How to Choose an Accent Chair for a Bedroom

On this page (8 sections)

1. What will you use the bedroom chair for?
2. How do you measure the space for an accent chair?
3. Which chair shape fits your bedroom?
4. How should you compare seat height, depth and back?
5. Which fabric and color suit the bedroom?
6. Bedroom accent chairs to compare
7. What should you check before buying?
8. How do you choose an accent chair for a bedroom?

Choose an accent chair for a bedroom by matching its shape and footprint to your main use. Measure the spot and the route into the room, then compare the chair's full dimensions, seat height, arms, back and fabric.

A chair for reading needs a different shape from one used briefly at a vanity or kept as an extra seat. The right choice should fit both your routine and the bedroom's walkways.

What will you use the bedroom chair for?

Choose a bedroom accent chair to match one main task, such as reading, getting dressed or seating a guest. That purpose helps you decide whether you need arms, a taller back or a chair with a smaller footprint.

For regular reading, look for a seat and back that let you settle into a position you like. Check the seat depth and height along with the back shape, and consider whether arms give you a comfortable place to rest your elbows.

For a dressing area, consider whether an armless profile can slide closer to a vanity. Check the height against the table and whether the chair can tuck away without blocking a drawer or closet door.

If you mainly need a spare seat, a compact chair may leave more floor space open. See our best reading chairs for bedrooms for options suited to longer reading sessions.

How do you measure the space for an accent chair?

Measure the chair's footprint, the walkway around it and the delivery route before choosing a style. A chair that fits on paper can still crowd a bedroom door, closet or bedside path.

Start with the available floor area. Mark the chair's width and depth with painter's tape or paper, then open nearby doors and drawers to see whether they clear the outline.

Check the full dimensions, including the chair's widest points. Arms can make a chair broader than its seat, while a rounded back may extend beyond the legs.

Measure the narrowest doorway and turn along the route from the entrance to the intended spot. Compare those measurements with the chair dimensions, and check how the chair will be carried or assembled in the room.

Leave enough space to sit down and stand up without moving the bed or nightstand. If the room is tight, compare compact shapes in our guide to armchairs for small spaces.

Which chair shape fits your bedroom?

Pick a chair shape based on how you sit and how much room you want it to occupy. A slipper chair has no arms, while a barrel chair wraps around the sitter with curved sides.

An armless slipper chair can suit a bedroom corner or dressing area where you want a simpler outline. Since it lacks arms, check that the back and seat shape suit the way you plan to sit.

A barrel chair has curved arms and a rounded profile. It can create a defined reading nook, though its shape may take more width than an armless chair.

A club or wingback chair gives you a more enclosed silhouette. Compare the chair's outside dimensions and back height with the wall and furnishings around it, rather than assuming a familiar style name means a particular size.

The main types of accent chairs guide can help you compare common shapes before you narrow down your bedroom options.

How should you compare seat height, depth and back?

Check seat height and depth against your body and furniture, because those measurements affect how you get in and out and where your feet rest. Compare the actual dimensions rather than choosing by a style label alone.

Seat height is the distance from the floor to the top of the seat cushion. If you plan to use the chair at a vanity or desk, compare its height with the table and think about where your knees will fit.

Seat depth affects how far back you can sit while keeping your feet on the floor. A deep seat may suit lounging, while a shallower one can feel easier to approach for a short sit.

Back height and shape matter if you want to lean back while reading. Check whether the back reaches the spot where you want support, and see whether the chair includes a separate cushion or pillow.

Use our guide to accent chair seat height to compare measurements, and see how to choose a reading chair for more on seat shape and back support.

Which fabric and color suit the bedroom?

Choose upholstery that fits the bedroom's colors and your care routine. Compare fabric texture and cleaning needs before deciding that one shade or material will work for everyday use.

A light or neutral fabric can blend with pale bedding and wood tones. A deeper color may stand out against a light wall, while a textured fabric can add contrast without introducing a new color.

Consider the chair's role in the room. A chair used for reading or daily dressing may need more frequent care than one kept mainly for occasional guests.

