Bedroom Reading Corner — Chair Options
I have almost all of the main selections made for our bedroom — wallcoverings, draperies, bedside tables, table lamps, headboard fabric (still deciding on headboard shape), and area rug. Last week, I shared a mock up of what I envision the room looking like.
Again, that bed frame is not what I envision. I’m still working out that detail, but I just needed a bed that was easy to copy and paste into my mockup.
While most everything has been selected, and most everything has been purchased (or plans are in place to make/build the items), I still need two big pieces for the room — a dresser and a chair for my reading corner. I’ve been keeping an eye on Facebook Marketplace for a dresser that I can purchase and paint, and while I’ve kind of been keeping an eye out for a chair as well, I really don’t want to purchase a chair that I’d have to reupholster. While I’m fully capable of reupholstering a chair (especially with my mom’s help), I really don’t want to have to do that. Upholstering is one of my least favorite things to do.
So I had planned to go to a couple of local furniture stores as well and see if they have anything I like, and check out the custom fabric selections. But then this weekend, I got an email about Interior Define’s Presidents Day sale. Everything is 20% off right now (or 25% off, if you purchase above a certain dollar amount), so I was anxious to see if they had anything that would work.
This is not sponsored (although all links to their products in this post are affiliate links). I just really like Interior Define. That’s where I bought our sofa for the living room, and I absolutely love that sofa. We have the James sofa in the 88″ length, 40″ depth, single cushion with down alternative (affiliate link).
That sofa is a heavy, solid piece of furniture that looks as good today as it did the day it was delivered. I selected velvet in the Galaxy color, and it has been amazing. My cat hasn’t destroyed it, even though she’s tried.
Since I’ve been so pleased with that sofa, I was hopeful that they’d have a chair I could use in my reading corner. Well, they have several that will work! I’ve already ordered ten fabric samples, but I want to go ahead and purchase a chair during their sale so I can take advantage of those savings. They have a “buy now, choose later” option so that you don’t have to choose the fabric right away. You can go ahead and purchase the piece, take advantage of the savings, and then choose the fabric later once you get the samples and can take time to make the decision.
Anyway, they have several chairs that I think will work in my reading corner, and I need to narrow these down to the one. While I ordered ten different fabric samples, I’m going to show each chair in the four main colors that I think may work in our bedroom. They’re all velvet. The white is Blizzard. The green is Celadon. The light blue is Spa, and the coral is…well…it’s Coral.
This first one is Rose Accent Chair (affiliate link). I really like the rolled arms and the cute front legs with the casters.
This next one is the Lennox Petite Chair (affiliate link) with the oiled walnut legs with brass caps.
This next one is the Ella Slipcovered Petite Chair (affiliate link). For some reason, it only comes in three of the four colors. I didn’t see an option for the cream color (Blizzard).
And then there’s this version, which is the Ella Petite Chair (affiliate link) that has the feet.
This next one was the first one to catch my eye. This is the Caitlyn Petite Chair (affiliate link) with the walnut legs with gold caps.
That one also comes with the option of these pretty turned legs, and y’all know I love turned legs! These are the oiled walnut color.
This next one is very similar, but it also comes in only three of the four colors. This is the Sloan Petite Chair (affiliate link). I didn’t see a Coral option in this chair. Perhaps I overlooked it.
It also comes with the turned legs option.
And finally, there is this Sloan Slipcovered Petite Chair (affiliate link).
So I think I’ve narrowed the options down to those chairs for my reading corner in the bedroom. Again, I’ll wait until I get the fabric samples to choose the color, but I want to choose the chair today. If I had to choose right this minute, I think my favorite is the Caitlyn Petite Chair. That looks like a chair I could sink into with a good book.
I’ve already taken the chair measurements and marked it out on the bedroom floor, along with the placement of the bed, and there’s plenty of room for it. There’s plenty of room for any of these chairs in that corner of the room. It will leave about 60″ (five feet) between the chair and the corner of the bed, which is more than enough room to pass through easily. So I’m really not constrained by a lack of space. And it will also leave plenty of room for a dresser on that wall.
I do keep thinking about an ottoman, though. I’ll want something to rest my feet on when I’m sitting there. And while there’s plenty of room for a chair, I don’t know that there’s room for a chair plus an ottoman. And that leaves one more option — this Sadie Recliner (affiliate link).
The shape of the chair isn’t my favorite, but I love the idea of having a recliner that doesn’t look like an obvious recliner. And having a recliner instead of requiring an ottoman would save room.
So those are the options I’m mulling over. I want to make this decision by the end of the day and get the order placed so I don’t miss out on the sale. I should be getting the fabric samples in the next couple of days.
