When choosing an armchair, you should first determine its purpose.
There are several basic armchair designs:
- Classic armchairs (mainly with upholstered seats) are stable models for comfortable seating and relaxation.
- Bed-chairs are used to sit during the day and unfold at night for extra sleeping space. This option is used when there is a shortage of space in the room. It also helps when you need to quickly organize an additional bed. If necessary, this chair can replace a small sofa. These beds are divided into foldaway and rollaway beds (the bottom part is rolled forward).
- The armchair with a reclining backrest (a recliner) is an intermediate option between traditional and folding armchairs. They are called the furniture of increased comfort. In these models, a specially designed mechanism can be used to adjust the backrest in a comfortable position, providing good support for the back. Sitting or half-lying in this chair will help you completely relax. This model can have a comfortable footrest as well as a rotating base.
- For a child, you should choose a transformer chair. As a rule, children’s models are not equipped with armrests. If you choose the soft colors for upholstery, it will be possible to easily remove various stains from the chair, for example, from food or felt-tip pens. It’s very important to pick a model that will form a child’s correct posture, with the ability to adjust the height of the seat and the size of the chair.
- An office chair can be successfully used in a living room for comfortable work at the computer. There are leather armchairs with armrests made of solid wood or chrome aluminum, as well as inexpensive armchairs made of artificial leather or printed fabric. Such models are equipped with high-quality mechanisms and components. Legs, armrests, and crosspieces are made of plastic, polypropylene, or metal. The backrest is comfortable, it supports the cervical and lumbar parts of the spine.
Types of armchairs for living rooms
The modern furniture market offers various types of armchairs: You can also check for more information here
- Traditional soft armchairs for the living room with a fixed backrest, with or without armrests.
- Swinging armchairs made of a variety of materials (wooden, plastic and woven, often with upholstered seats of fabric or leather). A rocking chair is a perfect option for relaxation. It helps with insomnia and is also useful for young mothers who can rock a child in their arms.
- Lift chairs are useful for people with disabilities. To raise or lower such an armchair, you should press the button. Some models of lift chairs are equipped with folding backrests with an adjustable angle of inclination. These armchairs are comfortable, look great, and fit into any interior.
- Lounge chairs with metal frames, as well as chairs with wooden or bamboo frames, are combined with soft cushioned seats.
- Wicker armchairs are made of willow vine, rattan, water hyacinth, as well as bamboo, walnut rods, and reeds. These models are characterized by moisture resistance and durability. They are also easy to clean. Light wicker armchairs will fit into various modern interior styles. They are perfectly combined with such materials as glass, leather, and metal.
- Massage chairs will be appreciated by people engaged in monotonous sitting work. Seats are designed to perform a variety of functions (kneading, heating, tapping, vibration, etc.) on different areas of the body (neck, collar, and back). Some models can provide an extended area of massage from neck to toe.
- Frameless models have gained popularity really quickly. Such chairs of various shapes and sizes consist of an outer case and an inner part with a filler. It’s a styrene foam that allows the chair to take different shapes or siliconized fiber balls, which support the human body comfortably. Many types of such products are universal, they can be used both for sitting and lying. Depending on the size of a chair, a child or one or more adults can comfortably sit in it. There are various models of such models: sack chairs, poufs, pyramids, pillows, balls, and many more.
Materials
Usually, up to 60-70% of the cost of an armchair is the cost of the materials (frames upholstery). The exception is, perhaps, armchairs made of cheap plastic of various shapes and colors. New high-tech materials are quite expensive, so a quality modern chair can often cost more than an antique classic model.
As for the design of the chair, its frame can be fully or partially open, as well as almost completely hidden. In classic-style models, it’s usually completely enclosed. Factory-made armchairs often have chipboard under the upholstery. For smaller living rooms, you should choose compact, modern models with open legs and no side upholstery. These chairs seem to be visually lighter and easier to take care of.
Cotton and jacquard fabrics, viscose, velvet, and velour, as well as real and artificial leather, are traditionally used as upholstery for armchairs. Microfiber, a pleasant to touch modern fabric, looks great on chairs in the high-tech interior.
Leather as the upholstery of armchairs will fit into the interior of any living room. The armchair with such upholstery boasts special durability as this material is moisture-proof. The disadvantage of leather is the fact that it’s cold to touch.
Jacquard fabric, velour, chenille, and upholstery flock are easy to use and are characterized by a variety of colors and patterns. New technologies of upholstery fabrics, including water-repellent impregnation, significantly increase the wear resistance of products.
When buying an armchair, it’s important to choose a model that fits harmoniously into the interior of the living room and blends with the rest of the furniture.
