When furnishing a living room, bedroom, or private study, reading chairs are always good pieces to consider adding to the space. These small chairs take up a limited amount of room, while having a substantial effect on the area’s overall feel. More importantly, a good reading chair will usually be the most comfortable place to sit in any room, making it the perfect spot to curl up with a good book or spend a good chunk of the day scrolling through your phone feed.
The best reading chairs can adapt to spaces both large and small alike, allowing them to blend easily into any room you decide to put them in. They serve a decorative purpose similar to accent chairs, creating a visual point of difference in the space, especially when laid out next to a couch in the living room. However, those aesthetic benefits are far outweighed by the importance of their function as that one chair in the room you can comfortably spend hours of your time sitting in.
The best reading chairs come in all sorts of varieties. Some will be covered in supple leather while others come draped in velvety fabrics. Some will be decked in plain block colors, while others show off busier patterns. Some look more neutral, with designs that blend in with the space, while others are meant to stand out. Suffice to say, the options are aplenty, so there’s no shortage of excellent reading chairs to accommodate every individual taste.
Christopher Knight Kirkwood Modern Glam Velvet Club Chair
Pros
- Standout aesthetics
- Affordable price
- Comfortable seating position
Cons
- Might be too stiff and rigid for some
While this reading chair is easily the most affordable in the list, it’s also one of the most visually-striking. It just has those unusual geometric lines that give it a truly modern feel. We’re especially fond of the black upholstery, which features a very deep kind of black, making the whole thing an absolute looker that can stand out in practically any space, as well as the soft velvet fabric. The chair itself feels a bit rigid, which isn’t surprising with the stainless steel frame, so it doesn’t offer much room for switching seating postures, although it is comfortable enough that you can spend a good few hours sitting on it while listening to music or getting lost in Baldur’s Gate 3 on your Steam Deck.
Miscoos Chenille
Pros
- Excellent cushioning throughout
- Fun elephant ear cushions on armrests
- Wide and roomy
Cons
- Takes up a lot of space
If you want a reading chair that feels a lot like a comfy couch, look no further than this inexpensive option from Miscoos. It’s very roomy, so you can put your feet up and sit cross-legged, as well as take on a whole assortment of other postures. We love the cushioning all throughout, from the seat and the backrest to the elephant ear cushions on the armrests, making it comfortable enough to let you sink into a relaxed slumber, with a pinewood frame providing the supportive structure. Do note, this chair is pretty big, coming in at 38.6 x 35 x 31.9 inches (width x depth x height), so make sure you have the room to accommodate it, lest leave your space looking a little too cramped.
Article Angle 33″ Lounge Chair
Pros
- Mid-century modern looks
- Slightly angled back
- Wide seat
Cons
- Might be a bit stiff for some
Want a reading chair that looks like it can be perfectly at home in someone’s private study or home office? That’s exactly how we feel about this lounge chair from Article, which features slightly angled lines, tweed upholstery, and an overall chic mid-century aesthetic (they call it “Jetson chic” in the product page). It just looks darn nice. We love the accommodating seat and the angled back, which puts you in a very comfortable sitting posture, as well as the high density foam that feels very plush without tacking on a whole lot of bulk. The armrests are also low enough that you can sit cross-legged and have your knees resting on them, a position we actually liked doing in this chair. Do note, it has a zipper that runs vertically across the back. While the upholstery is designed to hide it, there’s a good likelihood it will become more visible as the chair gets heavy use over time, which isn’t the most flattering look. It’s not something that will bother you until that time comes, though (if it ever does), so it’s not really that big of a deal.
Castlery Cammy Armchair
Pros
- Compact dimensions
- Surprisingly roomy for its size
Cons
- Firmer, more structured feel might not be for everyone
A great pick for those with limited space for a reading chair, this piece measures just 29.7 x 28.5 x 34.6 inches (width x depth x height), making it compact enough to squeeze into cramped living rooms and other layouts that require a tighter fit. We’re especially fond of recommending it as a reading chair for bedrooms, as it gives you a handy place to sit in without taking up too much valuable space. It has a number of really nice elements, such as the slim low-profile legs, the tweed-like upholstery, the roomy seat, the wide backrest, and the high armrests, all coming together to provide a comfortable sitting experience. Do note, the chair has a firmer, more structured feel that may not quite jive with those that want a more plush lounging experience, but it definitely makes for a nice spot to read a book, enjoy a drink, or spend a few hours playing around on your iPad.
