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Needless to say, you can spend a lot or a little on an armchair in the UK.
At the higher end of the price range, you'll find armchairs made from higher quality cover material e.g. leather or a higher quality wood. Some include a sprung base to ensure the seat retains its shape and comfort. Some armchairs come with a 15 year frame guarantee giving you confidence they are built to last.
Cheaper ones tend to use foam instead of fibre and come with much shorter guarantees. They often use softer wood and aren't built to last as long.
But does it really matter if it won't last for 30 years if it costs a fraction of a some luxury masterpiece?
There are other factors to consider. Do you want a high back chair with spinal support, or a softer chair which you can relax into and say "ahhhhhhh" whilst discovering there's literally nothing of any interest on TV?
Here's our pick of five of the UK's best armchairs, which all make excellent places for you to plonk down your bottom.
At the higher end of the price range, you'll find armchairs made from higher quality cover material e.g. leather or a higher quality wood. Some include a sprung base to ensure the seat retains its shape and comfort. Some armchairs come with a 15 year frame guarantee giving you confidence they are built to last.
Cheaper ones tend to use foam instead of fibre and come with much shorter guarantees. They often use softer wood and aren't built to last as long.
But does it really matter if it won't last for 30 years if it costs a fraction of a some luxury masterpiece?
There are other factors to consider. Do you want a high back chair with spinal support, or a softer chair which you can relax into and say "ahhhhhhh" whilst discovering there's literally nothing of any interest on TV?
Here's our pick of five of the UK's best armchairs, which all make excellent places for you to plonk down your bottom.
1. OSWALD CHECK WINGBACK ARMCHAIR FROM DUNELM - £299
The Dunelm Oswald Wingback armchair comes in 7 different colours.
You'll see why the Dunelm Oswald armchair features in our top five when you read the great reviews. There are over 1000 reviews and an average score of 4.7/5. Many people comment on the comfort, the ease of assembly and the quality.
The Dunelm Oswald comes in a choice of eight different colours, including teal, navy, gold and green stripe. The seat is sprung and the cushions are foam and fibre filled along with a plywood and pine frame and rubberwood legs. Rubberwood is a strong hard wood but is easier to work and cheaper than oak, which keeps the price of the chair low.
You can also buy footstools to match the Oswald armchair, if you want to complete the set.
The seat itself is a good height for people who find it difficult to get out of a chair. It doesn't swallow you up like some armchairs, so it's not too difficult to get into a standing position. The chair does require a little bit of assembly if you choose the part assembled option, which involves adding the feet and the wings (which you'll find underneath the seat on arrival). Or you can pay £40 less and assemble the complete chair yourself!
Overall this is a smart looking armchair that gives support, comfort and is a good height and the brilliant reviews confirm that it is good value for money.
The Dunelm Oswald comes in a choice of eight different colours, including teal, navy, gold and green stripe. The seat is sprung and the cushions are foam and fibre filled along with a plywood and pine frame and rubberwood legs. Rubberwood is a strong hard wood but is easier to work and cheaper than oak, which keeps the price of the chair low.
You can also buy footstools to match the Oswald armchair, if you want to complete the set.
The seat itself is a good height for people who find it difficult to get out of a chair. It doesn't swallow you up like some armchairs, so it's not too difficult to get into a standing position. The chair does require a little bit of assembly if you choose the part assembled option, which involves adding the feet and the wings (which you'll find underneath the seat on arrival). Or you can pay £40 less and assemble the complete chair yourself!
Overall this is a smart looking armchair that gives support, comfort and is a good height and the brilliant reviews confirm that it is good value for money.
2. JOHN LEWIS OTLEY ARMCHAIR - £899
John Lewis Otley armchair has many different fabric and colours to choose from.
John Lewis has a large range of armchairs to suit most budgets. Prices start at less than £300 for their ANYDAY armchairs and go up up to £2500+ for their Charleston armchair. But we've chosen the John Lewis Otley armchair to feature in our top 5. You'll occasionally find it in the sale, which makes it even better value.
The Otley armchair range uses fibre (no foam at all) in the seat and back cushions which should make the chair last longer. The sprung seat gives good support as well as comfort. There is also webbing in the back of the seat for added support.
This particular model has light oak legs and is available in two colours (easy clean duck egg and green stripe). As with all John Lewis sofas and armchairs, you'll get a 15 year frame guarantee included. It is made from easy clean fabric which is particularly wise if you have children or pets. Of course, those features bump up the price but you may feel it is worth it.
There is a similar Otley chair in the 'design your own range' with a choice of two colours of oak legs and 39 different colours and fabrics to choose from. This might be a good option for you if you want the armchair to match your current sofa or if you have other items from the John Lewis range. You will of course pay a premium for some colours and fabrics.
The Otley armchair range uses fibre (no foam at all) in the seat and back cushions which should make the chair last longer. The sprung seat gives good support as well as comfort. There is also webbing in the back of the seat for added support.
This particular model has light oak legs and is available in two colours (easy clean duck egg and green stripe). As with all John Lewis sofas and armchairs, you'll get a 15 year frame guarantee included. It is made from easy clean fabric which is particularly wise if you have children or pets. Of course, those features bump up the price but you may feel it is worth it.
There is a similar Otley chair in the 'design your own range' with a choice of two colours of oak legs and 39 different colours and fabrics to choose from. This might be a good option for you if you want the armchair to match your current sofa or if you have other items from the John Lewis range. You will of course pay a premium for some colours and fabrics.
3. CAMFORD LEATHER ARMCHAIR FROM JOHN LEWIS - £1399
The Camford Armchair from John Lewis gets very good reviews.
Eagle-eyed readers will have noticed that this Camford Leather Armchair from John Lewis is expensive. We think it deserves the large price tag.
