Take a seat
The chair is the stalwart draft horse of the furniture world. Consider the chair’s inarguable necessity—where would we be without it? Standing around our dining tables or bowing over our desks, wreaking havoc on our lower backs? The chair is the ultimate functional piece, adaptable to any room in your home, any spot you might want to rest your feet (and in a pinch, it’ll get you up to that high shelf to grab the baking sheet or extra glass you’re after). We tend to view chairs through this function-oriented filter—after all, their ubiquity and versatility are born from that innate sense of exact purpose.
But why limit the chair’s reach, its breadth of form? The chair can still easily excite us with unique design features, curious shapes and colors, all while retaining that perfect ease of use that makes the chair— well, a chair. Today, I thought I’d talk accent chairs with you. Let’s get to know the chair’s scope of possibility!
There are few basic types of chairs: slipper chairs, smaller armless chairs usually found in bedrooms; wingback chairs, everyone’s favorite dramatic armchair (or ideal reading nook); club chairs, typically roomier and often leather, fit to sink into; and the classic swivel chair (supposedly invented by Thomas Jefferson!). Any and all of these chair types can themselves become an accent chair.
What an accent chair really represents is an opportunity to have one of those wow moments in a corner of your home. Accent chairs typically embrace unique design shapes and particularly unique colors—a strong design choice turns your average sit-down spot into a feature, a place in your room that adds personality and helps define not only the aesthetic of the space, but the tenor of your home, which reflects you and your tastes.
You can make a variety of particular design choices when developing the perfect accent chair for your space. Let’s run through the gamut of options—a mix-and-match set of decisions can be combined to make the chair of your dreams!
Fabric — No furniture selection would exist without, of course, the ever-recurring task of considering your fabric options. When it comes to accent chairs, you have the opportunity to explore the wilder realms of color, pattern, and texture. Want a pop of brilliant color? Leap into jewel tones or saturated hues that shine against the rest of your room’s color palette. Looking for visual texture? Embrace funky patterns in all varieties—stripes, florals, the world’s your oyster! Here at Woodside Home, we have access to a massive selection of fabrics that are both durable and beautiful, so don’t feel worried about limits—there are none!
Arms — There’s more to a chair than the fabric, of course. A chair of unique shape can function as a lovely accent piece just as much as one in a bold tone or print. There are a vast array of style options for chair arms—paneled, pleated, sock, saddle, track with nails, scrolls, slopes, and beyond—each of which has its own sensibility and its own individuality. If you want something with a more neutral color, consider mixing it up with your arm shape to keep that dose of visual interest that keeps the “accent” in “accent chair”.
Legs — And on the topic of form, let’s not forget the vast array of options available when it comes to leg styles. Chair legs can really set the tone of the piece as a whole. A simple, sleek leg will bring with it a modern, streamlined feel. An ornately carved leg adds some vintage flair that can add a little classical chic to your space. Attention to these detailed choices can help you find your way to the perfect accent chair—and we’re here to help you keep from feeling overwhelmed.
Details — But wait, there’s more! There’s a plethora of details—piping, fringe, tufting, nailhead trim, and more—that will contribute something to your final accent chair. It’s all up to you—your tastes, your preferences, dictate the whole picture, so you end up with the perfect seat.
Ready to spice up your chair selection? We’d love to help you sort through the sea of options and suss out the accent chair made just for you—drop me a line and let’s talk!
The stalwart chair will always serve us faithfully—don’t be afraid to let it shine.