Do you have a room that seems to be calling out for one more element? Some personal touch to make it extra special? It could be a living room, a den, or even a bedroom or hallway. Maybe all the furniture is the same color or style. Maybe you’d like a more inviting place for company. Perhaps you’re just ready for something different, something that shows your personality in a new way.

The answer might be an accent chair! By bringing this new piece into that room, you can express your creativity in a variety of ways. A modern accent chair can bring pizzazz to a traditional dining room. An occasional chair provides an attractive surprise for that extra guest. You can try out a new color or pattern to enhance your present décor.

There are so many options. Though there’s a lot to think about, choosing the chair that’s right for you is where the fun begins. First question: how do you intend to use your new accent chair? Will it fill that empty slot in the master bedroom, provide a comfy reading nook in the den, or be moved from place to place to accommodate visitors? What kind of room will it occupy? Decorative chairs for hallway are different than formal accent chairs for the living room. How much use will it get? How would you like it to fit with your present furnishings? Should it take a back seat to the other pieces, or do you want to make it the “star of the room?”

Style

One popular style is the plush and roomy club chair. This accent chair with arms tends to have a large, deep seat and is perfect to get lost in with a book or magazine. A special type of club chair, the wingback, features high wings mounted to the seatback. An accent chair with ottoman provides tremendous comfort for relaxing in front of the TV, or can be offered to a special guest. These armchairs can be of a traditional squared style or can have more contemporary rounded lines. Modern club chairs sometime have narrower arms than the classic models.

The slipper is an upholstered chair that’s armless and sits low on short legs. It is designed for both formal and casual settings, and can be selected and placed to capture the eye. The occasional chair is usually simple, lightweight, and armless, as it’s meant to be moved from room to room as the need arises. It’s often constructed of exposed wood without upholstery. The bergère is a traditional French armchair. The seat and back are plushly upholstered, but the legs and armrests are generally exposed, giving a refined and formal look.

So many shapes and sizes! Wide, narrow, high-backed, low-sitting, squared, curved. You can even choose a swivel chair, a rocker, or a recliner. A few hints: a roomy chair balances an oversize sofa. Place your new furnishing in a way that avoids a cluttered look. Keep all the seats about the same height from the floor, so your guests won’t be looking up and down at one another.

Construction

Most accent chairs are made of exposed hardwood or upholstered wood. However, don’t forget about metal or plastic as a possibility for a heavily used occasional chair, or for a kitchen or children’s room.

What about upholstery? Chairs can be covered in leather, suede, velvet, linen, cotton and cotton blends, and a variety of synthetics. Consider not only the look you love but also the amount of wear the piece will get. Linen and velvet are formal and beautiful but lack durability. Leather is tough, long-lasting, and can be wiped and cleaned, but remember that its appearance may change over time. Leather that comes with a distressed look is a possibility. Synthetic leathers are durable and resist staining.

Color and pattern

This is where you can let your imagination go to town! Choose a shade that matches your current décor, or select one that brings an entirely new color to the party. Consider a blue accent chair for an exciting and modern look in a room of light browns and beiges. Chairs in shades of brown are always classic, but think about how black, white, or even red might look. You can choose a color that will match your artwork, a lamp, or your knickknacks.

Patterns today are almost unlimited in possibility, from eye-dazzling geometric designs to a subtle monochrome. If you already have a lot of pattern in your room, you might want to consider a solid color. But if your sofa and other chairs are muted, a bold accent chair can really call attention to itself. Is that what you want? Maybe.

Let’s get started!

With a stylishly selected accent chair, you can remake a room with a single piece of furniture. You can try a new look on for size without committing to an entire remodel. Consider that dining room, that living room, that den, and ask yourself, “What can an accent chair do here?” Then let the adventure begin!