Armchairs

Buy Quality Armchairs in the UK

A good armchair earns its place quickly. It's the seat you drop into with a cup of tea, the corner where you read, and the extra seat that stops guests perching on the arm of the sofa. Our collection of armchairs and occasional chairs runs to close to 40 chairs, priced from £299 to £599, from compact boucle accent chairs to electric recliners with massage and heat.

Below we explain the main types, sizes, materials and colours, so you can choose armchairs for your living room, bedroom or reading corner with confidence. Every chair is delivered free to the UK mainland, and you're welcome to try them at our Ossett showroom.

Recliner Armchairs

A recliner armchair lets you lean the back and raise a footrest, so the same chair works for sitting upright and for properly stretching out. A reclining armchair is the biggest group in our range and comes in three forms: manual, electric, and rise and recline. Manual models tend to cost less and need no socket, electric models are easier to use every day, and rise and recline chairs also help you stand. Compare them all in our recliner chairs collection.

Manual Recliner Chairs

A manual recliner works without a motor. You recline by hand using the chair's own mechanism (the Classic, for example, has a lever on the side), so there's nothing to plug in and you can place the chair away from wall sockets, as long as there's room for the footrest. The trade-off is a little more effort and fewer in-between positions, which is worth thinking about if the chair is for someone with limited strength.

Prices start at £299 for the Sorrentino Recliner Armchair in grey chenille, the Sorrentino in black PU leather and the Roma armchair recliners in black or grey faux leather. The grey Roma adds pull-down cupholders as well. The Classic Recliner Armchair in grey chenille is £349, and the Rio Recliner Armchair at £399 mixes jumbo cord with faux leather.

Electric Recliner Armchairs

An electric recliner armchair moves at the press of a button and usually gives you a wider range of positions than a manual chair, with no lever to pull. That makes it the more convenient choice for everyday use, as long as there's a plug socket within reach. Most of our electric recliners also have a USB-C charging port, and several add LED base lighting, side pockets or cup holders.

The Forbes Electric Recliner Armchair in black or grey Aire leather and the Vinson in black Aire leather are both available for £399. The Naples brings button control to grey chenille for £429, and the Toronto Electric Recliner Chair at £449 comes in brown or grey micro fabric with cup holders in both arms. The Hanna and the Hannan are £499 in micro fabric with white piping and LED lighting, and the Saxon at £599 comes in light grey suede.

Cinema Chairs

Cinema chairs are electric recliners built for long film nights. The Tech 8 Smart Electric Recliner Armchair is one of our most feature-packed chairs, with 8-point vibration massage, heating, a tray table, a cup holder, armrest storage, blue LED lighting and USB-C charging. The Sianna adds cup holders and blue LED base lighting to a diamond-quilted design, and the Orlando has LED lighting, USB charging and a cup holder. See the full line-up in our cinema chairs collection.

Riser Recliner Chairs

Riser recliner chairs, also called rise and recline chairs, have a motor that tilts the seat forwards and upwards to help you get to your feet, and they recline for resting too. They're worth considering for an older relative or anyone who finds getting out of a low seat difficult.

The Bertha and the Carlton use a dual motor, so the backrest and footrest move independently and you can raise your legs without lying back. Both have an anti-tip mechanism, take a user weight of up to 150kg and come with a 2-year motor warranty. The Memphis adds 8-point vibration massage and heating, with a 51cm seat height that may make standing easier for some users.

Standard Armchairs for Living Rooms

Sometimes you just want a comfortable extra seat that looks as if it belongs with your sofa. Most of our standard armchairs are part of a wider sofa collection, so the chair can complete a sofa you already own. The Vegas Armchair and Verona Armchair match their sofa ranges, and the Logan pairs with the Logan sofas in grey jumbo cord and black faux leather. The Chestnut chairs come in five Enzo fabric colours, while the Broadgate and Sloane come in Kensington fabric and plush velvet.

Swivel Armchairs

A swivel armchair turns on its base, so you can face the TV, the conversation or the window without moving the chair. It's a good fit for open-plan rooms, where one seat often serves two areas. The Vegas Swivel Chair and Verona Swivel Chair are both £449 in grey fabric, with washable back cushion covers, and measure 115cm wide, 90cm deep and 95cm tall. Leave some clearance so the arms don't catch a side table as the chair turns.

