How to choose an armchair or lounge chair: what to consider

An armchair is the piece of furniture you sit in longest, so how it fits you matters more than how it looks in a photograph. These are the things worth settling before you choose one. The numbers are common rules of thumb, not fixed rules.

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Fit and posture

Seat height is commonly around 40-45 cm. A lower seat feels relaxed but is harder to get out of, which matters for older people and for anyone with stiff knees.
Seat depth decides whether your back reaches the backrest while your knees still bend over the front edge. A deep seat suits tall people or sitting with the legs up; a shallower one suits upright sitting.
A high back that supports the head suits long reading or resting; a lower back leaves the shoulders free and suits conversation.
Arms should be at a height where your forearms rest without pushing the shoulders up, commonly around 20-25 cm above the seat.

Seat and filling

Foam of a higher density holds its shape longer; feather and fibre fillings feel softer and need plumping. A combination is common.
A firm seat feels less inviting in the shop and often more comfortable after an hour. If you can, ask how it feels when you have sat in it for a while.
Loose cushions can be turned and refilled; fixed upholstery is smoother but harder to repair.

Covers and fabric

Leather ages and can be treated; fabric varies widely. Wool and linen blends breathe, synthetic fibres resist stains, and light colours show marks sooner.
Ask whether the cover can be taken off and washed, or replaced by the maker or an upholsterer.
Check the fabric's rub rating (for example in Martindale cycles) if the chair will be used every day.

Frame and construction

A solid wood frame with joints that are glued and screwed is common in chairs built to last; ask what the frame is made of and how it is joined.
Swivel mechanisms and recliners are parts that wear; check whether they can be replaced.
Legs set at an angle or with a metal base change how stable the chair is on a soft carpet or an uneven floor.

Practicalities

Check the overall width against your door and your room; a chair that comes apart is easier to move.
Leave space behind a chair that reclines or swivels, and check the weight if it will move often.
Glides or felt pads protect the floor; ask which are included.

Questions worth asking the maker

What are the seat height, depth and width? What is the frame made of? How is the seat filled and can it be refilled? Can the cover be replaced? What are the delivery and return terms?

Sources and further reading

A label covers one aspect of a product, such as where the wood came from or which chemicals are in a textile, not its whole footprint. These pages explain what each covers; they are not endorsements, and Formground does not rate products.

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