An accent chair is one of the simplest ways to add colour, comfort and personality to a room — but it’s also easy to buy one that looks lovely and is rarely sat in. The best accent chairs are chosen for a specific job and a specific spot. This guide takes you through both, then covers comfort, fabric and colour.
1. Decide What the Chair Is For
Start with how the chair will be used, because that determines its size and shape:
- Extra seating in the lounge — a chair that sits comfortably alongside your sofa for conversation or watching TV.
- A reading corner — supportive back, comfortable seat depth, and space nearby for a lamp and side table.
- A bedroom chair — somewhere to sit while dressing or to read, often in a compact footprint.
- A dressing table chair — a smaller, usually armless chair that sits at the right height for a vanity.
- A statement piece — a chair whose main job is to bring colour or shape to a room, used occasionally.
- A pair — two matching chairs facing a sofa or flanking a table, for a balanced layout.
2. Measure the Spot
Measure the width and depth available, then add the space you need to walk past and to pull the chair out or turn it. In a corner, check the chair won’t block a door, window, cupboard or plug point. Mark the footprint on the floor with masking tape to see how much space it really takes. If the chair is for a dressing table, also measure the height of the tabletop and the space beneath it.
3. Match the Scale of the Room and Your Sofa
- Seat height — in a lounge, a chair with a seat height similar to the sofa makes conversation feel natural.
- Visual weight — a large, enclosed armchair suits a spacious lounge; a compact or open-legged chair keeps a smaller room or bedroom feeling airy.
- Back height — a tall back gives more support and presence; a lower back keeps sightlines open in the middle of a room.
4. Check Comfort, Not Just Looks
- Arms or armless? Arms add comfort for longer sitting; armless chairs are easier to fit beside a dressing table or in tight spaces.
- Seat depth — a deeper seat suits lounging, while a shallower seat suits upright sitting at a vanity or desk.
- Back support — for reading or long sitting, look for a back that supports you rather than a purely decorative shape.
- Who will use it — if several people of different heights will sit in it, a moderate seat depth and height usually suits most.
When you can’t sit in a chair before buying, ask the retailer for the seat height, seat depth and overall dimensions, and compare them with a chair you already find comfortable at home.
5. Choose Fabric and Colour With Purpose
Velvet is a popular choice for accent chairs because of its rich colour and soft texture. Jewel tones such as teal or blush pink make the chair a feature; darker tones, like charcoal, are versatile and generally more forgiving of everyday use than very light shades. To tie the chair into the room, repeat its colour in a cushion, rug or artwork, or pick up a metal tone — such as gold legs — that appears elsewhere.
Accent Chairs at Luxury Furniture Supplies
For the lounge, our Lounge collection includes the Luxury Relax S Chair, the Luxury Two Square Chair and the upholstered Armchair, which suits a living room corner or reading spot.
For bedrooms and dressing areas, the Dressing Tables & Chairs collection includes compact occasional chairs such as the Tyler Occasional Chair in Velvet Teal, the Lotus Velvet 1-Seater Chair, the Amber Occasional Chair and the Charcoal Chair Velvet, alongside the Scarlet Dressing Table. The Regina Chair works both at a dining table and as a stand-alone accent seat.
Ask us to confirm dimensions and seat height before you order. For selected pieces, colour, fabric and size can be discussed through our Furniture Customisation service.
Completing the Room
An accent chair works best as part of a planned layout. If you’re arranging a lounge, see our guide to coffee table shapes and sizes; for a footrest or extra perch beside the chair, our guide to ottomans, benches and pouffes may help.
Accent Chair Checklist
- I know the chair’s main job: extra seating, reading, bedroom, dressing table or statement.
- I have measured the spot, including space to walk past and pull the chair out.
- I have checked seat height against my sofa or dressing table.
- I have decided between arms and armless.
- I have chosen a fabric and colour that suit the room and how it’s used.
- I have confirmed the dimensions and seat height with the retailer.
- I have measured doors and passages for delivery.
Delivery and Warranty
Nationwide delivery is R500. Gauteng orders above R10,000 qualify for free delivery; Gauteng orders of R10,000 or less, and all orders outside Gauteng, are charged R500. Your furniture is covered by our 6-Month Quality Warranty against qualifying manufacturing defects. See the Delivery & Quality Warranty page for full terms and the Furniture Delivery Areas page for your city.
Find Your Accent Chair
Send us a photo of the spot and your measurements on WhatsApp (066 087 0705) for help choosing, or browse the Lounge and Dressing Tables & Chairs collections.
