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When the world feels overwhelming (and it feels overwhelming quite a bit these days, doesn't it?), few things feel better than curling up in your favorite reading chair with a good book.
TL;DR:
The best reading chairs should be comfortable and inviting for long reading sessions.
Consider your body proportions and preferences when choosing a reading chair.
Look for chairs that offer customization options for style and comfort.
Options range from budget-friendly picks to high-end, luxurious designs.
Popular brands like Maiden Home, Inside Weather, and Allform offer top-quality reading chairs.
When the world feels overwhelming (and it feels overwhelming quite a bit these days, doesn't it?), few things feel better than curling up in your favorite reading chair with a good book.
The best reading chairs serve as welcome invitations to kick back, relax, and get lost in a great story while forgetting the day's troubles. And they should be comfortable enough to support you through even the longest, most epic narratives.
But what's comfortable for someone else might not be comfortable for you, so it's important to consider your needs and ergonomic preferences before committing to a reading chair for the long term.
What Makes a Perfect Reading Chair?
According to Lianne Leventhal, interior designer and owner of Beyond the Common, “The best reading chair is one that’s comfortable for you based on your body proportions and preferences."
"In general, reading chairs should look and feel inviting and comfortable. In my opinion, the most important thing is that a reading chair has arms that are comfortable and wide enough in case you want to place a book, snack, or beverage on it or comfortably lean on them.”
The Nomad Fabric Armchair
Of course, agood reading chair should also look great, elevating your interior design with beautiful pieces without sacrificing comfort.
Finding a reading chair that checks all of your style and comfort boxes can certainly be a challenge. Here, we're highlighting the very best reading chairs based on factors like style, comfort, and price point to help you create the kind of peaceful reading retreat you and your household deserve.
The 16 Best Reading Chairs for Any Space and Budget
Explore this curated selection of reading chairs and learn the benefits of changing your everyday chair to a good nook chair to read your favorite stories.
1. Park Swivel Armchair
Brand: Albany Park
Price: $779
The Park Swivel Armchair is perfect for kicking back with a good book. It's designed for comfort and features a deep seat with fully upholstered back and seat cushions that offer cloud-like comfort. The chair can also turn 360 degrees, so you can change the view and perspective of your room at any moment. The seat cushion is removable, and all cushions are supported by a webbing and spring suspension system.
The Park Armchair is a statement piece available in a range of upholstery options: velvet, bouclé, vegan leather and grey fabric. The vegan leather has a black mesh backing for leather breathability in all cushions.
The Downing Chair from Maiden Home is a stellar addition to any household. It features a plush, comfortable seat and a versatile design. It's highly customizable, allowing you to choose from luxe upholstery like mohair, leather, and performance-textured linen. It can be purchased with a matching ottoman to help you create the ultimate relaxing reading nooks.
According to Andra DelMonico, lead interior designer for Trendey, “The Downing Chair looks elegant and doesn’t immediately scream 'reading chair,' making it perfect for placing in your hallway nook, under the stairs, or in the living room.”
If you are into Mid-Century Scandinavian style, The Vela Chair is the reading chair for your place. Combining soft angles, clean lines, and a reclined position, this chair offers maximum comfort and timeless style. Available in two premium finishes, solid ash wood and quality upholstery, the Vela Chair provides a dark or light accent to your space. Plus, with its easy, tool-free assembly, you can dive into your reading before the delivery box even hits the floor.
Crafted with a standout ergonomic design, this comfortable chair hugs your body with its curved cushions and a tilting backrest that adapts to your posture. Made with high-quality materials, including solid ash wood legs and molded plywood with ash wood veneers, this chair promises both durability and a premium finish.
If you have particular style needs, you'll love this accent chair from Interior Define for its nearly limitless customization options. You can choose everything from the style and finish of the legs to the cushion fill and upholstery.
The upholstery comes in virtually every color of the rainbow and materials, ranging from performance plush velvet to heathered weave, making it easy to find the perfect hue to complement your aesthetic. The seat cushion's medium depth means the chair will feel comfortable for a wide range of body types.