Accent Armchairs

An accent armchair is chosen as much for how it looks as for how it sits. It's usually smaller and lower than a standard armchair, so it fits easily into a bedroom, a hallway nook or beside a fireplace.

The Cocoon Occasional Accent Chair (£399) is a modern armchair with a curved back in ivory boucle, and at 75.5cm wide it's the one to choose if you need a small armchair for a tight corner. The Reese Accent Armchair has a button-tufted back in midnight blue boucle or tan faux leather. For colour in a fuller-sized chair, the Plumpton Armchair comes in denim blue or duck egg blue chenille, with a matching footstool in our footstools collection.

Bear in mind that the Cocoon and Reese are only around 70cm tall overall, with low backrests that are unlikely to give full head support. They're lovely for reading, but for a whole evening a high back armchair or recliner will suit you better.

High Back Armchairs

A high back armchair supports your head and neck as well as your back, which makes a real difference if you like to doze in your chair or you're on the taller side. Overall height is only a rough guide, though. What matters is whether the backrest reaches your head once you're seated, which depends on the backrest itself, the seat height and your own height.

Our recliners and riser recliners are the tallest chairs, at 98cm to 109cm overall. Of the non-reclining chairs, the Vegas Armchair and both swivel chairs stand 95cm tall, compared with 81cm for the Chestnut and about 70cm for the accent chairs. Where a backrest height is listed, compare that too, or better still, sit in the chair before you decide.

Leather Armchairs

Our leather armchairs all use leather-look materials rather than hide, which keeps prices lower and makes them easy to look after. Aire leather is a synthetic finish designed to feel softer and more breathable than standard faux leather, so it suits chairs you'll sink into for hours. You'll find it on electric recliners such as the Forbes, Vinson, Orlando, Sianna and Tech 8.

Our faux leather is a PU leather-look finish that's very easy to wipe clean, used on lower-priced models such as the Roma and Sorrentino recliners and the tan Reese. The Rio and the Logan Armchair combine it with jumbo cord. A leather armchair suits busy homes, as spills wipe away more easily than from most fabrics. Our sofa fabrics guide explains each material in more detail.

Fabric Armchairs

Fabric armchairs feel warmer and softer than leather-look chairs and come in far more textures.

• Chenille (Plumpton, Classic, Sorrentino, Naples) is soft with a slight sheen and feels cosy in winter.
• Micro fabric (Hanna, Hannan, Toronto) has a soft, smooth feel, and it wipes clean easily.
• Enzo fabric (Chestnut) comes with removable cushion covers.
• Plush velvet (Sloane) gives a richer look, and Kensington fabric (Broadgate) a smart, tailored one.
• Jumbo cord (Logan, Rio) adds chunky texture and a relaxed feel.

With pets or young children, micro fabric or removable covers are the more practical pick. If looks matter most, chenille, velvet and boucle give fabric armchairs a softer, more inviting feel.

Boucle Armchairs

Boucle is woven from looped yarn, giving it a nubbly, cloud-like texture that suits modern and Scandi-style rooms. Our boucle armchairs are the ivory Cocoon and the midnight blue Reese. Keep the loops away from sharp claws and give them a regular once-over with a soft vacuum brush. In a bedroom corner, a boucle armchair adds texture without taking up much space.

Grey Armchairs

Grey is the most common colour in our range, and a grey armchair is easy to pair with white, cream, navy and wooden floors. Alongside our grey models, such as the Vegas, Verona, Naples, Classic and Hanna, you'll find light grey suede on the Saxon, a darker slate on the Chestnut Slate and grey-black on the Logan and Rio. When matching a grey sofa, keep the undertones the same or pick a clearly different shade so the chair looks deliberate. Our guide on what colours go with a grey sofa has more ideas.

