The Goldilocks Furniture Piece That Fits Where Sofas and Chairs Don’t

I have a group chat with a few design-obsessed neighbors. It’s a stream-of-consciousness thread of new listings in the neighborhood, home inspo, and, occasionally, photos of sidewalk finds punctuated with a “someone go grab this ASAP!” text. Early one morning this past winter, the chat lit up with a photo of a ruffled chaise lounge with its sidewalk location and condition (good to very good). I was lying in bed, four weeks postpartum, but a free piece of furniture was too much to resist. It took me exactly 14 minutes from being horizontal in my robe to pulling up to my house with the new-old chaise.

A chaise isn’t a must-have in the home. When you’re deciding on your living room layout, you’re probably thinking of a sofa and chairs, not where to put the chaise (unless it’s on your sectional). Occasionally, though, when there’s a goldilocks amount of space — too much for a chair, too little for a sofa — that’s when a chaise is the answer. And that’s exactly the situation I had in my parlor. This unlikely acquisition sold me on chaise lounges, and now I think it’s time this vintage-inspired chair-meets-sofa makes a full comeback. Here’s why, according to me (and two designers who use chaises in their work all the time).

My parlor had a bare corner next to a built-in bookcase, which begged for a cozy reading set-up. There wasn’t enough space for a sofa, yet an accent chair didn’t feel right either. As soon as I brought in the sidewalk-find chaise, it was like finding the room’s missing puzzle piece, as you can see here.

The chaise fits perfectly along one side of the room, giving me a place to grab a book while stretching out and settling in. The existing upholstery — a dark taupe with a textured fleur de lis pattern — is just right as-is with the warm neutrals already in the room (although, of course, I have a plan to recover it when budget allows). And the little ruffle along the bottom? It couldn’t be more darling. 

I’m not sure you can find a more timeless silhouette; the chaise lounge has been around since the ancient Egyptians reclined on these often glamorous surfaces. Today, chaises are incredibly similar to these earliest iterations and no less lounge-worthy. “The shape feels classic and elegant, but the fabric can completely change the personality of the piece,” says designer Prudence Bailey. She loves to pair a traditional chaise with fabric that feels more modern, adding a touch of friction to keep a room interesting. 

Chaises aren’t just for living rooms or dens, either, and they’re far more pragmatic than they may look. “I especially love using a chaise in a bedroom because it creates a place to read, relax, or simply enjoy the room beyond the bed,” adds Bailey. “It’s beautiful but also incredibly functional.”

What exactly is a chaise? That question might be the reason we don’t see them more often in homes. Designer Terri Fiori, owner of Fiori & Co., finds her clients often aren’t familiar with chaises, yet once she installs one they’re all-in because of how comfy they are. “It’s a piece that actually has a bit of an identity crisis, as it’s not a recliner and it’s not a chair and ottoman,” she says. “It’s not a bed, although it is the perfect spot to take a nap.”

She looks at the chaise as the perfect solution for an awkward corner, as it can be angled to fill a space, especially when paired with a small table or lamp (exactly how I used mine!). “You can use a chaise to create your own little ‘go-to’ spot in the family room,” says Fiori. And trust me — once you settle in, there’s no way you’ll want to give this spot up to anyone else.