofa without making it match
Part of knowing how to choose an armchair for your living room is knowing what your sofa doesn’t already provide. Next to a broad, low sofa, a mid-century armchair with an exposed frame can show more of the floor and give the room some contrast. Next to a slim, straight-lined sofa, a rounded upholstered chair can soften the arrangement.
Choose one detail to carry across the room. A walnut frame might pick up the timber in your coffee table, or an olive accent chair might echo a colour already in a rug or artwork. One connection is often enough. The chair can have a different silhouette and still look like it belongs.
Compare your shortlist with the height and bulk of your existing seating. A low chair beside a tall sofa can work visually, but if the seats face each other and you use them for conversation, check that the difference feels comfortable in practice.
Choose upholstery for the spot it’ll live in
The right upholstery fabric depends on how you use the chair and where it sits. For a busy household, check the care instructions and think about what you’ll actually be cleaning: pet hair, snack crumbs or the occasional coffee spill. A textured weave can add depth to a neutral room, but look closely at the weave if you have a pet that likes to scratch or climb.
If you’re comparing upholstery fabric samples, hold them next to the sofa in daylight and again with the lamps on. A warm cream that looks right on a screen can read quite differently against your existing furniture. For a chair by a bright window, check the material’s care guidance on direct sunlight before committing.
Do one final fit check
If you’re still deciding how to choose an armchair for your living room, narrow it down to three checks: can you sit the way you want, can you move around it easily, and can you get it into the room? That last check matters in apartments and older homes. Measure the narrowest doorway, lift opening or hallway turn, and check the packed dimensions before ordering if access is tight.
Whether you’re after a mid-century armchair for a quiet corner or an extra seat beside the sofa, explore the armchairs and side chairs collection at Lorgan’s Archive.