25 Popular Types of Living Room Chairs

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of sinking into a soft, deep, comfortable chair. However, everyone has a chair preference, and there are many types of living room chairs available to suit everyone’s tastes. They all come with different designs, functions, styles, colors, and sizes that makes it easy to mix and match to get the perfect look for your living room or any area in your home.

In order to ensure that you pick out the best type of living room chair for your tastes, we’re going to showcase 25 popular options that many people choose for their living rooms. No matter if you’re updating your interior design style, remodeling, or adding a whole new addition, we’ll help you find the perfect type of living room chair to pull the space together.

1. Armchair

Believe it or not, a high-quality armchair is one of the easiest ways to inject a little personal style into your living room, and this type of living room chair also provides a very comfortable place to sit. Armchairs function as neat accent chairs, and you can easily find that that matches your creativity while providing you space to relax. This chair will seat one person comfortably at a time, unlike the loveseat or couch. They’re also available in all types of styles ranging from traditional to contemporary.

When it’s time to purchase this chair, you should budget a minimum of $200 per chair. A lot of the chairs in this category start at this level before going up, and it’s easy to find armchairs that top out at over $1,000.

1 Armchair
Armchairs are very popular pieces of furniture that feature a very sturdy and squat design with deep cushions and a range of colors and fabrics. Art deco overstuffed arm chair by Katherine Esposito / CC BY-NC 2.0

2. Bar Stool

There are several types of bar stools to choose from. If you have an island with an overhang or a high-top table, you’ll need bar stools to fit into your space. Bar stools are also a fun type of living room chair that come in many different heights, so it’s critical for you to measure your counter or table before you buy the bar stools.

Some of these stools come with adjustable heights and others stay at one set height. Some will rotate while others are stationary. Some of these chairs are true stools because they have no back on them, and others come with varying back heights that range from minimal and low to supportive and high. It’s essential that you consider all of these options before you make a decision.

If you look online, you’ll find bar stools that range from $50.00 to $100. No matter if you prefer designs that have a farmhouse charm or that are ultra modern, there is a great fit on the market.

3. Barrel Chair

A fun type of living room chair is the barrel chair. This chair resembles the top of part of the name, a barrel. Early on, there is evidence to support that these chairs were, in fact, made using barrels. Due to the shape, these chairs can feel like you’re getting a hug from behind.

The design on this chair is characterized by a round, solid back with a larger size. Also, it typically features a one-piece design with arms. Barrel chairs usually give off  a much more masculine look overall, but the rounded shape can easily suggest femininity, and this makes it a very versatile design.

4. Bergère Chair

If you’re a big fan of traditional French design styles, this type of living room chair is sure to be a standout feature in your space. This chair lets you bring a nice touch of opulence into your home. The French King Louis XV turned this chair into a big part of the French home decor style, and it continues today.

These chairs have a few defining characteristics, including a wide, deep seat with a loose seat cushion. You’ll also see a lot of exposed wood. The exposed wood portion of this chair is typically on the arms between the chair back and the upholstered armrests. The outer edges of the chair back and the legs of the chair are also usually exposed.

This chair is an intricate work of art that will also double as a refined and comfortable seat. So, you can expect the price tag for this type of living room chair to be slightly higher than you’d pay for other options. On the lower end, it’s possible to find one for $500. However, it’s much more common to find them for $1,300 and up.

5. Camping Chairs

If you plan on going tailgating or camping, you might want to purchase and bring this lightweight chair with you. Polyester chairs in this category will fold up into smaller packages, and this makes it easy to put them into your vehicle. When you’re ready, you can fold them out and put them right on the ground to give yourself a comfortable place to sit right by your tent when you go camping.

These chair types come in a huge range of patterns and colors, and you can even get a chair with your favorite team’s colors or logo on it. These chairs are as low as $10.00 each, and this makes them one of the most portable and cheapest chairs you can pick up.

