A sofa and armchair do not need to match. They need to agree on seat height and weight, and differ enough in shape that the room has some rhythm. Browse all lounge chairs.
Match the seat height
Seat height is the first thing the eye reads. The Linear Armchair has the highest, most upright sit of our chairs, on tall matte black metal legs. It works beside a sofa of similar height, such as the Linear Straight Sofa or the Fraser Straight Sofa.
A low sofa such as the Bowie Straight Sofa wants a low chair. The Bowie Armchair is wider and deeper than a standard armchair, with inner-coil seat cushions and a rounded back.
Contrast the silhouette
Against a straight, tailored sofa, a rounded chair softens the room. The Aura Armchair has a deep, wrap-around silhouette, and sits well beside a lower table such as the Earth Coffee Table.
The Cove Swivel Lounge Chair has a barrel back and a concealed 360-degree base. It turns between the sofa conversation and the window or television. It pairs naturally with a curved sofa such as the Delia 3-piece Sofa.
Keep one material in common
Repeat the leg finish or the upholstery tone between the two. The Fraser Armchair and Fraser sofas share matte black metal legs and narrow tailored arms. Chairs and sofas in leather, such as the Linear Armchair in leather, soften and build character with use.
Pairings at a glance
| Sofa | Chair | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Linear or Fraser Straight | Linear Armchair | Similar upright seat height, black metal legs |
| Bowie Straight | Bowie Armchair | Low, deep and rounded together |
| Tailored straight sofa | Aura Armchair | A wrap-around form softens straight lines |
| Delia 3-piece | Cove Swivel | Curves repeat, and the chair turns to the room |
Placement
Set the chair at an angle to the sofa, close enough for conversation and with room to walk past.
Questions
Should the chair match the sofa fabric?
No. Share a leg finish or a tone and let the shape differ.
Can I mix leather and fabric?
Yes. A leather chair beside a fabric sofa adds contrast and softens with use.
How much space between them?
Close enough to talk, with room to walk past. Mark it out on the floor first.
Sit in the pairing
Visit the Parnell or Grey Lynn showroom to try a chair beside your sofa.
