Chairs have been the backbone of fine design for centuries. Aside from a functional place to rest, they also symbolised social hierarchy and, since their invention, have been part of every significant decor style in history.
First seen in Ancient Egypt, seating has held its place as the most considered item when designing a home. From dining sets to accent seats and everything in between, it's true to say that no other piece of decor is as versatile as a chair.
Bringing conversation areas together, they offer comfort and support, create individual resting spaces, define the overall style of your aesthetics and, whether you're in your living room or hard at work in your office, add a sense of welcoming to any environment.
With profiles that span diverse genres from minimalism to Baroque, chairs offer endless design possibilities, and at FCI we have a luxurious range to suit every taste.
Connect with us today and our experienced team will walk you through your options, assist you with home and commercial layouts and consolidate your style. We'll also make sure that you take advantage of our numerous customisation options, leaving you to enjoy a setting that perfectly meets your needs.
Find a luxury chair for every room at FCI London
No other piece of decor has been reinvented as often as the chair. In fact, whatever your requirements, there's sure to be one to match.
With simple beginnings as a folding stool, its profile has changed through the ages, from the first bentwood designs of the 18th century to the high-tech gaming accessories that have flooded the market in recent years. And leisure, in all its forms, is a key contributor to each ingenious transformation.
Home to London's largest furniture showroom, we've spent over three decades sourcing products from the world's finest brands. So, whether you're looking for a plush leather profile from Italy or a lumbar-friendly swivel chair for your WFH space, we'll be able to help.
When it comes to chairs, the choices are endless. From diverse styles to innovative profiles, they form one of the epicentres of the room, giving you a customised space on which to rest, read or communicate, depending on their purpose. Below, we talk about some of our most popular options.
Types of chairs by room
To help you narrow down your search, let's take an in-depth look at the different types of chairs we have available, categorised by room:
Kitchen chairs
A place for the whole family, kitchens are for gathering, cooking and eating, making functionality imperative to your chair of choice.
- Swivel chairs: With a rotation mechanism, these are designed for versatility, allowing you to sit at a kitchen counter or island and adjust your seating position according to your needs.
- Kitchen island chairs: Tucking neatly under your kitchen peninsula, these chairs are ideal if you love to eat and entertain in the kitchen. Offering optimal comfort, they encourage convivial gatherings and conversations while providing workspace for home and office tasks.
- Bistro chairs: If you're creating an eating nook, consider getting a bistro set that seats between two and four people. They are usually available in regular- or bar-height and you'll find a wide selection of profiles to choose from.
Dining room chairs
Whether you're aiming for a formal or informal look, these versatile seats set the tone of your room, bringing character and visual impact to your environment.
- Upholstery: The look and feel of your chair are influenced by the fabrics you choose. Popular options are leather, velvet and mink, all available in diverse colours and patterns.
- Styles: Taking a chance on the latest design trends is tempting but it's always wise to pick timeless options. Scandi, Art Deco, Minimalism, Industrial, Contemporary and Boho are usually highly sought-after possibilities.
- Framework: Choose a sturdy, visually appealing frame that will give maximum comfort and lumbar support. Options include hardwood, metal, plastic and wicker. You will also have to decide between a chair with arms and one without.
Living room chairs
When buying one, consider a profile that suits your needs and remember that each design, whether it be a wingback chair or a chaise longue, will determine your overall seating experience. Here are some of the types you can choose from:
- An accent chair: Often paired with luxury sofas, these provide additional seating and increase the functionality of your conversation areas.
- An occasional chair: Not meant for regular use, these are usually positioned strategically (like next to a planter, floor lamps or a window) to add colour, texture or visual appeal to your room.
- A relaxation chair: Perfect for reading nooks, media rooms or family spaces, a recliner, rocking chair or massage chair is the ideal way to kick back and relax after a hard day's work.
Bedroom chairs
While often perceived as living room furniture, chairs play an important role in the bedroom, adding a sense of luxury to your most private spaces.
- A bucket or barrel chair: This is a great investment for those who like to read in their rooms and is ideally placed next to occasional tables.
- A vanity chair: Smaller in stature than a regular lounge chair, these give you a space to sit while putting on your makeup or doing your hair. Sometimes backless, they fit neatly under a dressing table and can be tucked away when not in use.
- Bean bag chairs: These are a fun way to provide a robust seat in an informal setting, making them an excellent choice for a child's bedroom. Available in hardy materials and bright colours, they bring versatility to your decor choices.
Home office chairs
Ergonomics plays a key role in office chair design, ensuring that your mental and physical needs are met.
- Lumbar support: Sitting for extended periods can damage your back, neck and hips, throwing out the natural curvature of your spine. You can prevent this by finding a chair that provides a comfortable seating experience.
- Adjustability: Most luxury work chairs allow you to adjust the angle of the backrest and the height of the seat and armrests. This enables you to customise your chair to fit your body type.
- Mobility: Swivel chairs allow you to change your position without leaving your seat, and those on wheels provide the manoeuvrability to navigate your workstation as needed. These features help to reduce strain on the body and promote better posture.
