Chairish Blog

Choosing the Right Material for Lounge Chairs

Burnt cayenne colored B&B Italia Mario Bellini lounge chair and sofa in a Spanish revival style home

When selecting your preferred material for a lounge chair, there’s no shortage of things to consider. Namely: comfort, durability, maintenance, and style. Here, we dig into each of these factors to help you choose the right material for your lounge chair!

Comfort

Ultimately, the material you choose should feel good against your skin. Whether that’s a cool and smooth material like leather or velvet, or a woven, breathable fabric like Sunbrella or linen, is up to you. Sometimes comfort comes in the form of knowing your chair isn’t covered in something precious. In these cases, vinyl or cowhide can be an excellent option. 

Durability

Considering how much you plan to use your chair will make help you make a call on fabric. If your chair will be used every day, you may want to head to the more durable end of the fabric spectrum, populated by materials like leather. (Fun fact: in case you didn’t know, leather accent chairs actually get better with age!) Synthetic materials like polyester and nylon are also durable and relatively easy to clean. 

Style

The material you choose for your lounge chair should also pay homage to your personal style. Leather is a traditional material that can skew traditional and classic as well as rustic and casual. Velvet is perfect for those who crave a high-end luxury look. (Bonus: it easily partners with popular styles like contemporary, Mid-Century Modern, Hollywood Regency, and Art Deco.) Linens and cotton are the epitome of easy, laid-back living. Use them in coastal-inspired and shabby chic style spaces. 

Climate

If you live in a hot and humid climate, such as the South, you may want to consider a material that is breathable and lightweight, such as cotton or linen. On the other hand, if you live in a chilly climate, you may want to consider a material that is warm and cozy, like boucle, sheepskin, or velvet.

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Lead design by Night Palm / Photo by Pablo Enriques

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