The Interiors Online Guide to Everything Accent Chairs

Accent chairs are big news. The perfect way to create a focal point in just about any room, accent chairs are the ‘must-have’ piece designers are raving about right now - and with good reason. This is a trend here for a good time and a long time. Accent chairs not only provide extra seating, but add depth, interest, style and colour to any room. A luxe velvet chair in the lounge, rattan and linen in the living area of a beach house or a classic leather occasional chair for the reading nook; there is sure to be a stylish accent chair for you. If you want to jump on this trend but feel a bit overwhelmed decorating around a statement piece, read on for our round-up of our favourite accent chairs and styling tips.

1. The Perfect Friend for a Large Sofa – The Wingback Chair

With the winged sides and tall back, the generous scale of a wingback chair makes it an ideal friend for a large sofa. The size and weight of this style means it gives a sense of balance and consistency of scale in a room. The weight of a wingback also means that it’s likely to stay put as it’s not the easiest of chairs to move around. The grand feel of these chairs means they also work surprisingly well as end chairs for a dining table.

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2. The Key to a Cosy Nook – The Club Chair

The club chair is the original comfy chair. With its roomy form and super-deep seats, club chairs are often found in pairs with a large sofa. They are also the perfect chair to curl up with a book. If you want to create a swoon-worthy reading nook, layer up some textiles on your chosen club chair and introduce a gorgeous lamp. There’s never been a better time to join the club.

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3. The Chic Space Saver - The Slipper Chair

With their petite form, a slipper chair is the accent chair for you if you have a smaller space or apartment to style. Armless and generally upholstered, these space-saving accent chairs can be slipped in next to a coffee table or sofa where they work particularly well. When placed in a bedroom, they create an elegant and chic focal point with their deco contours.

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4. Anywhere, Everywhere – The Occasional Chair

Whatever your style, whatever shape you love, there is an occasional chair for every space. The most versatile of accent chairs, occasional chairs are often striking in design and tend to bring the entire design statement with them wherever they are placed. Show off your pro-design skills by either going bold with pattern and silhouette to create a truly eclectic space, or play it safe and keep your foundation pieces a neutral palette and layer textiles to add interest and colour. Just keep in mind the scale of the other furniture to make sure your room stays in balance.

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5. So Frenchy, So Chic – The Bergère

An exposed wooden frame surrounding an upholstered seat and back are the key design features of this chair which experienced its first wave of popularity in 17th century French palaces. Although the curved lines of this regal chair signals the Bergère’s French heritage, this sophisticated style chair is at home anywhere, even in a contemporary setting where the gentle collision of styles makes for an interesting and confident statement. Also, think of the bonus points for being able to reference design history. In French.