Speciality seating for the modern home
Not all seating is created equal and some profiles fit specific functions, bringing a greater sense of purpose to your environment. Here are a few examples:
Space-saving solutions
With space at a premium, especially in London, many chairs now have dual purposes or built-in features that allow you to maximise your experience. Useful options include:
- Folding chairs: Portable and collapsible, these are often seen in outdoor environments. However, they are a practical addition to smaller kitchens and dining rooms as they can be packed at liberty, giving you extra capacity for other things.
- Stackable chairs: Simply pop them onto your patio before your guests arrive and then sack them neatly into your garage or storeroom again when not needed.
- Storage chairs: Contemporary profiles often include secret compartments that can house excess books, magazines and remote controls, ensuring that your spaces remain clutter-free.
Outdoor chairs
Made from durable, weatherproof materials, outdoor chairs are designed with longevity in mind. Obtainable in many different formats, they help to create fabulous alfresco landscapes that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
- A dining chair set: Perfectly placed around garden dining tables, many collections are as visually impactful as their indoor counterparts, bringing a sense of style to your patios.
- Armchairs: Exuding comfort and ease, outdoor lounge chairs pair beautifully with luxury sofas, helping to define your conversation areas while maintaining optimal comfort.
- Recliner chairs: From sun loungers to daybeds, these allow you to kick back, relax and enjoy the fresh air and good weather, either next to your swimming pool or on the deck.
Bar chairs and stools
Higher than normal seating, a barstool is designed for use at countertop height, making it a great addition to kitchens and entertainment areas. Look out for the following features:
- Height adjustable mechanisms: To ensure optimal comfort, you should allow for a minimum of 25 cm between the top of the seat and the bar surface.
- Footrests: These help to enhance blood circulation in the legs, align your posture, give you extra support and encourage you to shift your weight regularly while seated, making them a more ergonomic option.
- Back and armrests: Giving you extra lumbar support, they promote relaxation while seated, keeping you comfortable during prolonged social events.
Luxury chair material and fabric guide
With so many different upholstery types to choose from, deciding on the aesthetics of your luxury chair can be stressful. This also applies to its basic structure as many mass-produced options are made from inferior materials, causing them to wear out in just a few years. These can be divided into two main categories, leather and fabric:
Leather
Durable and stain-resistant, leather ages beautifully, is also hypoallergenic and repels pet dander, making it ideal for those with allergies. However, different grades are available, so it's important to know what you're dealing with:
Top and full-grain leather
The cream of the crop, these are taken from the uppermost part of the skin and usually display natural flaws and markings, which add to their aesthetic value. Hard-wearing, stain-resistant and easy to clean, they will last a lifetime and are well worth the investment.
Nubuck
This is a product of top-grain leather whereby the hide undergoes a buffing process, resulting in a velvety texture that gives it a luxurious feel. However, it does require higher maintenance, so is not recommended for households with children or pets.
Aniline leather
A popular choice, these hides are treated with aniline dyes that allow for diverse colour choices while still showing their natural wrinkles and markings. Although beautifully stylish, they fade and stain more easily, so must be treated with extra care.
Faux leather
Made to resemble genuine hide, this upholstery material is synthetic and comprises a polyurethane film applied to a fabric backing. While inexpensive and easy to clean, this product will disintegrate and peel within a few years, making it a no-no in luxury design.
Fabric
Chairs upholstered in fabric often have removable covers, so you can get them cleaned regularly. This does not apply to all materials, though. Many versions are also treated to resist spills and stains, making them ideal for busy households. With a wide range of colours, patterns and textures on hand, this upholstery choice meets many different stylistic needs.
Linen
Although luxurious to look at, this material wrinkles easily, isn't stain-resistant and doesn't endure in high-traffic environments so is better suited in adult-only rooms.
Cotton
Similar to linen in terms of stain resistance and durability (even when treated), this fabric requires attentive care. Thicker versions like canvas and denim are better choices for those with active lifestyles.
Wool
Durable and warm, this is a top choice if you want a chair that doesn't pill or wrinkle. It is also simple to spot clean and, because it holds dye well, comes in a wide variety of colours. However, if you live in a hotter climate, it's not ideal.
Velvet
Soft and luxurious, this fabric adds depth and definition to your spaces, bringing a sense of grandeur to your ensemble. Available in rich hues, it is a classic that has lasting appeal.
Mink
Hardwearing and resplendent, seating covered in this material type is a high ranker in contemporary homes and costs less than some of the other options. Mink dining room chairs are a particularly popular option.
Synthetic fibres
Although less esteemed than natural fibres, man-made options are made to be durable, stain-resistant and can hold up under the daily pressures of family life. Common offerings include polyester, olefin and nylon.
Construction
Great craftsmanship is imperative to the longevity of any luxury chair, so each aspect of its framework should be properly considered before an investment is made.
The frame
Forming the “bones” of your chair, this should be made from a quality material. Hardwoods like oak, walnut, ash and beech are excellent choices. In contemporary design, metal is also making its mark with aluminium and stainless steel ranking high on the list of sustainable options.
Joinery is also very important, so check that your chairs are held together with screws and dowels rather than staples and glue.