It's a classical Georgian style armchair, which has something of a classic design with its scroll arm details and low back design. With a bit of luck, it won't date as quickly as more modern and 'on-trend' designs. This style can bring warmth to a room.
Leather is a durable material and should be easy to wipe clean. This combined with fibre filled cushions and a webbed seat backing will ensure the chair remains comfortable, supported and long lasting. There is some foam in the structure to help keep the shape of the chair. It's described as being medium firm to sit on. It really is a quality item that is built to last.
You'll get the 15 year frame guarantee from John Lewis with this chair but hopefully you won't need to use it.
It scores 4.9/5 from over 60 reviews and you can tell it's a favourite with John Lewis customers. One review is from a customer who purchased the chair 15 years ago and says the chair is still going strong.
If you're looking for a classic armchair in this price bracket, then you won't be disappointed with this Camford Leather armchair from John Lewis.
It's a classical Georgian style armchair, which has something of a classic design with its scroll arm details and low back design. With a bit of luck, it won't date as quickly as more modern and 'on-trend' designs. This style can bring warmth to a room.
Leather is a durable material and should be easy to wipe clean. This combined with fibre filled cushions and a webbed seat backing will ensure the chair remains comfortable, supported and long lasting. There is some foam in the structure to help keep the shape of the chair. It's described as being medium firm to sit on. It really is a quality item that is built to last.
You'll get the 15 year frame guarantee from John Lewis with this chair but hopefully you won't need to use it.
It scores 4.9/5 from over 60 reviews and you can tell it's a favourite with John Lewis customers. One review is from a customer who purchased the chair 15 years ago and says the chair is still going strong.
If you're looking for a classic armchair in this price bracket, then you won't be disappointed with this Camford Leather armchair from John Lewis.
4. ELSIE ARMCHAIR FROM THE COTSWOLD COMPANY - £939
The Elsie armchair from The Cotswold Company comes in 62 different fabrics.
This simple armchair from The Cotswold Company is hand crafted in the UK.
The solid wood frames are sustainably sourced and come with a 15 year guarantee, similar to the John Lewis armchairs. There are steel springs within the seat of the chair to provide strong support and ensure it won't fall apart when Uncle Bernard plonks his bottom down on Boxing Day.
There are 62 different fabrics and colours to choose from including velvet, floral patterns and more neutral tones. As you'd expect from a more luxurious armchair, you can also purchase swatches of the materials to make sure you choose the right colour for your home. When you really get into it, you can pick from three different leg tones. What I particularly like about this chair, is you can find out a little bit more information about each fabric, such as the material composition and how it can be cleaned.
Unfortunately there aren't any reviews for the Elsie armchair but the brand as a whole scores 4.5/5 on Trustpilot.
The Elsie does appear in The Cotswold Company sale from time to time.
The solid wood frames are sustainably sourced and come with a 15 year guarantee, similar to the John Lewis armchairs. There are steel springs within the seat of the chair to provide strong support and ensure it won't fall apart when Uncle Bernard plonks his bottom down on Boxing Day.
There are 62 different fabrics and colours to choose from including velvet, floral patterns and more neutral tones. As you'd expect from a more luxurious armchair, you can also purchase swatches of the materials to make sure you choose the right colour for your home. When you really get into it, you can pick from three different leg tones. What I particularly like about this chair, is you can find out a little bit more information about each fabric, such as the material composition and how it can be cleaned.
Unfortunately there aren't any reviews for the Elsie armchair but the brand as a whole scores 4.5/5 on Trustpilot.
The Elsie does appear in The Cotswold Company sale from time to time.
5. HABITAT EVIE ARMCHAIR IN A BOX - ARGOS - £190
This Habitat Evie armchair is sold at Argos and gets brilliant reviews
A few years ago, some bright spark started selling a 'bed in a box' to make storage and delivery simpler. It was really a mattress in a box, but that didn't have such alliterative appeal.
The sofa market has followed suit, with a sofa in a box.
What's the advantage over a normal sofa, I hear you cry?
The idea is that it comes neatly packed in one box that you can collect from the store, rather than placing an order and being told it will be with you in three months' time. You don't get as much choice of colour and style, but it it's a cheap and easy way to get an armchair.
You get a 10 year frame guarantee which is very good considering the price.
As you'd probably expect, the quality of this chair isn't going to be the same as the more expensive models because it is made from cheaper materials. It uses 100% polyester material and has a foam filled seat and back cushions. This means the chair will retain its shape but might not be as squishy as you'd like. The wooden feet are made from responsibly sourced wood, but there's no information on the type of wood used (which generally means it is a cheap material).
You can choose from three colours including grey, black and blue. You can also order a free swatch of the material beforehand, although that rather defeats the point of it being a quick and easy option.
There are almost 500 reviews at the time of writing and they score this footstool 4.7/5.
The sofa market has followed suit, with a sofa in a box.
What's the advantage over a normal sofa, I hear you cry?
The idea is that it comes neatly packed in one box that you can collect from the store, rather than placing an order and being told it will be with you in three months' time. You don't get as much choice of colour and style, but it it's a cheap and easy way to get an armchair.
You get a 10 year frame guarantee which is very good considering the price.
As you'd probably expect, the quality of this chair isn't going to be the same as the more expensive models because it is made from cheaper materials. It uses 100% polyester material and has a foam filled seat and back cushions. This means the chair will retain its shape but might not be as squishy as you'd like. The wooden feet are made from responsibly sourced wood, but there's no information on the type of wood used (which generally means it is a cheap material).
You can choose from three colours including grey, black and blue. You can also order a free swatch of the material beforehand, although that rather defeats the point of it being a quick and easy option.
There are almost 500 reviews at the time of writing and they score this footstool 4.7/5.