6. Chaise Lounge Chairs

Your outdoor space is great for entertaining your guests, and it’s also perfect for helping you relax in intimate, small groups. This type of living room chair is better outside where you can use it to soak up the sun on your deck. The chair will extend outwards, and this allows anyone who sits on it to prop their legs up. The back of this chair leans slightly, and this holds you in a very relaxing position.

Some of these chairs come equipped with bigger outdoor cushions that can stand up to different weather conditions. The base of this chair can be plastic, metal, or wood, and you can pick lounges that adjust to different positions. Some of them will even extend out more so you can lie all of the ways down.

You can use this chair to hang out by your pool, read a book, or get a tan. However, take note that not all of these lounges are meant to go outside, and some designers have inside-only versions of this chair.

2 Chaise Lounge
Many people think that chaise lounge chairs are restricted to the deck, but they can actually go inside too if you find upholstered options. Ladies chaise lounge chair by robxctd / CC BY-SA 2.0

7. Chesterfield Chair

When you hear the Chesterfield style come into conversation, you could automatically think of a sofa. However, there are also Chesterfield types of living room chairs available. They look just like the sofa that has the same name, but they’re only large enough to have one person at a time on it. A key design element of this chair is the tufted upholstery. The tufted upholstery is the way to tell this chair from others.

This characteristic is due to the fact that you can find Chesterfield styles that overlap into other categories, including a wingback chair. In this case, the chair is a wingback chair that has tufted upholstery elements.

8. Club Chair

A club chair is a type of living room chair that usually has leather upholstery, and it has a very eye-catching design. This chair type can easily set the mood for relaxation and comfort in your living room, and it originated in France. It was originally called the “comfortable chair,” or the “fauteuil confortable.” This chair type originally wrapped you in a soft seating area, and it came with  much more rounded edges than you’d get on other chairs.

Club chairs offer very deep seats, a lower back, durable leather upholstery, and a general spaciousness. The chairs are usually a very reasonable price, and they’re a fantastic way to add a hint of je ne sais quoi to your room. A basic club chair will start at around $100, but you can easily spend upwards of $500 on a premium chair.

9. Contemporary Round Chair

If you’re feeling boxed in by more traditional types of living room chairs, a contemporary round chair may be the perfect solution. This chair comes with an oversized seat that has a width of roughly 60 inches, and the cushion can have a depth of 30 inches. These dimensions make the chair perfect for relaxing and curling up with a blanket and a good book.

The chair’s shape also makes it a fabulous accent piece, and rounded chairs come in all types of fabric coverings. The most popular coverings are leather or suede. Most contemporary rounded chairs also come in neutral colors, but some add brighter hues or shades. This is a more expensive option to purchase, and they can easily range from $350 to $700.

10. Dining Chairs

The dining area in your house is a fantastic place for the family to gather and connect. As you sit down to eat meals together at your dining table, you should be comfortable. This allows you to focus on what’s going on around you and the people in the room. This is why it’s essential that you pick out the perfect chair, and it can even double as a type of living room chair if you get it right.

No matter if you need seating around your kitchen island or places for guests to sit and gather around, there are several different options available. The chairs come in all types of styles, so it pays to take your time and pick out a great fit.

11. English Rolled Arm Chair

This is an extremely traditional design, and this type of living room chair has deep, soft cushioning with gently rounded edges. It’s an extremely comfortable armchair choice due to the angled back and the cushioning. There are a few key design elements to the English rolled arm chair that distinguishes it from other types. The rounded, low arms, soft cushioning, deep seat, and the angled back are all hallmarks.

12. Folding Chair

If you routinely host barbeques and backyard parties, you want to have plenty of seating areas for all of the guests to ensure that they’re comfortable. Folding chairs can be a very cost-effective option, and as the name suggests, these chairs fold up for space-saving and easy storage options.

A folding chair usually features metal, plastic, or a combination of the two as the main material. You can buy these chairs for as low as $15.00 each. Some of these chairs are a fantastic way to accommodate each guest you have at one time without taking up your storage space when they’re not in use.

