Last week we talked about charming home libraries (and the bibliophiles that love them), but it got us (and you) thinking… what good is a wall full of books if there's not a comfortable seat to let you enjoy them? We rounded up ten inviting chairs that are begging for a well-lit corner, a well-worn book, and a warm cup of tea.
1. Kelly Swallow makes incredibly unique patchwork chairs using vintage and designer fabrics as well as grain sack and linens. Kelly Swallow, starting at £800.
2. This chair-and-a-half is a great place to curl up with a book — and if you're a pillow person, you've got lots of room! Crate and Barrel, $799.
3. If leather is more your style, this generous armchair is one you can sink into and stay awhile. Restoration Hardware, $2525.
4. A tufted seat back lends a bit of sophistication to this otherwise simple reading chair. West Elm, from $499.
5. A small footprint, beachy rattan, and an attached table and storage system make this little armchair a powerful solution to the all-in-one reading nook. Plow & Hearth, $499.95.
6. This vintage recovered armchair looks so inviting — and the fuzzy fabric could keep us there all day. Emily & Jacob's House Tour, vintage.
7. A tall-backed chair not only makes a statement in a room — paired with an ottoman, it's a great place to snuggle in for a few hours of reading. Room and Board, $999.
8. This modern plywood and leather chair (and matching ottoman) lends itself well to readers who want comfort and durability as well as an Eames-like sensibility. Lexington Modern, $849 on amazon.com.
9. An affordable favorite, this birch chair has a look that's not too heavy. Ikea, $159.
10. Imagine melting into a raspberry velvet chaise on a stormy afternoon with a great read — if you have the space (and the cash!) this piece makes a grand statement. Graham and Green, £1475.
Readers, weigh in — what's your ideal reading chair? What makes (or breaks) a comfortable place to pore over a book?
MORE READING CHAIRS ON APARTMENT THERAPY:
• Before & After: Inspired Reading Chair Makeover
• Fun Upholstery Suggestions for Comfy Reading Chair?
• Building a Room Around the Armchair: Reading Nook
(Images: as linked above.)
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I have a Saarinen Womb Chair in my book nook - the only problem with it is it's so comfortable, I can hardly stay awake for more than a chapter.
We got rid of bulky sofa and I am currently looking for a comfy reading chair that my husband can sit for hours at night...I love the look of updated wing chair but I can't seem to find the one that is cute, comfortable and somewhat affordable....
Any idea or sources?
5 and 9 don't look "curl up"able. but the first one is quite mad..I like it.
Comfort is the most important aspect of reading chairs, and which chair is most comfortable depends on who's writing. An Ikea Poang, similar to #9 but with a footstool, is the most comfortable reading chair for me. I'm not swayed by its having been called dorm decor elsewhere, but agree with a previous comment that Poang's not for those who curl up to read. I have prettier, and more expensive, chairs, but this remains my best reading chair. It's next to my living room bookcases and that room's strongest artificial light. It also is my best chair for naps or using a foot massager. I upgraded it from the red fabric shown to black leather to minimize housekeeping after my dogs' arrival.
that leather tufted from restoration hardware is my dream. my gramma had a black leather recliner that i used to read the paper in as a kid.
I'm very much a curl up to read sort and I have a 1930s arm chair that's perfect for it. Or it will be once I get the thing re-upholstered and replace the cushion. There's no cush to it right now.
2, 3 and 10 would be perfect for me. Visually, 3 wins but that raspberry chaise is awfully tempting.
My husband and I bought Ekornes Stressless chairs in red leather - he got the medium, I got the small. Love them! Most comfortable chairs we've ever owned.
I've been obsessed (barely resisted the urge to capitalize that) with the armchair from Emily & Jacob's house tour (#6) since it was first published on AT....and my heart leapt when I thought you were sourcing it here! Aaahhhhh! No such luck. I just wish 'vintage' helped me find one just like it!
The orange number (pic # 2) with the ottoman would work well for me. I like the reading chair to be wider and comfy (and either a chaise lounge or with an ottoman as I like to have my feet up). Having enough space for one greyhound to curl up me is a must.
The Poang pictured is not the swivel one... and the swivel one is not nearly as comfortable as the standard one!
Ikea's Ektorp Armchair is my perfect reading chair. Wide enough to curl up in, with a super squishy back pillow, but with super comfy arms for sitting sideways as well! Plus, washable covers in a bunch of different colours so I can change it up if I feel the need.
To me, the ideal reading chair is beautiful, comfortable and versatile. It should feel like an old friend, just like a book you really love. There must be a place to put rest your elbows and curl up or lean back a bit if you want to. After all, if the book is a good one, you will be there a long time. I have no idea how someone could snuggle or even sit for along time in 1, 5, 7 and 9. But the others are inviting.
I would love to have the Arne Jacobsen Egg-chair.(with the stool). I bet it's great for reading :)
Anyone have any sources for a chair here in the States similar to #10??
That poang isn't the swivel version....
I conducted an exhaustive search for the perfect curl-up-and-read chair a few months ago. I have a futon in my teeny studio, but it's too much hassle to fold up and down every day and not very cozy in the upright position. I considered a lot of Ikea picks but eventually settled on the Luxe chair from World Market. It looks like it has gone up in price since I purchased it but at $120 for the cover and $180 for the frame it's still cheaper that all of these but the Poang. It's really comfy and seems like it will hold up well over time. I'm glad I also got the ottoman to go with. They're both very light which makes for easy cleaning. I picked it up at the store and was even able to unload it by myself and wrestle it up two flights of stairs.
One day I will have the scratch to buy American-made, high-quality furniture, and believe me I look forward to it- but for now I'm glad there's World Market.
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