As a home editor who’s worked for countless interior designers, I’ve seen a lot of trends come and go (read: tone-on-tone bouclé). But as the era of curvy furniture and cozy fabrics rages on, there’s one item that continues to dominate my inbox and showroom visits: the reading chair. More specifically, comfortable chairs that beg you to curl up with a good book, a throw blanket and maybe a hot cup of cocoa.
That said, there are a slew of new options hitting the market—from wingbacks and midcentury-modern silhouettes to chairs-and-a-half (which are basically the new apartment sofa). And while, yes, many of them are gorgeous, it’s hard to know how they’ll actually feel until you sit down—and find out you’ve just spent $1,000 on what’s basically a concrete slab. So, after hours of research—and having editors test seven chairs in their own homes (plus scouring three internet-beloved picks with thousands of rave reviews)—I’ve come up with a definitive list of the most comfortable, chic reading chairs on the market. Think: a designer-inspired Target find under $250 and splurge-worthy Eames chair, beloved by celebrities like Will Arnett and a staple of Don Draper’s penthouse in Mad Men.