One of the best reading chairs for large spaces, this beauty's ample size is ideal for all-day lounging. Yoselin Castro, senior interior designer at Mackenzie Collier Interiors, particularly recommends it for open-concept rooms:
"If the reading chair is being added to an open-concept room, a ‘chair and a half’ can be ideal for the space. These types of chairs are usually slightly larger in size and have a seat width that can accommodate up to two people (snuggly). [This chair from Maiden Home] is a perfect example and suitable option for someone working with ample space.”
With its tufted back cushion and matching ottoman, the Slope Nomad Armchair features a modern design that will look fresh for years. In addition to being beautiful, the chair is an especially great option for busy households that see a lot of traffic.
The upholstery's tight olefin fiber weave is resistant to stains and scratches, making it ideal for households with pets or little ones. It has a built-in USB charger and power cord, so you can easily charge your reading devices. This chair is easy to assemble and offers plenty of customization options, including wood or metal legs.
With its clean lines and elegantly simple silhouette, this Mid-Century inspired accent chair will enhance any room it lives in. You can choose from performance fabric upholstery in a variety of hues, or opt for a rich brown or black leather chair. Allform's modular design also means you can pair this armchair with other pieces in its collection anytime.
Even better, the chair's hardwood frame comes with a lifetime warranty, so it's truly built to withstand the test of time. And you can enjoy it all risk-free thanks to the brand's free trial, which lets you try it out for 100 days—if you're not fully satisfied, you can return it for a full refund, no questions asked.
A favorite of Lianne Leventhal, interior designer and owner of Beyond the Common, this modular chair is a conversation starter. It belongs to Inside Weather's 100% modular Bondi collection, which means you can customize the design by purchasing matching sectionals and ottomans to find the perfect arrangement for your space.
This comfortable reading chair has plenty of color options. It comprises an FSC-certified solid ash hardwood frame and a 100% recycled down alternative, so it's equal parts durable, sustainable, and customizable. Each cushion and pillow has a removable cover for easy washing and nylon casings, offering a water-resistant shield.
“This chair is super comfy and has a really small profile for a small space," raves Danielle Driscoll, interior designer and editor of Finding Silver Pennies. The swivel chair's small footprint means it's great for enjoying a good book in a small reading nook, but it's so comfortable you'll feel like relaxing in a much more oversized chair.
The seat cushion is composed of soy-based polyfoam wrapped in down-proof ticking for a cloud-like experience, while the 360-degree swivel function means you won't strain your neck when you turn around and tell your family that you'll need at least 30 more minutes with your book.
Meet the Ming Recliner Chair, where old-school comfort gets a modern makeover. This isn't your grandfather's recliner—think sleek, stylish lines and an easy-to-use push-back mechanism that reveals a hidden footrest. Whether you're diving into a new novel or binge-watching your favorite series, the Ming Recliner is a cozy reading chair that promises unparalleled relaxation.
Customization is key with this chair. With over 130 upholstery materials and color options, you can tailor it to your unique style. For a personalized experience, you can also choose a metal base from standard or extra height. And if you're looking to support local artisans, this piece of furniture is handcrafted in America with kiln-dried FSC-certified wood as the frame material.
Crafted with a solid wood frame, this accent chair's long, tapered legs give it a hint of retro flair. Its clean silhouette and deep-seated design will let you comfortably curl up for hours with your favorite book.
Speaking of comfort, the velvet upholstery is oh-so-soft. It comes in five neutral hues, including light gray, rust, and dark blue, so it can complement diverse color palettes. At less than $600, it's one of the more budget-friendly options on this list.
The Meriwether Chair is an excellent choice for ultimate comfort, perfect for diving into your favorite book. Its layered, double-seat cushions and feather blend fill it, whispering "sink into me" from the moment you see it. The relaxed, loose pillow cushions add a touch of laidback warmth, creating an ideal ambiance for long reading sessions. The deep seat is perfect for getting lost in a novel or enjoying a cozy read with your family, pets included!
Accompanied by two throw pillows, this oversized chair features removable, reversible cushions for easy fabric care, ensuring your reading nook stays fresh and inviting. With all legs removable and no assembly required, this chair integrates effortlessly into any home.
