How to Choose an Accent Chair: Swivel, Barrel, Armchair or Recliner?

An accent chair is one of the hardest-working pieces in a home. It adds seating, fills an empty corner and brings color or texture to a room. With so many shapes to choose from, here is how to find the right one in our living room furniture collection.

Popular accent chair styles

• Armchair: The classic. Full arms and a supportive back make it comfortable for reading and conversation.
• Swivel chair: Rotates 360 degrees so you can turn toward the TV, the fireplace or the conversation. Great for open floor plans.
• Barrel chair: A rounded, curved back that wraps around you. Barrel chairs soften a room full of straight lines and fit nicely in pairs.
• Slipcovered chair: A removable cover makes cleaning easier, a smart pick for homes with kids and pets.
• Recliner and rocker: When comfort comes first. Modern recliners and swivel rockers are slimmer than older styles and blend into living rooms and nurseries.

Measure before you buy

• Check width, depth and height on the product page and compare them to your space.
• Leave at least 30 inches of walkway around the chair.
• Seat height of about 17 to 19 inches is comfortable for most adults and pairs well with standard sofas.
• Measure doorways and hallways to make sure the chair can get into the room.

Fabric or leather?

Upholstered fabric chairs come in every color and feel soft and cozy. Performance and slipcovered fabrics resist spills. Genuine leather and vegan leather wipe clean easily and develop character over time, making them a good choice for busy homes.

Make it work with your sofa

An accent chair does not need to match your sofa. Choose one that shares a color with your rug or pillows, or go bold with a contrasting color. Two matching chairs across from a sofa create a balanced conversation area.

Complete the corner

Add a small side table and a reading lamp from our lamps collection, and a throw pillow for extra comfort.

Shop accent chairs and more in living room furniture, with free standard shipping on eligible orders over $70.

Shop the picks

• Stan Swivel Chair - Ivory: A slipcovered swivel chair with arms in an ivory linen blend, measuring 30"W x 36.5"D x 34.25"H.
• Blanca Swivel Barrel Chair - Teal: A compact barrel-shaped swivel chair in teal velvet at 29.5"W x 26"D x 26.8"H.
• Nell Boucle Armchair - Grey: A cozy grey armchair in sherpa fabric on a solid wood and manufactured wood frame.
• Kirsten Armchair - Sage: A sage faux leather armchair with arms, measuring 26.8"W x 31"D x 32.7"H.
• Celia Manual Recliner - Beige: A manual recliner in a beige geometric-look fabric, measuring 27"W x 34.5"D x 41"H.

Anchor your new chair with a rug from our area rugs collection or explore all furniture. More ideas: How to Light a Room and our wall art size guide.