Luxury Armchairs Australia: Designer, Swivel & Occasional Chairs
Every beautiful room deserves a chair with personality. Our luxury armchairs bring together sculptural swivel chairs, tub chairs, brass-detailed statement pieces and generous lounge chairs in velvet, chenille, bouclé, linen and leather, in colours from ivory and ecru to moss, mulberry, rust and cognac.
Whether you're completing a living room, creating a reading nook or adding a statement chair to a bedroom, this guide covers sizes, seat heights, swivel chairs, fabrics, durability and styling, using the real measurements of every chair in our range.
Armchair Sizes at a Glance
Seat heights across the range run from 41cm (Monte Carlo) to 48cm (Arcadia), with most sitting at 43 to 46cm.
Armchair, Occasional Chair or Accent Chair?
What is the difference?
An armchair is a single seat with armrests, designed for comfort. An occasional chair is an extra seat that complements your sofa and gets used as needed. An accent chair is chosen for its colour, fabric or shape as much as its comfort. Most of our chairs are all three at once, so choose the one that suits your room and how you'll sit in it.
What makes a luxury armchair?
Look for a considered silhouette, quality upholstery with a published rub test, a supportive seat at the right height, and details like brass arms, channel stitching or a contrasting bouclé inner back. The best pieces look good from every angle, because armchairs are often seen from behind.
Swivel Armchairs
A swivel chair lets you turn towards a conversation, the TV or the view without moving the chair, which makes it ideal for open-plan living.
- Pasadena: a rounded barrel chair with a full 360° swivel and a textured bouclé inner back, in Pasadena Ecru, Pasadena Clay, Pasadena Moss or Pasadena Camel (85 × 82 × 76.5cm, 45cm seat).
- Tubby: a deep, cocooning tub chair on a metal swivel base, in Tubby Mulberry Velvet or Tubby Ecru (85 × 89 × 71.5cm).
- Bellevue: a compact curved chair on a black timber swivel base, in Bellevue Slate Grey Velvet, Bellevue Salt & Pepper or Bellevue Ecru (74.5 × 79 × 69cm).
- Geneva: soft chenille on a smooth swivel base, in Geneva Natural Chenille or Geneva Sage Chenille (82 × 85 × 72cm).
- Compton: sweeping antique brass arms on a metal swivel base, in Compton Brass/Ivory, Compton Brass/Burgundy Chenille or Compton Brass/Off White (77 × 83.5 × 81cm).
- Monte Carlo: a slim chair on a near-invisible metal base, in Monte Carlo Black or Monte Carlo Houndstooth (72 × 66 × 74cm).
- Savoy: a generous nubuck leather Savoy Swivel Lounger (89 × 81 × 85cm).
Are swivel chairs good for small living rooms?
Yes, if you choose a compact one. The Monte Carlo (72cm), Bellevue (74.5cm) and Compton (77cm) suit smaller rooms. Leave enough space around the chair to turn without hitting a wall or side table, roughly the chair's depth on every side.
Armchairs by Fabric
Velvet armchairs
Velvet adds depth and a soft sheen. Choose the Napa Moss Velvet with brass detailing, the rich Tubby Mulberry Velvet, the restrained Bellevue Slate Grey Velvet, the warm Kylie Caramel Velvet, or the Monte Carlo Black. See all our velvet armchairs.
Chenille armchairs
Chenille is soft and tactile without a strong sheen. Options include the Arcadia Rust Chenille or Arcadia Ivory Chenille, Geneva Natural Chenille or Geneva Sage Chenille, Napa Ivory Chenille, Compton Brass/Burgundy Chenille, and the Pasadena Clay and Moss.
Bouclé armchairs
Bouclé's looped texture suits curved shapes. Choose the Arcadia Taupe Bouclé in a warm flecked taupe, the Kylie Black Bouclé on upholstered tripod legs, or a Pasadena, which pairs a bouclé inner back with a smooth outer fabric. Browse our bouclé furniture. Looped fabrics can snag, so take care with pets' claws.
Linen and neutral armchairs
For coastal, Hamptons and relaxed homes, choose the Kylie Natural Linen (a viscose, polyester and linen blend), Pasadena Ecru, Bellevue Ecru or Tubby Ecru, Lennon Salt & Pepper, or the Dominic in Ivory and Wheat. See our Hamptons armchairs.
Leather armchairs
The Xavier Cognac Leather has a metal frame and medium-firm seat, while the Savoy Swivel Lounger is upholstered in soft, buffed nubuck. Nubuck marks more easily than smooth leather and needs a nubuck-specific cleaner.
Statement patterns
For something bolder, the Napa Black & White has a graphic stripe and the Monte Carlo Houndstooth suits Art Deco and glamorous interiors.
How Durable Is the Fabric?
Upholstery durability is measured with the Martindale rub test. As a guide, 15,000 rubs suits occasional use, 25,000 suits everyday family use, and 30,000 or more is heavy-duty. Many of our chairs list their result on the product page:
- 40,000 rubs or more: Pasadena, Bellevue Slate Grey and Salt & Pepper, Tubby Mulberry, Compton Burgundy and Lennon Salt & Pepper.
- 30,000 to 35,000 rubs: Napa Moss, Arcadia Rust, Tubby Ecru and Bellevue Ecru.
