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The word chair comes from the Latin term “cathedra” or bishop’s seat. Over the years, chair design has evolved and various country style and modern chairs have come from different countries worldwide. Their shape, size, materials used and seating style can define each chair style. These pieces offer a warm dining experience and are perfect for working in the home office or relaxing after a long day. Here is a curation of 15 beautiful chair styles that are also highly functional and aesthetically pleasing.
1. Armchair
An armchair is a comfortable upholstered chair that supports the forearms or elbows. The asymmetrical design of the Jill armchair is softened by its gently curved arms and sweeping back. The chair looks different from every angle and is expertly crafted from pine wood, velvet upholstery and fine Italian leather.
Designer: arianeSke
2. Chaise Lounge
A ‘Chaise Lounge’ is an upholstered sofa or long chair-shaped seat long enough to support the passenger’s legs. Just see how Cobermaster Concept’s Gravity Chaise Lounge defies the laws of gravity. It features a fusion of art, design and engineering that complement each other to achieve balance.
Designer: Cobermaster Concept
3. Egg chair
Arne Jacobsen originally designed the Egg chair in 1959 for the Radisson SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, Denmark. Reminiscent of the shape of an egg, the base of this chair sits on a swivel base and is characterized by the smooth, rounded oval back and winged armchair design that nestles the passenger.
Designer: Arne Jacobsen (Dominique Rigo)
4. Wassily Chair
Designed by Hungarian architect and furniture designer Marcel Breuer in 1925, the Wassily chair is the first chair design to use tubular steel to form its frame. Based on the principle of form following function, Breuer reduced the classic club chair to its elemental lines and planes and revolutionized modernist furniture design.
Designer: Marce Breuer (Knoll)
5. Wishbone Chair
Hans Wenger designed the Wishbone chair in 1949 for Carl Hansen & Søn. Inspired by the thrones of Chinese emperors, the steam-bending back and handcrafted seat define the chair along with its comfortable yet minimalist design.
Designer: Hans Wenger (Carl Hansen & Son)
6. Chesterfield chair
The Chesterfield chair is a classic British upholstered seat that ensures optimum comfort. It has elaborately wrapped arms and buttoned upholstery, where a pattern of buttons in the same material decorates the back of the seat and is finished with nailhead upholstery.
Designer: The Chesterfield Company
7. Head Office
Reminiscent of folding chairs often used by directors on film sets, the “Director’s Chair” is a lightweight chair that folds side to side and mimics the action of scissors. It consists of a wooden frame, a paddle-shaped armrest and a folding base that makes it easy to move and remove when needed. Originally, the chair was made of canvas, but now leather is the preferred upholstery material.
Designer: The African Touch
8. Rocking chairs
A conventional rocking chair is built on two curved pieces of wood that allow the person to rock back and forth when sitting on it. Jan Waterson’s Velo Ash rocking chair is a sculptural work inspired by the seamless tubular construction seen in bicycle design. The rocking chair is ergonomic, while the Steam bent wood allows the passenger to bounce gently into their seat.
Designer: Jan Waterston (Curio)
9. Folding chairs
A folding chair is a convenient piece of furniture that saves space and can be folded away when not in use. It ensures easy storage and transport and is a perfect alternative to outdoor furniture. The simple, minimalist compact design of the Pad chair is made of several wooden strips joined together. It transforms effortlessly from a 2D shape to a 3D chair and looks like a wooden board or slab when closed.
Designer: Shaohan Yang
10. Reclining chairs
The reclining chairs have a movable structure with a footrest and backrest that can be retracted according to the comfort and requirements of the passenger. One can choose from simple manual recliners or those with technically advanced features like massage function, vibrator, automatic recline, etc. They are usually available in leather and artificial linings.
Designer: Karimoku Furniture
11. Acapulco chairs
The Acapulco chair is mid-century modern furniture that is deeply rooted in Mexican design. It consists of a woven pear-shaped pattern and handmade fibers that form the base of the seat.
Designer: Silla Acapulco
12. Swivel chairs
A swivel chair is a clever seat that turns from side to side around a central point, usually without moving the base or legs of the chair. A Seoul-based design firm, 250 Design, built the 5° chair. It is an office chair that can rotate 360°, tilt back and forward, and tilt from side to side to support posture and natural body movement.
Designer: 250 Design
13. Tulip chair
Designed by Eero Saarinen in 1956, the Tulip chair is an icon of postmodern furniture reminiscent of a flower and a stemmed wine glass. The one-legged chair is fashioned from a single material and describes Saarinen’s intentions to simplify the structure.
Designer: Eero Saarinen (Knoll)
14. Womb chair
Eero Saarinen designed the Womb chair in 1946, responding to Florence Knoll’s request to create a chair that would be like a basket full of cushions. Its sculpted shape suggests the natural shape of the womb, as many people have never felt comfortable and safe since leaving the womb. The chair and ottoman are designed to envelop the occupant and allow them to relax.
Designer: Eero Saarinen (Knoll)
15. Meditation Chair
Meditation chairs provide comfort, encourage good back alignment and relieve the pressure that gradually builds up on the back and legs when one tends to sit for long hours. Reminiscent of the traditional singing bowls used by Tibetan monks, the bowl-shaped “Goyo” chair features a smooth maple wood seat and base that encloses the occupant. The back and seat are angled and contoured to ensure comfort and allow one to meditate. Additionally, one can tap the bowl to hear soft, rippling sounds reverberate.
Designer: Lee Ye Chan