Cream Armchairs

A cream armchair creates a softer contrast than a dark chair, so it blends into rooms with neutral walls and flooring and helps a smaller room feel less crowded. The Chestnut Cream Armchair (£475) is a great choice because its cushion covers are removable, and the Cocoon gives a similar light tone in ivory boucle. For a slightly warmer shade, look at the beige Hanna or Memphis, or the Bertha and Carlton in Stone. Our cream sofa guide covers how to keep lighter colours looking fresh.

Black Armchairs

A black armchair gives a sharp contrast, especially as a living room armchair next to a lighter sofa. It disguises many everyday marks, although dust and light pet hair show up more. In fabric, there's the Broadgate Armchair in black Kensington fabric and the Chestnut Black in Enzo fabric. Most of our leather-look recliners come in black too, including the Roma, Sorrentino, Vinson, Forbes, Sianna, Orlando and Tech 8. In a darker room, balance black with lighter cushions or a pale rug.

Brown Armchairs

A brown armchair works particularly well with wooden furniture, natural materials and warmer colour schemes. The Chestnut Espresso Armchair and the lighter Chestnut Coco are both in Enzo fabric, and the Toronto electric recliner comes in brown micro fabric. The Reese in tan faux leather has a warm cognac tone, and the Sloane Armchair in mink plush velvet sits between brown and grey. Our brown sofa guide has additional styling ideas.

How to Choose Your Armchair

Start with what the chair is for. If you want a living room armchair for TV evenings, a recliner lets you put your feet up. For a reading corner or bedroom, an accent or fixed chair doesn't need extra clearance for reclining. In an open-plan room, a swivel chair can face both ways, and if getting up is becoming difficult, look at a riser recliner.

Next, think about who will sit in it. Taller people are usually more comfortable in a high back chair with a deeper seat, while a very deep seat may need an extra cushion for shorter legs, so check the seat depth on the product page. A lower seat feels more laid-back, and a higher one, such as the 51cm to 52cm seats on the Memphis, Sianna, Vinson and Saxon, is easier to get out of.

Finally, measure your room, doorways and stairs, remembering that recliners need space in front for the footrest. Then choose the upholstery that suits your household. If you can, come and sit in a few chairs at our showroom. Comfort is personal, and five minutes in a chair tells you more than any description.

How Big Is an Armchair?

Armchair type	Models in our range	Width	Depth	Height
Accent armchairs (the most compact)	Cocoon, Reese	75.5 to 82cm	75.5 to 86cm	69 to 70.5cm
Standard armchairs	Chestnut, Plumpton, Vegas, Logan	100 to 110cm	90 to 109cm	81 to 95cm
Swivel armchairs	Vegas Swivel, Verona Swivel	115cm	90cm	95cm
Manual recliners	Sorrentino, Roma, Rio, Classic	89 to 96cm	99 to 101cm	98 to 100cm
Electric recliners	Vinson, Saxon, Tech 8, Hanna, Hannan, Sianna, Forbes, Naples, Orlando	86 to 97cm	90 to 102cm	98 to 109cm
Riser recliners	Bertha, Carlton, Memphis	84 to 92cm	86 to 90cm	105 to 108cm

 

Reclining adds a lot of depth. The Forbes goes from 102cm deep upright to 165cm fully reclined, so allow for that in your layout. If you need a small armchair, the accent chairs take up the least floor space. Check each product page for its listed measurements, and see our sofa dimensions guide for how to measure your room and access.

Armchair Sale

If you're looking for cheap armchairs, our armchair sale is the place to start. The Sorrentino and Roma manual recliners are £299 (were £349), the Forbes and Vinson electric recliners are £399 (were £449 and £499), and the Broadgate and Sloane are £349 (were £429). Riser recliners are reduced too, with the Carlton at £449 (was £549) and the Bertha and Memphis at £499 (were £599). Offers change regularly, so check each product page for the current price, and browse our sale for reductions across the rest of our furniture.

Why Buy Armchairs from Furniture Direct Online?

We're a UK furniture retailer based in Ossett, West Yorkshire, delivering armchairs free across the UK mainland, often in as little as 5 days. A two-person team brings your chair to the room of your choice, seven days a week, with a 2-hour delivery window sent the day before.

