If you don’t have the perfect reading chair in your study or living room, are you really doing right by yourself? You know, the kind of chair that you can sink into and forget about all your worries while indulging in the perfect book?
As there are thousands of options out there, it results in more factors to be considered. Without further ado, let’s take a look at what makes a good reading chair.
What Makes a Good Reading Chair?
Let’s go through the factors here.
Comfort and Support
When it comes down to choosing the ultimate reading chair, the first and foremost feature to consider is certainly what it feels like to sit on it. A good reading chair for me is one that will let me sit for hours on end without fatigue or body ache.
However, while a comfy reading chair is everything – I don’t like mine to be too comfortable where it’ll put me to sleep.
What I look for in a reading chair is a high, firm back that will give my back and neck the needed support and comfort. It should also have a comfortable, luxuriously padded cushion exterior. And if it comes with a down cushion, you really can’t go wrong.
Seat Depth
If you aren’t especially tall or if you prefer to rest your feet on the ground, then we’ll recommend you to go for someone that isn’t as bulky such as accent chairs.
However, if you’re someone who loves to curl up their feet and unwind – or you’re just very tall, then I’ll recommend you to go for a deep-seated chair.
Seat Width
One of the most important factors to consider while buying the reading chair is certainly its size. Some people prefer to stay alert and upright while they’re reading or watching something. For them, I’ll suggest going for something small and minimal such as a slipper.
On the other hand, if you’re in search of the ideal chair that you can sit on for hours on end and maybe also accommodate your pet dog or kid, then an oversized chair is what you should be looking at. The best option, in this case, would be to go for something like a one-arm chair or an oversized barrel chair.
Foot Stools & Ottomans
Let’s be honest when we start our reading or watching spree, we like to be as comfortable as possible, and what better way to increase our comfort than adding a footstool or ottoman?
Adding a footstool or ottoman will help to reduce if not prevent your feet from swelling or aching. A matching footstool will also add to the aesthetics of the chair as well as the overall room. Besides, you can always use the ottoman as a makeshift tray, stand, or secondary chair for your kids or pets.
Leg Height & Style
Leg height is another factor we forget to give proper significance to. The ideal height of your reading chair mostly depends on two factors – your height and how much time you’ll be spending on the chair at a stretch.
While the 17” height is the standard, you can easily increase or decrease it to fit your need. The chair should be tall enough to allow your legs to remain comfortably bent and allow easy stretches.
You should also keep an eye out for the style of the legs in case you want to mix and match with the other furniture of the room. At the same time, the design of the legs does make an impact on how we view the overall chair – chunky legs look sturdy and inviting while narrow legs look formal and somewhat flimsy.
Style and Aesthetics
Now that we’re sorted with the basic features of what makes a good reading chair, let’s talk about the factor that probably plays the biggest role when buying a piece of new furniture – its style and aesthetics.
First off, you need to determine what style of chair you want to go with – will it be a French antique, a lounge chair, or something in-between? Once you have the kind of chair you want to buy (which goes with the overall theme of your room), you’ll have to factor in the fabric and color.
Materials such as leather, velvet, or twill are the ideal choice if you’re looking for a durable one. However, when it comes to maintenance, you’ll find leather to be the easiest to clean. Do keep in mind that all of these materials are prone to get loose with time.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, what makes a good reading chair for you will depend mostly on you and your preference. I hope I was able to give you an insight on what factors to consider to ensure a successful purchase. Good luck with your future endeavors!