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
The Caitlyn Petite is a no brainer. Comfort all the way. If I am reading sometimes I close my eyes for a few :-). And THAT is the chair that works 🙂
If you’re asking my first choice is the Rose Accent chair then my 2nd choice is the Caitlyn chair. Either will look great in your room.
I second this! That Rose chair is gorgeous and looks luxurious and so, so comfy.
The Rose Accent Chair is the only one I would want for reading (the height and shape of the arms is what makes it for me!) I like the idea of a recliner, but the arms on the Sadie don’t work for me at all.
I agree about the arm! I’m short (5’3″) and I dislike a tall arm as I feel “trapped” as though I’m tied up in a rope! No tall arms for me!
Me too! I’m 5′ and feel the same way. Definitely Rose for me!
I have a wingback recliner in my bedroom and it is great to be able to sit down, lift my feet up, and relax. You absolutely will want to do that, so it seems to be a no-brainer to go with a recliner if you don’t have room for an ottoman. The color is another matter; any of those colors would work, but which one will really lift your spirits every time you see it?
I have a recliner in our bedroom reading nook. I love the option of raising my legs. We used to have a chair with an ottoman instead and it seemed we were always pushing the ottoman aside. I am team recliner all the way!
I understand your choice of a chair. However. I would choose the recliner because if you settle in to read you will want to put your feet up. The style reminds me of your sofa that you love.
I know you have to pick your favorite so guess we will see
I love all of them! I never thought I would say this, but a recliner is the way I would go. I love having my legs up. It is a great place for a quick nap or reading. You have some beautiful choices. Good luck!🍀
I don’t know why the skinny legs on some of these chunkier chairs look so funny to me. The chairs look high-end and nice, but I can’t get over the legs they put on some of them.
I agree, the turned legs look out of proportion. I have lots of chair options for relaxed reading and I choose my recliner over the ottomans every time. The arms are squared off on the recliner and I find it more comfortable because rolled arms are typically higher which for me feels awkward while holding a book.
Agree! Those legs look like they would snap if moved wrong! They should be a lot chunkier!
Oh so many wonderful chairs. So many beautiful colors. A recliner would be nice, but the chair you picked out is yummy. Measure out the area for an ottoman because that would be wonderful. It would just be more comfortable-looking. That chair looks so much better than the recliner. Does the place have a store where you can go sit in all the chairs to try them out or is it just an online store? How exciting!
Have a great week. You know it is supposed to get bitter cold on Tuesday so stay warm.
There’s a brick-and-mortar store in Dallas, but I probably wouldn’t make the trip for a chair.
Turned legs for sure. No skinny legs on anything. Some of the chairs look too formal for the room. You can always build a skinny ottoman to match your chair. Just order extra fabric. I’m finished this time!
I agree, skinny ottoman. My living room is small so I would just set my ottoman on the side of the chair when not using it. Mine has a hard top with some fabric so I can also use it to set a drink on when I’m in that chair.
I would choose the recliner not only for lifting the feet but also for resting the head if you doze off or even if you are relaxing for a while. Another thing I would consider is the height of the arms. The Rose Accent arms seem to be pretty low for armrests if the seat is as firm as it looks.
I like both Ella chairs and the Sloan the best, I think because I love how they coordinate with the l/r sofa. I have sofas and love seats in the den, rec room and living room and have them upholstered (except for one that needs done) to coordinate with each other, and had slipcovers made in off white denim so they can also all match if I want. And lots of throw pillows in various colors so I ca. Mix and match as desired!
You’re my go-to color girl. I’m an old redhead and thought only us redheads love and live with color the way you do! I’m not 1/2 as brave or confident as you are and not skillful at all but I do love color.
Have a great week!
MKH
I love the Rose chair. I have a similar (cheaper, not custom) chair that I literally live in! I love the wider seat and the lower arms and the t-cushion allows for curling up, with a place to rest your ankles. I have a medical need to elevate my legs throughout the day, and a very small amount of space, so I got (again, cheap) small storage stools with flip tops that can serve as side tables. For me, they work perfectly, and are easy to move out of the way or slide to the front of my chair, as needed. I store my daily vitamins in the one by my chair for easy access and the height is ideal. I will be customizing them at some point. Currently, they are generic light grey/birch.
A chair purchase is far more than deciding on the basis of how it looks. The chair has to fit You. (Personally, I would not buy a chair I haven’t sat on.)
Since you are short, the front to back seat measurement is important to consider if your legs are also short. If you compare the options with your couch and/or your living room chairs, assuming you are comfortable when sitting on them, how do these different chairs compare? Is there a way to find out how deep the seats measure?
Are the side pillows on the Caitlyn model affixed or are they loose? That’s another measurement to consider to be comfortable sitting and not feel squeezed. Depends on your body type.
