Everyone talks about the desk. The chair you actually work in. Fine, that stuff matters, obviously — but nobody really talks about the OTHER chair. The one that has nothing to do with productivity at all.
I mean the chair by the window. Or tucked under a lamp somewhere. The spot you go to when you’re done answering emails for the day and just… want to sit. Read something. Stare at a wall, whatever. If your home office doesn’t have one of these, it’s basically just an office. No personality to it.
That’s really what a good wooden accent chair does for a room — it stops the space from feeling like a cubicle with better lighting. Wood specifically has this effect where it warms everything up without making the room feel less “serious,” if that makes sense. Anyway. I pulled together ten chairs that do this well. Some are old designs getting a second life, a couple are newer studios doing their own thing. Here’s the list.
1. The Fireplace Chair — House of Finn Juhl
First made in 1946, so this isn’t some trend-chasing design, it’s the real deal. Finn Juhl had this very structural, no-wasted-material approach and you can see it immediately in this chair. 81cm high, 65cm wide, 77cm deep, seat sits at 41cm. Frame’s FSC-approved ash, made in Denmark start to finish, upholstered in Vita leather (certified by Animal Protection Denmark, for what that’s worth to you). Honestly one of the more “serious” picks on this list — feels expensive because it kind of is.
2. Boucle & Walnut Armchair — Six The Residence
This is the one that looks better in person than in photos, in my opinion. Off-white bouclé fabric, walnut-stained ash frame underneath. It has a texture thing going on that’s hard to describe — you just want to touch it. Keeps selling out too, so if you’re on the fence, maybe don’t wait too long. 85cm high, 68cm wide, 85cm deep. Seat height 41cm.
3. CH25 Armchair — Hans J. Wegner & Carl Hansen
1949 design, still in production since 1950 basically nonstop. That alone should tell you something. It’s not trying to be flashy — solid wood frame, hand-woven seat and back using something like 400+ metres of paper cord. Apparently takes a trained weaver 8 to 10 hours just to do the weaving part. 73cm high, 71cm wide, 73cm deep. Armrest height 55cm, seat height 35cm. Good for reading, not great if you need back support for long stretches (just being honest).
4. Herman Lounge Chair, Wood-Bouclé — Ferm Living
The backrest curves around you in a way that photos really don’t capture well. Made with Denmark’s Herman Studio, FSC mix-certified wood, built in Latvia. Smaller footprint than most on this list — 71cm high, 72.5cm wide, 64.5cm deep, seat height 43cm — which is probably good news if your “office nook” is actually just a corner you’re calling a nook.
5. CH71 Lounge Chair — Carl Hansen & Son
Originally from 1952. What I like about this one is the contrast — angular wood frame, but then these soft flowing cushion curves that soften the whole thing. 100% wool upholstery. 84cm high, 70cm wide, 70cm deep, seat height 41cm. You get a choice of Soaped Oak, Walnut, or Black Oak for the arms and legs.
6. HAL Lounge Chair & Ottoman — Vitra
Jasper Morrison designed this one and it’s the most modern-feeling chair here, not gonna lie. Fibreglass-reinforced plastic shell wrapped in moulded polyurethane foam, ball-and-siliconised-fibre neck cushion, natural oak base, Nubia fabric on top. It’s bigger too — 104.5cm high, 74cm wide, 79.5cm deep, seat height 42cm. Made to order, about 8 weeks out. This one’s less “cosy reading nook” and more “design statement,” so know what you’re going for before you buy it.
7. OW149 Colonial Lounge Chair — Carl Hansen & Son
Ole Wanscher designed this and it’s got that quiet-confidence thing going. Armrests rise up to a point then drop straight down — small detail but it changes the whole silhouette. Cushions add softness against all those hard lines. Frame comes in oiled or soaped oak, seat’s Kvadrat Re-wool fabric, and the actual seat support is handwoven cane underneath (you don’t see it but it’s there). 85cm high, 65cm wide, 69cm deep, seat height 46cm. Heads up though — lead time is 19 weeks right now. Longer than it should be, mostly because of ongoing supply chain issues.
8. France Lounge Chair (Leather) — House of Finn Juhl
Another Finn Juhl piece, this time from 1958. Cognac leather, dark oiled oak frame — very mid-century, very warm-looking. 81cm high, 80cm wide, 72cm deep, seat height 38cm. The finish is smudge-proof which, honestly, is a real selling point if you’re the type who eats snacks at your desk and doesn’t always wipe your hands first. Made to order, roughly 12 weeks.
9. Lean Back Lounge Chair — Warm Nordic
Looks light and almost fragile in photos but it’s not — it’s actually pretty comfortable to sit in for a while. Arne Hovmand-Olsen designed it. Solid oak or teak frame, nicely proportioned seat and back. 81cm high, 80cm wide, 72cm deep, seat height 38cm. Comes in a bunch of colours and fabric options, made to order, about 10 weeks.
10. Nkuku Atri Occasional Armchair — John Lewis
This is the odd one out on the list, in a good way. Less Scandinavian showroom, more “sitting outside at golden hour” kind of vibe. Woven cane back, mango wood frame, deep padded seat in linen. The wood’s actually sourced from mango trees that stopped producing fruit — so farmers get to replant instead of just cutting down productive trees, which is a nice touch if sustainability matters to you. 70cm high, 75cm wide, 75cm deep, seat height 45cm. And it ships in two weeks, way faster than everything else on this list.
So which one do you actually get?
Depends what you’re after, honestly. Want something with real design history behind it? Go with the Finn Juhl chairs (1 and 8) — you’re paying for the story as much as the chair. Need it fast? The Nkuku Atri ships in two weeks while everything else makes you wait two to five months. And if you just want to actually sit in the thing for long stretches without your back complaining, the CH25 or the Lean Back Lounge Chair are probably your best bets.
Either way — don’t skip this part of setting up your home office. A desk and a good chair get the work done. This is the chair that makes the room feel like somewhere you’d want to be even when you’re not working.