Chairs

Finding the type of chair you actually want

It helps to start with how the chair will be used. An accent or occasional chair is chosen for its looks and for filling a corner, so compact designs such as the Jess, Tania and Minica work beautifully in a bedroom, a hallway or beside a window. A wing chair is the more traditional choice, with high sides that feel enclosing and suit a reading spot.

For real comfort over long evenings, a recliner is hard to beat, and the range covers manual, powered and riser reclining options. If you'd rather share, lovechairs and cuddlers sit somewhere between a chair and a small sofa, comfortable for one to stretch out in or two to curl up on. The Bolero range runs from a small armchair right up to a loveseat, all sharing the same reclining options.

Swivels, recliners and powered options

Swivel recliners are among the most popular chairs here, and many arrive with a coordinating footstool included. Designs such as the Biscay, Dublin and Denbigh combine a 360 degree swivel with a manual recline, while the Simpson and Goodwin build the footstool into the chair itself for a neater line.

Powered options open up more adjustment again, with separate control of backrest, footrest and headrest on some models, and riser recliners that help you to your feet at the touch of a button. The Nevada range is a good illustration of how much choice there is, offered in fixed, manual, powered and riser reclining versions with standard or classic styling. Our recliner sofa guide explains the mechanisms in more detail.

Choosing a cover, and what to put with it

Almost every upholstered chair comes in a choice of covers, which is where the character comes from. Fabric chairs offer the broadest palette and the widest range of prices, velvet chairs bring depth of colour and a tactile finish, and leather chairs age into something better looking than they started.

A chair rarely arrives alone. A footstool in a matching cover finishes the arrangement and doubles as extra seating, and a lamp table beside it puts light and a drink within reach. If you're pairing a chair with a new sofa, sofas by collection shows which ranges include both.