Whether invoking images of an imposing, ornate, royal throne or a cozy, overstuffed lounger, the word armchair envelops a range of chair styles with a consistently adaptable feature. An armchair is very simply a chair with armrests. The chair is designed with a place to rest the arms. Although shapes, lines, and upholstery of the armchair can differ greatly, it will always include the one feature that lends itself to the name. The idea of the armchair was developed for comfort. Before the popularity of the French fauteuil designs during the reigns of Louis XIV and Louis XV, furniture was very stiff, hard, straight-edged, and often either not upholstered or upholstered over a crude shape. Furniture in the 18th century reflected more intricate designs, curved lines, ornate wood working, and comfort. The armchair is a common addition to a living room, bedroom, or library with a great variety in styles to fit any decor. Furniture showrooms will have a range of armchairs for a variety of decor themes.

Finding the type of armchair that will work with more traditional decor may be found in an antique store. However, because furniture stores are often limited by seasonal or promotional factors, a consumer may need to find alternatives buying avenues for their armchair shopping. egg swing chair babyFor wider exposure to a range of choices from contemporary to traditional, a shopper can go online to search. buy old barber chairAn online marketplace such as eBay offers a platform for comparing styles and upholstery with a range of pricing options.antique office chair wheels The traditional armchair design was initiated as a way to incorporate lounging into the design by softening edges and upholstery. ikea desk chair child

An ever growing middle class sought more practical and comfortable furniture which influenced the design. Early armchairs offer some of the most elegant, intricate, and refined designs. The fauteuil comfortable (comfortable armchair) grew in popularity in France under the reign of Louis XIV. buy reclining patio chairFrance quickly became a world leader and forerunner in the design of new furniture styles. chair cover rental york paA typical fauteuil is an armchair with open sides, exposed ornately carved wood, and graceful curved lines. salon chairs for sale in canadaThe chairs were lighter than more austere predecessors but very ornate. best folding chairs for apartment

The back, seat, and arms were all upholstered and bordered by the exposed wood frame. The bergere style armchair also originated during this period. A bergere chair is an upholstered armchair with closed sides (contrary to the open ones in a fauteuil). arts and crafts rocking chair for saleThe sides, back, and seat were all upholstered and the seat is wider and cushioned. Bergeres have a round back, squared back, curved back, or conical back (with no break at the arms). In contrast to the fauteuil, the bergere was designed to be a deep-seated, more comfortable version of an armchair that was traditionally upholstered entirely of silk. This wingback style of armchair was made popular in England in the 17th century. The wingback chair is taller than it is wide, with two side panels that extend from the back of the chair, in a winged shape. These panels connect to the closed-in arms.

Originally, the wingback style was developed to protect the person sitting in the chair from drafts or to protect delicate ladies from the heat of a fireplace. Wingbacks are upholstered completely, stuffed in the seat and back, with wooden legs exposed. Wingback chairs are commonly found in libraries and sitting areas. The Queen Anne style of armchair is considered a delicate version of the wingback chair. A Queen Anne chair has the same winged shape and extended side panels; however, the shoulders and the back of the chair droop slightly to give a more feminine look to the design. The legs are often a very ornate curved cabriole style (two curved shapes on one leg in two directions, convex and concave). The barrel chair or the barrel back armchair is a chair with a high, semicircular back which forms one conjoined, upholstered piece including the arms, back, and wings. The curved shape appears rounded, as in the shape of a part of a barrel. This type of armchair became popular in America in the late 19th century.

The barrel back will often be trimmed completely in wood, with wooden legs, an upholstered seat, and upholstered back and sides. Arms of the barrel back are often wooden. Made popular in the early 20th century, the club chair has a low backed, widely ample seat design and is most often completely upholstered in leather. This style of armchair was most typically found in English gentlemen's clubs, hence the name of the chair. Lines of the chair can be both rounded, including rounded arms and a rounded back, or very straight with completely angled arms and a square back. The mid-century modern design era introduced new styles and artistic interpretation on architectural structures, graphic design, interiors, and object design such as furniture. In the following table a list of some of the more prominent modern armchairs along with their descriptions are presented.high curved back and round bottom; upholstered steel frame with steel exposed base Lightweight, sturdy, sculpted chair, with welded steel in complete diamond shape (with the sides of the diamonds bent for arms);

diamond shapes created the wired seat basket and back; upholstered covers fit over the seat basket. Curved design to envelop the sitter; rounded back that transform on the sides of the chairs into armrest interior to the chair; original was upholstered foam covering the fiberglass womb shape; four steel, exposed legs Boxy, very clean lines; squared-edge take on club chairs; completely upholstered with steel, exposed legs. Leather, cube shaped armchairs with low backs with and exposed external steel frame and legs. The mid-century modern armchair is reflective of the sway of the popular designers of the era. Although comfort was rarely compromised, the designs were enhanced by flowing, curving shapes, or very straight simple lines. Unique for the time, the traditional influence of the armchair is still evident in most mid-century modern designs, intertwining the traditional with the modern and the comfortable with the unique. The contemporary armchair replaced the exposed and ornate wood designs with straight lines or complete upholstery.

Contemporary versions of the traditional and modern armchair are often upholstered in microsuede or patterned fabrics which set the chairs apart as an accent to other larger pieces of furniture. Although, historically, armchairs encourage lounging and comfort, a faction of contemporary armchairs, often called occasional chairs, include scaled down, smaller, slimmer versions of the very comfortable, overstuffed traditional armchairs. Armchair shopping can begin in a physical furniture showroom or antique boutique that will actually have various armchair styles on display. You are able to touch fabrics and view different shapes and styles; however, inventory and styles at these locations are limited to the showroom availability and selected furniture manufacturers. Beginning an armchair search online provides exposure to a variety of designer styles to determine which styles may work best with your home decor. Shopping for an armchair in an open marketplace such as eBay offers variety and the ability to easily compare styles or sizes without having to travel from showroom to showroom.

To locate armchairs on eBay, you can begin with a general search for armchairs originating from the eBay homepage. If this search is too broad, it can easily be narrowed by entering more specific search terms and details. For example, you can narrow your search by upholstery type such as leather armchairs or linen armchairs. The more tailored your search, the more listings you can review that fit your specific preferences. Before purchasing any piece of furniture, having a better understanding of the floor space and the current furniture landscape will help guide the decision when picking out key pieces of furniture, such as an armchair. Unlike a larger sofa, armchairs are very versatile, can be easily moved into various places either in a room or from one room to another, and fit into any decor plan with relative ease. The armchair has been popular for centuries, initially to enhance boudoirs and sitting rooms, and later moving into the spotlight in clubs, parlors, and living rooms.