Best Reading Chairs of 2022

With time to just kick back and relax being so scarce for many of us, unwinding with your favorite reading material – be it the latest bestseller or the sports page – deserves a great chair to luxuriate in so you can fully relish this special time. With so many style choices out there, from modern to retro, and traditional, not to mention the wide-ranging fabric options, our editors have curated their top choices for ideal reading chairs.

As you’ll see, reading chairs come in all different shapes and sizes. Modern and retro chairs are typically low to the ground with legs only about five or six inches tall, which allows you to keep your feet planted firmly and your back erect. Many people consider a recliner to be the most comfortable chair for reading and relaxing. Or, you may prefer a chair with great lumbar support, particularly if you tend to spend long periods sitting. Whatever your preferences may be, you’ll likely find just the right one here.

Article’s Gabriola Bouclé Lounge Chair

Reminiscent of the material originally used on Eero Saarinen’s renowned Womb Chair, there isn’t a fabric more inviting to snuggle into than Bouclé, a nubby textile made from a yarn of curled fibers. With its incredibly soft and mildly fuzzy upholstery, the Gabriola Bouclé Lounge Chair beckons you to snuggle in with your favorite book. Available in Ivory or Dover Gray Bouclé, Article’s chair will be a great addition to virtually any space within your home.

$599

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Pottery Barn Irving Square Arm Leather Power Recliner

Who doesn’t love a great-looking leather recliner? Pottery Barn’s tailored Square Arm Irving Recliner is just the ticket with its top-grain aniline leather that will lighten and soften with both use and time, developing a rich finish. Simply release the power button to establish the ideal angle at which to enjoy that magazine you’ve been meaning to read. You’re guaranteed to find just the right color leather for your particular taste given the wide range of choices available.

$1,009+

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Herman Miller Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman

Sixty-five years ago, Charles and Ray Eames designed this molded plywood and leather chair and ottoman for the Herman Miller Furniture Company. There are many reasons why this is regarded as one of the 20th century’s most consequential designs, not the least of which is its incredible comfort and great styling. Available in a choice of seven-ply walnut, Santos palisander, white ash, or ebonized ash veneer shells, and a choice of leather or mohair upholstery, this will become your go-to reading chair for years to come.

$7,495

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Blu Dot Deep Thoughts Leather Lounge Chair

The inspiration behind Blu Dot’s Deep Thoughts Leather Lounge Chair’s design began with the goal of developing a chair that perfectly contours to the human body. Combining both comfort and aesthetics, the chair has a slender, minimal design with an adjustable lumbar pillow so you can customize the fit for your own unique body shape. Made with a powder-coated steel tube frame and a wood shell wrapped in foam and batting, the chair maintains the perfect seating position to read or even grab a catnap.

$2,195

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West Elm Book Nook Armchair

Ideal for nestling in to enjoy your new novel, West Elm’s Book Nook Armchair boasts a wide and deep seat cushion and gently slanted arms that keep your elbows raised, allowing you to hold your book upright. Compact in size, this handsome chair is designed to fit in smaller spaces, which is unusual for a reading chair. Available in ink blue and a wheat-colored fabric, it is smooth and velvety to touch, perfect for sinking into and getting lost in your book.

$540

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West Elm Carlo Mid-Century Chair

The Carlo Mid-Century Chair is a wonderful representation of this era. Taking inspiration from Italian furnishings of the mid-century period, the Carlo boasts strong lines, angled arms, and a pitched back. The seat cushion is wonderfully soft, as is the chair back, inviting you to sink in and revel in your latest bestseller. In addition to the chair’s dramatic styling, one can hardly overlook those striking cast metal legs with a brass finish – a great addition to your library or family room.

$700

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Industry West Penny Lounge Chair

Grab your Kindle and sink into the comfy Penny Lounge Chair for a good long read. A range of fabric choices are available for this mid-century inspired chair, including a light gray, dark blue, warm red, or black leather. The solid walnut frame complements the functional and sleek seat and back cushions.

$830

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Schoolhouse Jack Chair

For lovers of vintage-inspired design and incredible comfort, the Jack Chair is a solid bet for an ideal reading chair for your home. A decidedly modern and elegant piece, the Jack Chair is available in a variety of colors and fabric options including wool, velvet, and tweed. This plush chair not only has great style, but it is supremely comfy, as well.

$1,800

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Blu Dot Acre Lounge Chair

With its impressive lumbar support, the Acre Lounge Chair invites readers to sit for hours at a time. This is a modern piece featuring handsome contours with plump cushioning that sits atop a tubular base made from a choice of stainless or blackened steel. The Acre is available in a range of upholstery options including two colors of velvet, a linen blend, and a dark gray fabric made of 80 percent post-consumer recycled polyester.

$1,495

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