Check the care tag before cleaning upholstery. Our guide to accent chair fabrics and finishes explains how to think about fabric choices, while how to clean a velvet chair covers care for velvet upholstery.

Bedroom accent chairs to compare

The OLIXIS Comfy Accent Chair has the highest score among these 4 options, followed by the Yaheetech, Kromax and VIRRMO chairs. Compare their dimensions and features with your measurements and intended use.

OLIXIS Comfy Accent Chair

The OLIXIS has a mid-century style with rounded arms, taupe polyester upholstery and wood legs. Its dimensions are 31.5 in deep, 29.92 in wide and 34.65 in high.

OLIXIS describes an angled seat with high-density foam and metal springs. The chair has a metal frame and includes a cushion.

Consider it when you have room for a wider chair and want rounded arms. Measure the full width and depth before setting aside a corner.

Yaheetech Sherpa Barrel Chair, 25.5 In

The Yaheetech chair has a rounded barrel shape, ivory boucle fabric and curved armrests. It measures 25.5 in wide, 24.5 in deep and 28 in high.

Its seat measures 19 in wide and 20 in deep. The four tapered legs screw into the bottom without tools.

Consider it for a nook where you want arms and a curved silhouette. Compare its full footprint with the walkway beside the bed.

No-Screw Assembly Accent Chair

The Kromax chair has beige linen fabric, pillow-top arms and a wood frame with reinforced plastic legs. It measures 27 in deep, 29 in wide and 33 in high.

The seat cushion is 5 in thick, and the chair is designed for assembly without screws. Its padded arms may suit reading or other seated activities.

Consider it if you want arms and a straightforward assembly style. Its 29 in width needs more room than the VIRRMO or Yaheetech options.

VIRRMO Armless Slipper Chair

The VIRRMO is an armless slipper-style chair with beige linen fabric and rubberwood legs. Its dimensions are 28 in deep, 20.5 in wide and 30.5 in high.

It has a cushion back and a high backrest. The seat and back are tilted, and the chair requires assembly.

Consider it if you want an armless profile and its depth fits the available spot. Check the route into the room before ordering a chair that is 28 in deep.

What should you check before buying?

Confirm dimensions, intended use, upholstery care and assembly before you choose. These checks can catch a mismatch that a product photo or style name may not show.

• Measure the floor space, doorway and route into the bedroom.
• Compare the full chair width, depth and height with the spot.
• Match seat height and depth to your body and nearby furniture.
• Decide whether arms or an armless profile better suit the task.
• Check the fabric and care tag guidance for your cleaning routine.
• Review the assembly steps and the parts included.

If the chair will sit beside a bed or vanity, leave enough room to open drawers and walk through without shifting it. For a reading chair, think through where a lamp or side table will go before marking the final position.

How do you choose an accent chair for a bedroom?

Choose the chair by matching its footprint and shape to your main use. Pick an armless slipper chair for a simpler outline, a curved barrel chair for a defined nook, or a wider armchair if you have room to settle in and read.

Measure the spot and doorway, compare seat dimensions, and check fabric care before deciding. For more bedroom reading options, see our reading chair guide.

Frequently asked questions

How do I choose an accent chair for a bedroom?

Choose an accent chair for a bedroom by matching it to a specific use, such as reading, getting dressed or adding a guest seat. Measure the floor space and doorway, then check the chair's width, depth, height, seat height, arm shape and fabric care needs before you buy.

What size accent chair works in a small bedroom?

The right size depends on the clear floor area and the space you need to walk around the chair. Measure the chair's full width and depth, include room for its arms and any nearby table, and compare the footprint with the doorway and route into the bedroom.

Should a bedroom accent chair have arms?

Arms can give you a place to rest your elbows while reading, while an armless chair can be easier to move around or pair with a dressing table. Compare the chair's full width and how you plan to sit before choosing either shape.

What fabric is best for a bedroom accent chair?

The best fabric depends on the room's look and the care you're willing to do. Check the chair's care tag before cleaning, then compare fabric texture, color and upkeep with the bedroom's use.

Velvet, boucle, chenille and linen each create a different look and need care suited to their material.