Accent chairs are fabulous additions to your home.
They provide seating, color, and a change of pace from your daily décor.
And they're easy to move around! Choose several complementary accent chairs for various rooms, and then mix and match them to create a new mood whenever you want.
Accent chairs come in all shapes and sizes.
A traditional chair with a seat, back and arm rests is a fabulous choice because it's going to fit into any decorating scheme.
Traditional chairs come upholstered in good-quality fabric, but also leather, suede, canvas, vinyl, or even the synthetic fibers like today's microfiber.
Think ahead about how you want your accent chair to fit into your residence.
The combination of main construction material (wood, chrome, stainless steel, etc.
) and the upholstery material makes a statement in and of itself.
How durable do you need this chair to be? If it's form over function, you can make an awesome decorating statement without worrying too much about the effect of Aunt Bertha's visit.
But if you're looking for function over form, then investigate the construction of your accent chair carefully.
It may well be worth the few extra dollars to purchase a higher-quality chair that will last for several years than just have a nice piece that has to sit quietly in a corner by itself.
Now think about your style.
Are you more of a casual person, or do you prefer a more formal design? Do you like things that are contemporary, or more traditional? What about size? Accent chairs come in all sizes and shapes, and if your current furniture collection is thin and delicate, a substantial piece of thick, dark wood and leather with nickel studs is going to look just a tad bit out of place.
If you don't know your style or are still trying to decide, then try something in the contemporary, or "transitional" style.
These have clean, smooth lines with a minimum of ornamentation, but are primarily composed of wood, with upholstery on the seat.
These pieces will fit well into any decorating scheme.
Also, remember that an upholstered seat can be re-upholstered in a few years if your tastes change.
Another good reason to perhaps spend a few dollars more for something that will stand the test of time.
You can also find accent chairs made from brightly-colored fiberglass, plastic, or acrylic.
There are novelty chairs like the egg chair or bubble chair that will not only seat you in comfort, but be a great conversation starter for parties.
Some even have speakers in them, for the ultimate audiophile experience.
If you're just starting out, the Internet is a good place to start.
Look at pictures of various types of chairs, and just get a feel for what you like.
Then note the styles of your favorites, and see where you're leaning.
Once you know a style that seems to suit you-say, Retro-then search for Retro chairs, and you'll have a whole universe of choices at your fingertips.
Check out the chairs you plan to buy in person, if possible.
Perhaps print out a color picture of the one you want and eyeball it in various locations in your living space.
Once you've done your homework, you're almost guaranteed to be happy with the result.
Accent chairs can do so many things, your space is probably going to look naked without one!