Recliner chairs are a reading nook's best friend, offering effortless comfort that's perfect for a rainy afternoon spent digging into a good book. And this option from BenchMade Modern looks as good as it feels.
“The Gough Recliner Chair is nice because it has a high back and supportive arm rails," said DelMonico. "Its curved design helps give it an ergonomic shape for maximum support.” The chair also comes with a discrete footrest for extended comfort, which you can neatly tuck under the chair when you're not using it.
Just looking at this cushy chair from Article makes us want to stop what we're doing and sink into it for hours. Its soft, sumptuous curves are trendy and inviting, and the three neutral colors it comes in—black, white, and gray—will never go out of style.
If you want to make a statement, style it with a cozy throw blanket and a nearby plant or two for an instant reading nook, or use it as an accent chair in your home office when you need to relax and recharge.
You can't go wrong with a good club chair, especially when it looks as great as this one. Featuring oak wood legs and luxe upholstery, the chair is highly durable, while the two hues it comes in—olive and blonde ash—can easily work with all sorts of home decor.
The chair's airy silhouette makes it a particularly great fit for small spaces, since it won't visually overwhelm a room. Still, it's the kind of chair that will truly work with any space, whether it's a teeny reading nook or an expansive, open-concept living room.
When it comes to affordable design, it's tough to beat IKEA. The company consistently offers beautiful, design-forward options at budget-friendly prices, like this timeless armchair. The chair's bentwood frame, curved armrests, and high back make it comfortable for long reading sessions in your nook, but the versatile design makes it equally well as a living room, sunroom, or home office accent.
The designer-approved chair also happens to live in the home of Danielle Driscoll, interior designer and editor of Finding Silver Pennies, so purchasing one would put you in great company: “We actually just bought one for our sunroom. It's so comfortable and it's a great price.”
Once you decide on theperfect reading chair, it's time to figure out where to place it. If you're like many people, then reading can be a challenge when you're surrounded by noisy distractions. As a recommendation, Andra DelMonico suggests placing your reading chair in a quiet space in your home. This could be in the bedroom, office, or living room. It could even be a small nook under your stairs.
Speaking of nooks, the beauty of a cozy reading nook is that you can create one virtually anywhere—all you need is a little bit of empty space to bring coziness into your life. According to Lianne Leventhal, "There are a lot of fun opportunities to be had when creating a comfortable nook space. Though bedrooms are often a perfect spot, reading chairs are equally at home in a living or family room as long as the space allows it. Shelving and a place to store books, a fireplace, or even a window seat can transform any corner into a spot for a reading chair."
"There are a lot of fun opportunities to be had when creating a comfortable nook space. Though bedrooms are often a perfect spot, reading chairs are equally at home in a living room or family room as long as the space allows it."
To make your nook cozier and inviting, Leventhal suggests that you "Dress it up with your favorite novels, a few unique knick-knacks, and a chunky knit blanket to add another layer of that cozy home library feel.” Of course, it never hurts to add a plant or two there, as well.
"Once you get your new reading chair home, figuring out the best place for it is really determined by where you are in your life," adds interior decorator and designer Lindsey Machado. "A reading chair would be totally appropriate in a main living space (living room, family room, etc.). But, if you are trying to create a quiet haven for yourself away from the hustle and bustle of life, it would be better suited in a quiet bedroom."
Final Thoughts on the Best Reading Chairs
Finding the best reading chairs can transform your reading nook into a cozy retreat. Whether you're into plush armchairs, sleek modern designs, or classic wingbacks, the best reading chairs offer comfort and style, supercharging your reading experience. So, channel your inner Goldilocks, explore the options, and find the chair that's just right for you.
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Kelly Weimert is a writer, editor, and interior design expert with 10 years of experience writing about design and home decor. She's written for interior design publications such as MyDomaine, Apartment Therapy, Domino Magazine, and Hunker. When she's not writing or editing, she's probably busy obsessing over how to beautify her home.
Written by
Kelly Weimert
Kelly Weimert is a writer, editor, and interior design expert with 10 years of experience writing about design and home decor. She's written for interior design publications such as MyDomaine, Apartment Therapy, Domino Magazine, and Hunker. When she's not writing or editing, she's probably busy obsessing over how to beautify her home.
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