What Is an Occasional Chair?

The term “occasional chair” refers to a single upholstered seat — as distinct from a sofa or a dining chair — that is used as needed rather than as part of a fixed seating arrangement. In practice, occasional chairs have become anything but occasional: they are often the most characterful and carefully chosen piece of seating in a room.

The different types of occasional chair

Armchairs

The classic armchair is perhaps the most versatile occasional chair. Defined by its padded arms and generous seat, a well-made armchair offers the kind of comfortable, enveloping seating that a sofa sometimes cannot match. Our armchair collection includes the The Marlott — a beautifully proportioned traditional armchair — the The Woodston, and the The Gateshead, among others. Each is available in 64 premium designer fabrics.

Wingback chairs

The wingback is one of the most architecturally distinctive chair shapes in British furniture. Originally designed to protect sitters from draughts — the “wings” flanking the head rest deflect cold air — the wingback has become a symbol of traditional British interior design. Our wingback collection includes the The Budmouth, The Sotherton, and The Anglebury.

Accent and statement chairs

An accent chair is chosen primarily as a visual statement — to add colour, pattern, or personality to a room. The shape matters, but the fabric choice is everything. A bold botanical print or a striking geometric in a saturated velvet can transform an accent chair from a piece of furniture into a conversation piece.

How to choose the right occasional chair

Consider scale

Scale is the most common mistake people make when buying occasional chairs. A chair that looks right in a showroom — or on screen — can feel too large or too small once it is in the room. Before ordering, measure your space carefully and consider the chair in relation to the other furniture around it.

A general guide: allow at least 45cm of clearance around all sides of the chair for comfortable movement. For a chair positioned next to a sofa, aim for the seat height to be within 5cm of the sofa seat height for visual harmony.

Think about the room

Where will the chair live? A bedroom chair needs to be comfortable but compact — something you can sit in to put shoes on, read before sleep, or simply add character to the room. A living room chair needs to work within the broader seating arrangement and may need to accommodate guests. A hallway chair is primarily visual, though it should still be comfortable enough for occasional use.

Bespoke vs ready-made

A ready-made chair is faster and — at the lower end — cheaper. But it comes in the fabric the manufacturer has chosen, in the sizes they have made. A bespoke occasional chair is made to order in the fabric you choose, in a style that suits your room. For a piece that will last 20–30 years, the extra wait is almost always worth it.

All of our chairs are designed in Yorkshire and made to order in Long Eaton, Nottinghamshire — the traditional heart of British upholstery. Lead time is 8–10 weeks from order confirmation.

Explore our chair collection

We make 30 chair styles, from classic armchairs to dramatic wingbacks, each available in 64 designer fabrics from 17 leading fabric houses. Browse the full collection, or order free fabric samples to start planning your chair.