Living room accent chair ideas to enhance seating arrangements

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You’re happy with your color scheme, you’re happy with the sofa and the pillows, but your living room still lacks something…looks familiar? Let us introduce you to some transformative living room chair ideas. Accent chairs are one of the most underrated additions to any living room!

These disposable chairs are a great way to add the finishing touch to your scheme and add a personal touch, whether it’s with a color or a bold pattern, or a contrast that catches your eye instantly.

Not only that, but it is also quite versatile. Do you need extra seating for guests? Perhaps you could do with moving your seat to another room for a special occasion? The possibility is that even if you change your sofa or decor, your accent chair will live a long time after that.

living room accent chair ideas

This transformative piece of furniture can be used to add color, texture, and pattern and indulge your love of interior design, so whether you choose a contrasting pattern or something more subtle, make sure you take your time and think about the type of accent chair that best suits you and your living room.

So, how do you pick one, we hear you ask? What should you look for when it comes to your accent chair and what are the most popular models? To help you decide, we’ve created a bunch of ideas to give your living room a stylish boost and have you pick your perfect living room chair in no time.

1. Make a statement with a bold accent shade

What is the first thing that catches your eye when you look at this living room? If this is the signature chair, this is a sign of indulging in your favorite color. There are many beautiful colors to choose from when it comes to upholstered furniture, but if you are not sure about choosing a bright or bold color with your sofa, a bright chair will allow you to try it out first without spending too much.

“The great thing about the accent chair is that you can go big and bold with the color you want,” says Charlie Marshall, founder of Loaf. “Make a statement with brighter fabrics that really save you.”

2. Complement the existing color scheme

Look at the color scheme in your living room and choose either a lighter or darker tone of the same color. In this purple living room idea, a darker shade was used on the sofa and rug, while the bright fuchsia-pink accent chair and walls are painted a darker mauve—all in varying shades of the same palette. The fact that it is a tactile velvet adds to its luxurious look.

3. Symmetric layout design

Wondering how to arrange your living room furniture? Don’t think for a moment that your accent chair needs to be tucked into a corner—instead, move your furniture away from the walls and create a central seating spot. Placing the accent chair against the sofa creates an elegant, almost formal look, while adding a square chest or coffee table next to the chair gives it the length needed to create a symmetrical effect.

4. Combine different materials

Instead of trying to make your chair match your sofa, you can choose a completely different chair, not only in the look but the materials as well. By doing this, you will make it a standout piece in its own right and will create a more interesting outline.

A traditional-style sofa filled with blue twill is the staple of this delicate blue sofa living room idea, while the glossy armchair, with its modern, Scandinavian-look wood frame and richly textured leather seat, is a completely different style. While the sofa has rounded arms and fabric sliding covers, the leather chair has long angular lines and minimal air.

The thing that makes them work so well together is that the color and materials are carried into the rest of the décor, from the wooden elements on the coffee table, to the brown frames and rustic-looking wallpaper in its blue and orange.

5. Go for a pair of accent chairs

Remember that symmetric look we talked about earlier? It’s the same principle here, but this time there are two identical chairs facing the sofa, instead of one, reflecting its width and creating balance. Although the materials on both the sofa and the chairs are different, the two are similar in that they have very curvilinear circular shapes and are all in neutral colors.

While the sofa is a lush velvet, the accent chairs are a pretty teddy bear on fashion and in our opinion the kind of chairs you won’t want to let go, that’s how cozy they hug the bathtub.

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6. Create a quiet place to read

Prefer to keep your accent chair separate? Then make a space for reading, relaxing or working in your living room with a small side table and lamp beside it. Choosing an eye-catching pattern or color will give you a moment of visual pause and stare, and of course you’ll want to make sure it’s comfortable – the kind of chair that invites you to stop and take a seat, whether it’s to make a call, enjoy a spot in the sun by the window, or even catch 40 a wink!

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7. Make it match

Now as much as I told you to choose a contrasting accent chair, there’s also room for those who prefer to match their furniture. You don’t have to go exactly the same range as your sofa, but choosing a chair in the same fabric with matching colored legs will help the two sit harmoniously in your scheme, which means you can allow your eyes to be drawn to your face. Accessories and decor rather.

The accent chair here is in the same light gray fabric with blonde wood legs, but the differences are in the button back and taller leg frame. Placing it on the side of your sofa creates a cozy and bright design with pretty pillows in floral, geometric, and botanical prints and a color scheme of coral and Nile water.

8. Pair an accent chair with a matching footstool

There’s no telling that your accent chair should be a stand-alone piece – look for a chair with a matching footstool and you’ll have a nice little living room with more comfort to put your feet in.

You’ll notice that the check fabric used in this glossy chair works perfectly within this earthy living room, with the colors echoing in the throw pillows, and pattern carried over to the footstool.

9. Go for tone-on-tone color

Take inspiration from your living room walls when it comes to choosing a color for your accent chair. Choosing a material that is a shade lighter or darker than the paint or wallpaper color will create a color gradient that you can easily add with other accessories, for a harmonious living room scheme.

Another touch, when going for a harmonious design like this is to keep the chair cushions the same color—think blue on blue on blue. It’s not for everyone, but if you love color, why not maximize it?

10. Neutrals can still add interest

Neutrals have really become their own in the past few years, with new materials and textures making furniture pieces as intriguing as their brighter-toned counterparts. If you are choosing an accent chair that is not a bold color, but you still want it to add something extra to your scheme, choose a design that has an interesting texture or shape.

Sure, the design woven with a separate back and seat on a rich dark wood frame is striking enough, but when paired with similar materials for the rug, side table, and even a light top shade, it becomes part of an array of things that enhance and complement one another.

What is an accent chair?

An accent chair is basically an armchair or occasional chair that sits in addition to the sofa in the living room or family room. Whether it’s a single chair or a pair, there are accent chairs to provide additional seating.

“A really good armchair that will last for years still needs a solid wood frame,” says Charlie Marshall, founder of Loaf. Of course, there are all kinds of miniatures and rubber out there (especially on some high-end Italian models), which allow things like armchair arms to flex and bend, but I think the main principles of what makes a human comfortable stay the same.

Charlie continues, “The only important thing I can say that has changed as a result of our new living habits is the combination of fabrics that people want now.” Ten years ago, it was all about being normal. Now, while fabrics still need to look and feel great, they also need to be as spill-resistant as possible. Dinner in front of the TV can be great in moderation (family meals at the kitchen table are important too!), so people increasingly want wipes that are good for young kids and the elderly alike. There is now a really cool polyester range that is very popular – we personally have these in our house and think they are ace.

Where would you put an accent chair in the living room?

Nicky Phillips of Ideal Home suggests: “If you’re lucky enough to have space for two sofas in your living room, swapping out the second sofa for two accent chairs will create a sense of extra space.” “This is because more floor and space is seen around them, which makes the room more airy.”

In a space with enough room for some extra seating but not enough space for an extra sofa, choosing a single accent chair is ideal – for example in a bay window or in front of a bi-fold door. Don’t be drawn to shoving accent chairs in the corner of the living room, or placing them around a coffee table or near a fireplace.

Can you have just one accent chair?

“Yes, although the symmetry in the living room looks smart and chic, not many rooms fit two people,” says Nikki. Adding an accent chair is a great way to add a pop of color or an alternative texture to the scheme. If you’re using a single chair between two opposite sofas, keep the chair at a right angle, but if you have an accent chair next to a single sofa, angle it slightly, either toward the sofa, fireplace, or TV! ‘.