I like the Lennox and Ella because the back pillow is not higher than the chair back. Ms. Rose is cute. Softer lines are appealing. I think you would want a pillow behind your back. A small hassock would be easy enough to have made if you could purchase the same fabric as the chair. I don’t care for the recliner design at all. Stopped me cold.
Love the Caitlyn in coral! I would get a cute little pouf you can use as a side table when not sitting there or as a footstool when you are. I don’t like the options with upholstery all the way down to the floor. Can’t wait to see what you pick
I’m in the slipcovered chair camp – favorites are the Ella or the Sloan! They would welcome the added details in a special kidney pillow and a beautiful throw draped over the back…
And, i love the idea of the light blue/green coloration to stand out from the white wainscoating without unbalancing that elevation with too much color pop, and it picks up the teal grasscloth hue with sublime serenity! Let those cozy accents of a pillow and/or a throw be a delightful focal within the chair…it’s those soft details that delight in the bedroom for me! Besides, think how fun it would be to choose those accents to pop from the chair while adding another stimulating pattern/color/texture to the room.
I’m with you on the legs on these chairs – they look too small/skinny to visually support the proportions of the chairs I’m seeing them on. And the block feet on the one chair adds too much chunkiness in a home that upholds beautiful legs/details throughout.
Definitely the recliner. I love the coral.
I love the “Rose accent” chair!
They’re all beautiful chairs, but I think the seat depth on that rolled arm chair would be too deep for you as a petite woman! I love that orange color on all the chairs.
The only one I like is the Rose Accent Chair, and I would pick either Coral or Green. I never seem to like chairs in Stone, and the blue – I think there will be enough blue in the room. If it were me, I’d want a chair and a half, or a recliner, but I absolutely do not like the look of recliners these days! (We did buy a recliner in September, but I’m not crazy over it. It was a sale priced floor sample in the perfect green leather to match our room!) My daughter bought a chair and a half, and I love it for curling up in! I also purchased a unique chair – the back reclines, but there is no foot/leg rest. It has a matching ottoman that is sold separately which we also bought, and chose custom upholstery for it. I had never seen a reclining chair like this. But I discovered after it was delivered that the cushions are not reversible, and had I realized, I would not have bought it. I do like that it doesn’t look like a recliner though!
Saw the Jude recliner. Would that scale work better?
All of them are really pretty but I vote recliner! The ottoman will be a thorn in your side. I wouldn’t do white because it will show dirt quickly. Love the coral color!
I guess I’m Team Recliner since I’m on my 7th set of matching recliners since 1972. Can’t stand to sit with my feet down. Love to sit upright with my feet up. I can read, do needlework, watch TV and get all 4 cats on the arms, back & my lap.
The coral color is beautiful! I must say, having a pouf is a good alternative since they are not space hogs.
I’m with Crystal on the recliner for the exact same reasons! I love cuddling up with my two kitties and a good book in the evenings, and my recliner while petite, holds all three of us! I’m also a fan of the coral.
I have a chair in my bedroom reading nook and cannot tell you how much I love it. Mine has an ottoman which I preferred since, like you, none of the recliners I saw really appealed to me. I got an ottoman with storage and I love it. And yes, I do push it aside when I’m not using it but it’s a cute design so looks fine off to the side. If you really don’t like the looks of the recliner there are so many cute small ottomans that might fit your room.
I would suggest: Go small in your bedroom, especially if you want an ottoman. Not white!
You can always get a little (vintage?) brocade-covered footstool and set it in front of the chair when you are settling in! I am short and that’s what I do at my own bedroom chair. I really like the non matchyness and the ease of moving something small and light. I just set it to the side of my chair when not in use.
As for which chair YOU should get, well, I’ll leave that to you, but encourage you to make it one without the super square flat topped arms bc those just don’t look expensive to me 🙂
I like the Rose best because when I’m reading I like to tuck my legs up, and also kind of hang over the arm. It is wide enough to do that (I like to be comfy) whereas the others are more confined with upright arms. I find ottomans sometimes just get in the way of getting up/around, but an ottoman might not be necessary for that style. Any of the colors would be beautiful!
I’d go with the recliner. I always have my feet up, I wouldn’t use a chair very often that wasn’t a recliner or a chair with an ottoman. My second choice would be the Caitlyn Petite Chair, I like the height of the arms and the subtle curves along the arms.
I bought my Lazyboy recliner nearly 20 yrs ago because it didn’t look like one, and it has a lifetime guarantee on the mechanism. I can attest to the fact it’s still in fabulous shape. The first one, the Rose I think, has my favorite feet with casters. In fact I love all the ones with the thinner legs, the ones that sit right on the floor not so much. Since you’re short, I’d advise getting an ottoman or a recliner.