To spread the cost, we offer flexible payment and finance options through providers including Snap Finance and DivideBuy, subject to eligibility. Our finance guide sets out each option. You can also add optional Loxa Product Protection, which covers accidental stains, accidental damage and structural defects.

Visit our showroom in Ossett or call 01924 279 403 for advice. When you're ready, buy your armchair online and we'll take care of the rest.

Armchair FAQs

What are armchairs?

An armchair is an upholstered chair for one person, with arms on both sides and padded seat and back cushions. It's designed for relaxing, and the term covers everything from small accent chairs to recliners and riser recliners.

Where can I buy armchairs?

You can buy armchairs in the UK from Furniture Direct Online, either online with free delivery to the UK mainland or in person at our Ossett showroom. Prices run from £299 to £599, with finance available.

What are armchairs made of?

Most armchairs have a wooden or metal frame, foam cushioning and an upholstery cover. Most of ours use hardwood or wooden frames, with metal frames on some recliners such as the Hanna and Sianna. Seats use high or medium-density foam, and covers include chenille, micro fabric, boucle, velvet, cord, Aire leather, faux leather and suede.

How to clean an armchair?

Vacuum it every week or two with a soft upholstery brush, and blot spills straight away with a clean, slightly damp cloth rather than rubbing. Check the care label before using any product, as removable covers, like those on the Chestnut and Logan, aren't always machine washable. Wipe leather-look upholstery with a damp cloth and keep it away from direct sunlight and radiators. Our guides on how to clean a fabric sofa and how to clean a leather sofa work for armchairs too.

How many cushions on an armchair?

Most armchairs have one seat cushion and one back cushion, though many recliners have padding built into the frame. One or two scatter cushions are usually plenty, as more eat into the seat depth. The Broadgate, Sloane and Chestnut each come with a cushion, and the Logan comes with three accent cushions.

What makes a comfy armchair?

A comfy armchair fits your body. The seat should support your thighs without pressing against the backs of your knees, with your feet flat on the floor. Look for foam that holds its shape, a back tall enough to support you where you need it, and arms at a height where your shoulders can relax. For many people, being able to recline makes all the difference.

How long do armchairs last?

A well-made armchair can last for many years, depending on how much it's used and how well it's looked after. The frame usually outlasts the foam and upholstery, so regular cleaning, plumping cushions and keeping the chair out of strong sunlight all help. On electric chairs, the mechanism matters too, which is why the Bertha and Carlton come with a 2-year motor warranty.

What is the most comfortable armchair for a bad back?

There isn't one chair that suits every back, but a few features are worth considering: even support that stops you sinking, a backrest that supports your lower back, a seat height that keeps your feet flat and sturdy arms to push up from. A recliner lets you change position through the day. If you have a back condition, ask your GP or physiotherapist what to look for before you buy.

What makes the best quality recliner chairs?

Look for a hardwood or metal frame, high-density foam designed to hold its shape under regular use, and upholstery that suits how you live. On electric models, check the motor warranty and the maximum user weight. Extras such as USB-C charging and LED lighting add convenience, but the frame, foam and mechanism matter most for how well the chair holds up.

What is the best chair to sit in for long hours?

For relaxing over long periods, an electric recliner works well, because you can adjust the angle whenever you start to feel stiff. For long hours of desk work, an adjustable office chair is a better fit, as armchairs aren't designed for sitting upright at a desk.

What are the most comfortable chairs for older people?

For many older people, a riser recliner can be a comfortable and practical option, combining a supportive, higher seat with a motor that helps you stand. Look for sturdy arms, a high back and simple controls. Our Bertha, Carlton and Memphis are all rise and recline chairs, and the Bertha and Carlton take a user weight of up to 150kg. A standard armchair for elderly relatives can work too, as long as the seat isn't too low or too deep.

Find Your Armchair Today

Browse our full range of armchairs from £299, from compact boucle accent chairs and swivel chairs to electric recliners and rise and recline models. Every chair comes with free delivery to the UK mainland, in as little as 5 days, and flexible finance options are available if you'd like to spread the cost. If you'd like to try before you buy, visit our Ossett showroom or call our team on 01924 279 403. When you've found the right one, shop armchairs online and we'll bring it straight to the room of your choice.