- 24,000 to 25,000 rubs: Napa Ivory, Compton Ivory, Lennon Butterscotch and Black, and Dominic.
- 15,000 rubs: Napa Black & White, Arcadia Taupe Bouclé and Arcadia Ivory. These are best for lighter use, such as a bedroom or formal living room.
Choosing the Right Armchair
What size armchair should I buy?
Measure the space and compare the chair's width, depth and height. Under 80cm wide suits bedrooms and smaller living rooms; 85 to 96cm gives you more room to curl up; and a chair-and-a-half like the 118cm Dominic is almost a small sofa. Depth matters as much as width, as most of our chairs are 79 to 95cm deep.
What is a comfortable seat height?
Most people find 43 to 47cm comfortable, with feet flat on the floor. Lower seats like the Monte Carlo (41cm) feel relaxed and loungey, while higher seats like the Arcadia (48cm) and Geneva (47cm) are easier to get in and out of.
How deep should the seat be?
A seat depth of 52 to 58cm suits upright sitting, while 60cm or more is better for tucking your legs up. The Arcadia and Geneva (62cm) and Napa (60.5cm) are our deepest seats; the Compton (52.5cm) is the most upright.
How much space do I need around an armchair?
Allow 45 to 60cm between an armchair and the coffee table, and about 90cm for main walkways. Swivel chairs need extra room to turn.
Where to Use an Armchair
Living room armchairs
A single statement chair, such as the Napa Moss or Arcadia Rust, adds colour beside a neutral sofa. A matching pair opposite a sofa creates a balanced conversation area. Pair with our designer sofas.
Bedroom armchairs
A compact chair like the Kylie, Bellevue or Monte Carlo fits a bedroom corner for dressing or reading. Keep it clear of wardrobe doors and drawers.
Reading chairs
Choose a supportive back, a deep seat and arms at a comfortable height. The Dominic, with its winged back and 118cm seat, and the cocooning Tubby are made for curling up. Add a floor lamp, a side table and an ottoman for your feet.
Armchairs for Different Interior Styles
- Contemporary: Pasadena, Arcadia, Bellevue and the Lennon, with architectural arms, in Lennon Butterscotch, Lennon Salt & Pepper or Lennon Black.
- Hollywood Regency: brass and velvet, such as the Napa Moss and Compton Burgundy. See our Hollywood Regency furniture.
- Art Deco: the Monte Carlo Houndstooth and Napa Black & White. See our Art Deco furniture.
- Mid-century: the Kylie, with upholstered tripod legs and piping. See our mid-century armchairs.
- Hamptons and coastal: Kylie Natural Linen, Geneva Natural, Dominic Ivory and the ecru swivel chairs.
- Moody and dramatic: Kylie Black Bouclé, Lennon Black, Bellevue Slate Grey and Savoy nubuck. See our black armchairs.
Caring for Your Armchair
- Fabric: vacuum regularly with a soft upholstery brush and blot spills straight away rather than rubbing.
- Velvet: brush gently in the direction of the pile; pressure marks are a natural feature of velvet.
- Bouclé and chenille: avoid pulling loops or rubbing hard, which can disturb the texture.
- Leather and nubuck: use a cleaner made for the exact finish, and keep out of strong sun.
- Protection: we recommend Scotchgarding fabric chairs, especially in light colours.
Armchair FAQs
Which armchairs swivel?
The Pasadena, Tubby, Bellevue, Geneva, Compton, Monte Carlo and Savoy all swivel.
What is the most compact armchair?
The Monte Carlo and the Kylie Black Bouclé, both 72cm wide, followed by the Bellevue at 74.5cm.
What is the biggest armchair?
The Dominic chair-and-a-half at 118cm wide, with a 118cm-wide seat and a winged back.
What is the most durable armchair fabric?
Look at the Martindale rating. The Pasadena range is rated over 40,000 rubs, and the Bellevue Slate Grey and Salt & Pepper, Tubby Mulberry, Compton Burgundy and Lennon Salt & Pepper are rated at 40,000 or more.
Are bouclé armchairs practical?
Yes, with care. Bouclé is soft and forgiving of crumbs and dust, but its loops can snag on claws and jewellery.
Do you have leather armchairs?
Yes. The Xavier in cognac leather and the Savoy Swivel Lounger in nubuck brown leather.
Should an armchair match the sofa?
Not necessarily. A contrasting colour or texture often looks more considered. Keep seat heights similar so the arrangement feels balanced.
What colour armchair goes with a beige sofa?
Moss, rust, caramel, mulberry or black all work with beige. For a softer look, choose ivory, ecru or taupe in a different texture.
Do armchairs come assembled?
Most of our armchairs arrive fully assembled. The Dominic needs some simple assembly.
Where can I buy luxury armchairs in Australia?
Attica House offers designer armchairs, swivel chairs and occasional chairs in velvet, chenille, bouclé, linen and leather, with delivery Australia-wide. For outdoors, see our outdoor sofas and armchairs.
Find Your Chair
The most memorable rooms always have somewhere wonderful to sit. From sculptural swivel chairs and rich velvet to tactile bouclé and cognac leather, find an armchair that looks as good as it feels.
Beautifully designed. Wonderfully inviting. Take a seat in style.
