Accent Chair 101: What It Is and How to Choose

Want to spruce up your home but don't know where to start? An accent chair may just be the item you need.

Accent chairs are primarily decorative pieces, but they're still a practical investment because they add seating capacity to your home. Additionally, accent chairs instantly refresh your interiors without you having to redo the entire room or spend a lot on the remodel.

Let's discuss the accent chair in more detail so you can choose the perfect one for your space.

What is an Accent Chair?

An accent chair is a single-seating chair meant to pull together the look and feel of a room. It often serves as a focal point by incorporating colors, textures, and silhouettes that contrast with the room's current interior design.

These pieces also serve as an extension of your individual style and personality. You can choose a unique chair in a bold, vibrant color to project your lively personality onto your space. Meanwhile, if you’re more of a minimalist, you can go for an accent chair in subtle color and material.

There are various accent chairs to choose from, so it can be confusing when selecting one that best suits your space and style. Let’s look at the most common types of accent chairs below.

Types of Accent Chairs

1. Occasional Chair

Often found anywhere and everywhere due to their flexible design, occasional chairs like the Natural Wood Chiavari Chair are armless, ultra-lightweight chairs that are easy to maneuver and have curved silhouettes. With an eye-catching shapely design, occasional chairs inject that new life you want in your space while remaining functional.

It is perfect for any occasion that needs space-filling stylish décor, so it’s often used in wedding ceremonies and other intimate events.

2. Slipper chair

Slipper chairs are perfect if space is an issue around your home. Armless upholstered chairs with a petite silhouette and a height closer to the floor, slipper chairs are ideal for those living in small apartments and are looking for a decorative piece to tie their bedroom design together.

This accent chair is often placed beside coffee tables to provide extra seating

3. Club chair

The club chair is designed for relaxation, with its upholstered armchair and deep cushioned seats. As you can see from the design of the Leeds Accent Chair, it's the ideal companion for your living room sofa.

4. Bergère

The Bergère is an accent chair with an exposed wooden frame surrounding an upholstered seat and back. The loose seat cushion prevents the Bergère from being too formal but adds an air of elegance to contemporary rooms. It also suits most interior design themes due to its classic silhouette.

This type of accent chair is often found in the corner of a bedroom with a matching ottoman, ideally used in pairs opposite a sofa.

5. Wingback chair

Easily identified by its signature winged sides and tall back, the wingback chair gives your room a sense of balance in scale. Like the Bently Chair, wingback chairs resemble a throne and add a regal touch to any dinner table. The winged sides protect the user from drafts and heat, making it the perfect chair to place near a fireplace.

6. Chaise lounge

A long, upholstered sofa in the shape of a chair, a chaise lounge gives your living room a cozier ambiance while adding a layer of texture and color into the space. Although many homeowners are intimidated by their size, chaise lounges can still work in a small space by serving as sofa alternatives.

How to Choose an Accent Chair

• Choose between a matching or a complementary chair

Accent chairs can either blend or contrast with the room's interior design, depending on your preference. If you want the chair to match your room's style, you’ll need to assess your current design, factoring in color and style.

As for a complementary look, examine the furniture pieces you already own so you can choose a chair that contrasts well with them.

• Consider your existing color scheme

Want a chair to blend in with your room's color theme? Choose neutral shades like white, black, or brown. In contrast, if you want your accent chair to be the focal point of a room, using complementary colors like red and green, yellow and purple, and blue and orange is the way to go.

• Go for a contrasting upholstery material or texture

Accent chairs are meant to stand out; choosing polar upholstery material or texture will help highlight your piece. For instance, you can go for an occasional chair in crushed blue velvet to go with your monochromatic white furniture setup.

• Don't forget to measure your space

An accent chair aims to establish a focal point and draw attention to a specific part of the room. If it’s too small or too big, it will make your space seem off-balanced. To avoid this, focus on the area where you’ll place the chair, then measure the total square footage of its footprint. Use painter's tape to outline the square and ensure all corners are clear and fit perfectly.

• Make sure the chair suits your lifestyle

It’s not just your style and personality that determine the best type of accent chair for your space. You also need to consider your lifestyle and daily routine to make sure the chair seamlessly fits into your day-to-day activities.

For example, if you have kids, it’s best to go for dark, easy-to-clean fabrics in case your little ones spill liquids or doodle on the chair. Pet owners, meanwhile, must avoid wool or similar materials because fur tends to get caught up in the fibers.

• Plan the chair's placement carefully

Avoid placing your accent chair near a door as it impedes the piece's view and disrupts traffic flow in your house. Instead, fill a corner or space, perhaps one next to a window, to highlight the chair. Keep in mind that a clearance space of about 30 inches on both sides is ideal for accessibility.

Find Your Ideal Accent Chair Today

Accent chairs are stylish options to add layers of warmth and dimension to your room while expressing your unique personality. Take your time shopping for an accent chair to make sure you select the best one for your space, lifestyle, personality, and desired look.

Browse through Direct Marketplaces' selection of Modern living room furniture to find the perfect accent piece for your space.