Have you furnished a home lately? So many options your head starts to spin. I think this is partially why I prefer to use what I have. Less thinking involved :). I do love finding secondhand furniture but am more picky about upholstered pieces so I’m probably ruling that out, unless I stumble upon just the right well-cared for pieces.
Sometimes I wish I could go back in time and get all of my furniture back so I could “shop my own house” (or would not have moved so many times so I’d still have it all with me ha). I keep thinking about furniture I used to have that would’ve worked great here LOL!
Knowing the couch will arrive in a couple of months is motivating me to make a decision.
In a small living room where we have family coming and going often, I really need to get the room put together!
There are so many cute chair styles I would like for our living room.
I’ve thought about slipcovered chairs since my couch has legs, but a lot of chairs I like have legs! I may slipcover my ottoman, which opens up other options for chairs such as rattan, cane, wood, and upholstered!
I shared my new striped couch choice in this post. I’m so glad I have the couch decision out of the way (still waiting on delivery) but every decision leads to a new one so I have to keep going :).
If I could have all striped furniture I’d be happy haha. Stripes are my favorite pattern, so I would pick stripes on everything if it was acceptable.
In fact when I saw this darling chair in the same fabric as my couch I paused and thought hmmmm, could I do matching striped fabric? I probably could. But would I? Something to think about. This chair (and many of the others in this post) come in other fabrics.
Usually I prefer to keep furniture in solid neutral fabrics so you can change it with any patterned pillows, but I have two built in benches where I can change patterns so I am not as concerned about it with the furniture (as long as I love the pattern).
I had ordered this blue sample for the couch before I decided the striped pattern was best for us. But the blue looks so pretty with the couch, it would be a nice pairing on any of their chairs. I may decide to go with a creamy / off white fabric since we have blue walls, but I’ve discovered that shades of blues look very soft and pretty in here so I can see the blue working, too.
Should I go with two matching chairs? I usually prefer a more collected look, but I can see it either way.
As far as any chairs we have, I do still have our two white rattan chairs (see photos of them above a few houses ago), which I really love. But they would need to be re-painted and new cushions made which can be expensive. I don’t know if I can have the paint stripped (I don’t know if you can even strip rattan?). I’m really considering using them in our bedroom though so I would probably prefer to buy new for living room and save those for the bedroom.
I also still have this wingback (which is still sold at Ballard Designs) and it is very comfy. If I was going to keep that one in the living room, I would prefer to have it recovered (plus the back got damaged in a move). It could also work in a bedroom, though, so I don’t have to keep the wingback in the living room.
I like all of the chair styles I’m sharing in this post, and dozens more I’ve found over the past few weeks. Now to narrow it down to the right one for us and make a decision. :)
Which chairs would you choose? The comments are working again so I’d love to hear from you!
Here is a collage of a few things I have or have used in our living room, but I will work on which accessories, pillows and rug make sense after the furniture decisions are made. The sources are here.
Hi Melissa, Even before I read all the way through, I loved the spindle chair with the stripes but remembered your couch will have the stripes so I’d choose that chair with the pretty blue solid fabric that’s in that swatch. Although, any of those chairs that you decide on will look great 😊 Decisions, decisions. As always, I’ll look forward to seeing what you pick!
It is such a cute chair! So many options my mind is mush ha so thank you for weighing in!
I would go with either the chair middle row right in the second pic or maybe top row right in the second pic. Use the blue fabric that matches the couch. With your coastal view and the couch I think blue would be so peaceful.
As far as the rattan, I saw an article where someone used spray paints to get a “natural” rattan or wicker finish, instead of stripping, and it looked pretty good! I think it for for a desk. Maybe you could try that. Beautiful choices!
Hi, I like the spindle chair, but would probably prefer the one next to it in the photo. My grandparents had a very similar chair and it was sooo comfortable. I inherited two of them and I am sorry I let them go in a move. I love your posts and design decisions. Best wishes to you.
I like a less formal wingback (like 1st pic bottom row rt) option for taller people paired w/ one curved/rounded lines of a fully-upholstered chair w/ skirt. Maybe a small ‘roving’ ottoman (no visible legs & not skirted) that pairs nicely w/ either chair for when it’s just you & hubs, but sits off to side when entertaining, say next to a fireplace, under a credenza/table, etc.
Good idea to have a roving ottoman! Thanks for your suggestions— I prefer less formal, too. It’s fun to think about the right mix.
I like a less formal wingback (like 1st pic bottom row rt) option for taller people paired w/ one curved/rounded lines of a fully-upholstered chair w/ skirt. Maybe a small ‘roving’ ottoman (no visible legs & not skirted) that pairs nicely w/ either chair for when it’s just you & hubs, but sits off to side when entertaining, say next to a fireplace, under a credenza/table, etc.
1st collage, top right.
Hi Melissa, in the second collection of chairs, I love the pale blue one, middle row, right. It’s a classic style that will never look dated. It’s sturdy, got wooden legs and will probably outlast the cane or rattan chairs. Would look gorgeous in your living room. Hope that helps even a little bit. Good luck!
It does help thank you, that is at the top of my list of favorites for this room!!
spindle chair or chair in last collage bottom right, or a club chair. Comfort is key…
Melissa, take Pats advice but add to it a pillow in the striped material as the couch you love. Best of both worlds..your blue and more stripes! LOL 😆
😂 excellent idea!
I love your choice of couch, and that blue fabric goes so well with it. Hard for me to pick a favorite chair. Love all of them! Maybe matching chairs since it is a small space. You could add interest with pillows.
Can’t wait to see what you choose!!
Kathy Florian
My first thought is if you do the chair in the same stripe fabric as the couch I’d do a pillow in the solid blue fabric to place on the seat or use a solid blue throw to balance it. I too love stripes so I totally understand loving the chair in that fabric. The solid blue is pretty as well and would be a great compliment but then I’d do a striped pillow. I’m sure you’ll choose something that looks wonderful.
I enjoy following your blog on my IPad, but it’s getting harder and harder to be able to enjoy the beautiful pictures normally in the content.
There is always a banner at the top of the page for your
Info and then there’s an advertisement banner across the bottom of the page that cannot be excised. Leaves me with a 4” viewing screen out of 10” screen. Perhaps the ad could be “manageable”/ removable as many ads are, or reconfigured?
Thanks for listening.
I like the last skirted blue one! It’s fun to hear your thought process because it lets me know that I’m not crazy!
The orange flowers in the collage say $700?? Is that right? I do love your taste and blog! Kind of surprised you picked that though.
The solid blue chair in the second set looks so cozy!
I love the top left blue chair. I love the style & how comfy it looks. I could see pulling my legs up into the chair. Very comfy! I love the sofa you selected!
Last picture – top left blue chair is the only one that says curl up and be cozy ….
I used to have 2 club chairs (more square shaped) and i got new ones in a slightly different style (sort of rectangular) – similar to the last picture – bottom right blue chair / and they are awful! So uncomfortable. 😣 I miss my old chairs!
The chairs are all gorgeous! I think I’d also choose the chair with the blue swatch next to your couch material. The colors are so peaceful!
I prefer the solid blue chair with the same curves as the couch. The chair on the top left. Just looks so cozy and comfortable it also doesn’t fight with anything else which you need in a small space.