3 Folding Chair
Folding chairs are a very simple and cost-effective type of chair that you typically see outside or in garages instead of in the house. 5.6.09 by Brian Methot / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

13. Ghost Chair

Unlike what you may think from this type of living room chair’s name, it’s not actually haunted. Instead, it has a ghostly appearance as it features a clear plastic for the material. Ghost chairs are excellent accessories for your dining room in any ultra-modern setup. You can buy these chairs without or with arms, in varying heights, or in sets of two or four. Some of these chairs come with wood or metal accents on the legs.

The accents can easily add some dimension and interest to your chairs. If you want to bring it into other rooms in your home, they make nice accent pieces in an office or living room. It can be a great addition to any small room or a room that has limited natural lighting. They don’t create visual clutter or block the natural light, and these chairs will usually set you back between $75.00 and $125 each.

14. Glider Chair

The glider type of living room chair is very similar to a rocking chair, but the motion you get with it is more than you’ll get with a traditional rocking chair. Also, your head won’t tilt down and back up as you move. Instead, the glider gives you a very smooth back and forth motion. The gliding motion makes it very easy for you to nurse or feed babies while providing a subtle movement. Thai is why they’re very popular in nurseries.

Another interesting point with this type of living room chair is that the ottoman attached to the main portion of the chair will glide as well. This allows your entire body to glide smoothly and effortlessly.

15. Hammock

If you’re not sure if you want a traditional type of living room chair or a hammock in your space, you can get the best of both worlds by installing a hammock chair. This is also called a hanging chair, and it’s a very comfortable option that will gently sway like a hammock. They’re also easier to get in and out of than a traditional hammock.

A lot of this type of living room chair comes outfitted with weatherproof cushions that make it particularly relaxing to have outdoor time. You can pick cushions with a huge range of patterns and colors. The relaxing chair choice will range between $30.00 and $50.00 each, and they give you plenty of comfort for the price point.

16. Lawson Chair

A Lawson chair is a type of living room chair that falls between a mid-century modern design and a traditional chair design. This chair has armrests that are at an ideal height for most adults to sit and rest their elbows on comfortably, and this makes it a great reading chair.

The Lawson chair has very straight lines used in the main design, and you’ll find square or rounded arms that are lower than the back of the chair. It has firm cushioning, and they make a great addition to your reading nook in the living room or in the library.

17. Loveseat

A lot of chairs are only designed to hold one person at a time. However, this type of living room chair allows just enough room for two people to squeeze in relatively comfortably. Some are large enough for some people to sit in without touching, but most of them get designed to keep people close. They’re even nice out on a covered patio.

Like most of the types of living room chairs we’ve listed thus far, they come in a huge range of styles. No matter if you want something classic or a more modern look, you can find one to fit your living space. They also come in a huge range of colors, and they can be upholstered in different fabrics. You can find a fantastic loveseat for $225 up to $600, depending on the size, style, and retailer.

4 Loveseat
The loveseat is a scaled down version of a traditional couch, and you can usually fit up to two people comfortably on it. Loveseat by kishisaka / CC BY 2.0

18. Ottoman or Lounge Chairs

A comfortable ottoman allows you to relax, sit back, and kick your feet up. This type of living room chair dates back to the Ottoman Empire in the 1700s. Since this time, these chairs have become cost-effective and multi-functional pieces in living rooms all over the globe.

Additionally, an ottoman is a nice type of living room chair that can easily serve as a plush seat when you have guests and your seating options are more limited. Ottomans can range anywhere from $20.00 to $100, and this makes it a nice way to add seating to your room without breaking the bank.

19. Reading Chair

If you’re someone who loves to read, you know how vital it is to have this type of living room chair in your office. Reading chairs can be recliners, armchairs, or even a lounge chair with an attached ottoman. The comfort is the biggest factor that you have to consider with this chair.

A reading chair should invite you to sit and feel like it envelopes you once you sit down. You should almost never want to leave this type of living room chair, and it can easily range between $150 and $300 for a sturdy and stylish option. No matter what style your office is, you can easily find the perfect chair to complement the decor.