As I started reading the post I kept thinking, but what about your legs? Then you came to the recliner. If you really don’t have room for any kind of ottoman then my vote is the recliner. I just can’t settle to read without my legs up and so fear without that ability the chair would just become a dumping zone for clothes. But that could just be me. Beautiful colour options.
I like the Caitlin Petite Chair the best and it looks like it would be so comfortable for reading with the two arm pillows. I do know what you mean about having an ottoman though. Have you considered getting the Conor Square Stool Ottoman in the same fabric and just parking it between the dresser and the chair when you’re not sitting and reading? It’s only 18″ square and the same height as the Caitlin’s seat.
Are you planning on having some kind of side table by your chair in order to set down a drink, put a lamp, etc…? If you are, you might be able to have a small ottoman that would fit underneath a small table. That way you could get the comfier looking chair and still be able to put your feet up. I’d say go with the recliner because you will want to put your feet up but the one you have shown, I don’t like the squared arms as they don’t look as comfortable as the other chair.
As far as color, get what makes you happy but think about the other colors in the room. I know you said you were looking for coral color lamps and the rug is mostly coral/orange. If you got coral, is that going to be too much of it in the room? I love the green but can’t seem to picture it in the room. It seems like it would look out of place. I think the blue would be pretty. Just my opinions. You’ll know more, I think, once you get the fabric samples.
Something I’ve not seen mentioned, or perhaps I overlooked, in any of the comments about recliners is that you need to make sure you have plenty of room behind it for reclining. It may not be a problem for you since you on the petite side and the back of the one you’re considering may not be too tall, therefore not need as much space. I looked at one for two years before I bought it. I have a long torso so I needed a tall one. When I got it home I realized a bit too late it was too big for the room; the reclining space needed to keep the back from hitting the wall kept the chair too far out into the room and ate up a lot of floor space.
Just something for you to consider.
My vote would be the recliner, or any of the chairs with at least a little petite footstool on casters. As for color, I think you’ve got enough of the coral going on, so I’d personally prefer the green or the blue. I suspect the blizzard will end up looking dingy against the wainscoting.
I personally like the Lenox petite. But I’m small so it looks best to me. Jmho. But I know whatever you go with will be beautiful. I do love the coral the best. To me it will offset all the heavy teal that will be in the room. I can’t buy a chair without sitting in it. I’m too short to go that route. I bought a flex steel (after sitting in it at store) got it home, and I hate it. I dont sit up in a chair like most people, I’m curled up in them, so it’s difficult for me to get a comfortable chair. But thats just me being short 😁😁
Next best to me would be a recliner. I can’t sit in a regular chair without some movement of the back to lean back in.
Get the chair with the taller back if it’s planned for use in a reading corner. As one who spends a lot of time reading, I speak from experience: a lower-backed chair quickly becomes uncomfortable and encourages slumping and slouching, which strains the thoracic/lumbar spine area and the shoulders and neck area. If you spend any time at all in a chair, you need both comfort and support.
What I wouldn’t give to be able to find a chair like the one we had in the late 1960s/early 1970s. It was a tall, deep armchair with a sewn-in extra cushion on the front of the chair back. That thing was really comfortable. These days, it seems like most chairs and sofas have low backs; they look terrific and are terrible to sit in for very long.
Get the recliner!
The Rose accent was an easy pick for me. BUT, if you want a recliner, better go with that! There are those that pull their feet up under them to sit and be cozy, and there are those who recline. If you know which you are, it’s best to accommodate yourself.
Hands down the Rose Accent Chair in spa. It’s gorgeous. The Caitlyn is nice but looks crowded.
Obviously the color swatches will tell you the best color for your space. But in a vacuum, Rose chair in spa is absolutely gorgeous.
I have a recliner in our little nook in the bedroom. The nook itself is a bit unusual–kind of like a bay window. I *love* having a recliner in there and use it all the time.
If the chair wasn’t in your bedroom, I would go with the recliner. But if you really want to read and put your feet up, just read in bed. So, I vote for absolutely the Caitlyn!
I vote recliner. I’m almost always function over form, but the form ain’t bad!
I recently shopped for a “reading” chair and purchased a recliner. It’s not my favorite look but functionality is way more important. I’m only 5’4″ so don’t need a super deep chair and also I want to be able to rest my head on the back of the chair. I also wanted an ottoman. The recliner is perfect for the head and feet. And, I ended up purchasing a decorative pillow which helps with depth comfort.
Just my two cents – I like any of them except the first, because of the lack of arm rests — well, USABLE arm rests. I love having places to prop up my arm in a reading chair! 🙂 The Buy Now, Decide Later is a fantastic option – I wish more places did that!