West Elm Book Nook Armchair
Pros
- Medium firmness is very comfortable
- Curved arms support reclined posture
- Classic looks
Cons
- Engineered wood upper frame
Whenever we think of reading chairs, this chair’s silhouette is always the first thing that comes to mind. It just has that classic look. Unlike Article’s similarly traditional design, though, this one isn’t subtle with the angles, with dramatically curving lines on the armrests leading up to the backrest, which go perfectly well with the chair’s slanted stance and slightly reclined seating position. If you’ve ever scoffed at reclined armchairs with perfectly horizontal armrests, you’ll definitely find this to be quite the welcome change. We also love the thick medium-firmness cushion, the velvet upholstery, and the solid wood legs, although we’re not as big fans of the engineered wood on the seat, back, and armrests.
Burrow Arch Nomad Armchair
Pros
- Modular design
- Built-in USB charger
- Stain- and scratch-resistant upholstery fabric
Cons
- Cushioning might be too firm for some
While this reading chair isn’t the most stylish in the list, it does make for an attractive option due to its modular nature, as it can be outfitted as an armchair (like the one included here), a chaise lounge (with a couple pieces added), or as part of a sofa (or even a sectional). Basically, what you can use as an armchair now can be integrated into something else later, provided you combine it with other pieces in Burrow’s Nomad line. They also offer lots of options, as you can get it with sloped, arched, or block armrests, as well as tufted or untufted back cushions. It’s comfortable, too, although the cushion is on the firmer side, so those who want something more plush might not enjoy it as such. We also love the easy-to-clean upholstery, the hardwood frame, and the easy assembly. Heck, they even threw in a USB port, which might come in handy if you frequently chill there with a tablet or an e-reader.
Saatva Logan Chair
Pros
- Very comfortable
- Mid-century styling
- Stain-resistant upholstery
Cons
- Arms are only slightly padded
We love the size of this reading chair – just wide enough to be comfortable, while being compact enough to fit in rooms with more limited spaces. The seat offers just enough room to let you adjust postures while lounging, while the slanted backrest promotes a comfy recline that we really like. We do wish the armrests were a bit angled, as well, to compensate for the backrest, but it’s comfortable enough as it is. It’s well-made, too, with each one individually handcrafted and upholstered using sustainably-sourced, kiln-dried hardwood, so it really feels like the kind of furniture you’ll keep around for the long haul. They only offer four upholstery options, though, so your choices on the finish are pretty limited.
West Elm Harmony Chair and a Half
Pros
- Oversized seat
- Very plush cushioning
- Accommodates sitting and lounging postures
Cons
- Might be too pillowy-plush for some
If you like turning your reading chair into a cramped bed for curling up every now and then, you might appreciate the more sizable dimensions of this aptly named “Chair and a Half.” Yep, it’s literally the size of one and a half chairs, measuring a whopping 55 inches wide and 41 inches deep, so you’ll only want to pick this up if you actually have the room for it. The chair may be a little awkward for sitting straight up in the middle (the armrests are too far apart), but this allows for a whole load of lounging postures that you just can’t do on any other armchair (it’s practically a mini-sofa). Heck, you can even fit someone else in there and turn it into loveseat if the air’s feeling a bit too cold to curl up by yourself. Do note, the cushioning here is incredibly plush (we’re talking pillow-soft), so it’s not for those who prefer a firmer, more structured feel.
Sixpenny Ziki Chair
Pros
- Very plush cushioning
- Comfortable enough to sleep on
- Minimalist design
Cons
- Pricey
Some people think reading chairs should be all about comfort. That’s exactly what this piece delivers with its mix of foam and feather down fill, which is so plush and comfortable you’ll probably end up snoozing after sitting on it a bit. It has a gently sloped back and armrests that perfectly complement its promoted posture, allowing you to plop down and sink into the chair with no care in the world. The chair is no slouch in the aesthetics, either, with soft curves, a neutral palette, and minimalist sensibilities straight out of 20th century French design. It’s available in a variety of cotton, cotton-linen, and poly weave upholstery in different colors.
David Chen
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