20. Recliner

Even though the recliner feels like a modern invention, historians claim that Napoleon Bonaparte was actually one of the first people to have this relaxing chair. Today, this type of living room chair is extremely popular for very good reason. Recliners are very comfortable, and they can come with cloth or leather upholstery with electric or manual mechanisms. There are plenty of styles to choose from, and you can find these chairs in various patterns and colors, including camouflage and striped.

There are various recliner types that are perfect for people who have mobility issues and struggle to get out of the chairs from time to time. These are lift-assist recliners that allow people to stay independent in their homes for longer periods.

21. Side Chair

The side chair is one of the most common chair options that people buy and use in dining room table sets. It’s very challenging to fit traditional chairs with arms around a typical dining room table. An end chair could have room for the armrests, the middle of the table usually won’t have enough space for both the arms and the chairs. Thai is where side chairs come into play. Basically, it’s an armless dining chair, and it takes up less space due to the distinct lack of arms.

Side chairs come in a huge range of materias, including plastic, wood, or metal. They come in a range of styles and colors, and the price will depend on which style you pick out. You can purchase one of these chairs starting at $70.00 and easily going up to $300 each.

22. Slipper Chair

This type of living room chair is an armless accent chair that has a seat that is surprisingly low to the ground. It has a very high back, and it started to gain popularity during the Victorian era. Slipper chairs got the name because they were originally used to make it easy for ladies in the upper classes to sit and put on their slippers or shoes. This type of living room chair is unique from others on the list because it has a low seat, high back, and no arms.

They come in a huge range of patterns, colors, and style to help it embrace the accent chair category, and you can get everything from outlandish to neutral. Because this is an armless design, it’s a great choice for smaller living spaces like apartments because the lack of arms means that it takes up far less space than chairs with arms.

5 Slipper Chair
Victorian-era slipper chairs were very ornate, but this category refers to chairs that have much shorter legs than normal. Today, most designs are very simple and straightforward. Yellow slipper chairs by paintchipdiaries / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

23. Wicker Chairs

If you’re looking for a patio piece or outdoor furniture to stand out, a wicker chair set is the perfect pick. The wicker that is used to create these chairs can withstand a huge range of outdoor conditions. Additionally, wicker chairs come outfitted with specialized cushions that get treated to withstand different weather conditions.

Generally, this type of living room chair comes in neutral colors like black, brown, or white. The chairs usually come as part of a set, and you can expect to pay anywhere from $150 to $300 for each chair. Wicker chairs also get built to last much longer than other outdoor furniture pieces, so this helps you swallow the higher initial cost.

24. Wingback Chair

One popular type of living room chair that is more dramatic is the wingback chair or a wing chair. This chair gets characterized by the higher sides that surround you when you sit down. These are the wings of the chair. This type of living room chair makes an excellent option for visiting, relaxing, or reading. Generally, they have a timeless and classic design that can survive a huge range of decor changes.

The signature design element is the forward side panels that extend from the chair’s back, and the high back is another feature. You can find these chairs to fit any style decor, including eclectic, contemporary, or traditional. This accent chair has a price range that starts at $150 and goes up to $300 a chair.

25. Wishbone Chair

The final type of living room chair on the list is the wishbone chair, and it brings a mid-century look to your dining room table. They usually feature a wooden design with a wicker or cushioned seat, and the defining part of this chair is the support that runs up the middle of the chair’s back before splitting into a wishbone-like shape. The chair curves around your back to offer more support when you sit down. They’re usually available in a more neutral color palette, but they’re also available in bright shades.

You can buy wishbone-style bar stools that match your wishbone-style dining chairs from many online retailers. A well-made chair in this category can easily cost between $150 and $350 per chair. They’re typically no more than 20 inches wide, and this makes them perfect to go with your dining room table.

Bottom Line

We’ve outlined 25 popular types of living room chairs that are very beautiful, versatile, and timeless. You can easily pick out the chair or chairs that are going to match your decor style the best, and this will make it easy for you to pull your room together and ensure that your guests have ample seating space.
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