The springs
Webbing and mesh have become a cheap alternative to traditional springs in modern furniture construction but can easily damage, especially if subjected to heavy use. For a high-end product, opt for hand-knotted, coil or serpentine springs instead.
The padding
High-density foam has become a go-to filling for chair cushioning as it is both durable and long-lasting. It is also available layered in duck down for a more comfortable seating experience.
Faux leather
Made to resemble genuine hide, this upholstery material is synthetic and comprises a polyurethane film applied to a fabric backing. While inexpensive and easy to clean, this product will disintegrate and peel within a few years, making it a no-no in luxury design.
FCI's luxury chair buying guide
There are lots of different factors to consider when buying good seating, so whether you prefer a velvet dining room chair or a beautifully upholstered lounge set, this guideline will help you make the right decision:
Size
From a smart living room chair to a comfortable addition to your bedroom, your furniture should be in proportion to your room.
Avoid buying items that overwhelm the rest of your aesthetics. The easiest way to master this is to measure your space accurately and then plot your layout on a floor plan. If you are worried about doing it yourself, our design services are always available and we also offer AI and VR renderings to help facilitate the process.
Purpose
Every item in your home should serve a specific purpose, so think about how and where you will use each piece before you buy it. Leather dining room chairs, for example, would look out of place in a bedroom space.
You will also need to weigh up how much time you'll be spending seated and make a choice accordingly. An office chair with wheels, a swivel seat and adjustable features would be more beneficial for those who spend long hours at a desk than something less supportive.
Comfort
Your chairs should bring ease to your environment and provide everything necessary to keep you relaxed and aligned.
Make the right decision by considering the type of cushioning you choose, good lumbar support, adjustable features that let you recline or put your feet up, and an upholstery material that is breathable and soft to the touch.
Style
Opt for a style that compliments the rest of your home. This will include the colour, pattern and texture of the fabrics you choose as well as your overall choice of genre.
Contemporary chairs come in a wide range of designs from traditional profiles to minimalism, Art Deco, mid-century modern, boho, industrial and many more.
Durability
Chairs are one of the biggest investments you will make in your home decor endeavours, especially if you are looking for pairs or sets, so finding something that will endure for as long as possible is essential.
Check the upholstery and framework and select materials that will sustain your lifestyle.
Top chair manufacturers from around the world
FCI London is home to a range of over 700 luxury brands, giving you access to some of the finest furniture in the world. We also offer you the choice of shopping online or in-store. If you’d prefer the latter, we boast the largest award-winning showroom in London, where you’ll find everything from leather chairs and dining storage solutions to table lamps and counter barstools.
Here are our best-selling chair brands:
Al2
Leaning towards influences from the Scandi and Japandi genres, this brand is contemporary and minimalist, bringing ease and simplicity to your lifestyles. Brilliantly functional, they make each product with purpose, while ensuring that they are also unquestionably welcoming.
Bonaldo
From out-of-the-box barstools to dynamic armchairs, this discerning brand is in the business of producing cutting-edge seating solutions for discerning style aficionados. Introducing bold colours and innovative materials, each offering is functional and masterfully made.
Cattelan Italia
Offering everything from beautiful barstools to sophisticated dining chairs and stunning accent chairs, Cattelan Italia is recognised internationally for its quality collections. You can also have your chosen products customised in upholstery and materials that compliment your space.
Gamma & Dandy
Comfort comes first for the Gamma fan, who can expect a combination of exquisite craftsmanship, fine leather upholstery and designs that speak of opulence and sophistication. Always focused on the future, each product is fashion-forward while maintaining timeless appeal.
Giorgio Collection
From plush office chairs that take care of your posture to occasional seating and opulent dining sets, Giorgio Collection is the ultimate in upmarket Italian design. Putting its unique spin on an Art Deco influence, they have garnered a reputation for excellence and sophistication.
Laskasas
With a wide variety of eclectic designs that are widely welcomed by enthusiastic consumers, this Portuguese brand offers chairs that span every style from traditional to contemporary. It also allows you to customise your choices so that they fit perfectly into your living spaces.
Meridiani
Subscribing to the New Classic genre, Meridiani seamlessly combines convenience with adaptability to create elegant profiles synonymous with fine Italian design. Elegant and future-proof, its profiles can be described as “plush without the fuss”.
Naos
Specialising in furniture that is “against fixed ideas” Naos produces dining room chairs that pair beautifully with their innovative tables. Most have built-in springs to help you modulate the angle of the back, promoting optimal lumbar support and comfort.
Porada
A mega-brand of the industry, Porada was established in Italy in the 1960s and has mastered the art of merging traditional artisanal skills with modern technology. Known for their woodwork, they have perfected their style to suit contemporary spaces.
Latest trends in contemporary chair design
If you love following current trends, then these are the ones to look out for:
- Eco-friendliness: Reducing our carbon footprint and focusing on sustainability is one of the biggest endeavours of modern furniture manufacturers, so look out for recyclable and biodegradable materials as well as ethically harvested woods.
- Personalised profiles: High-end businesses offer a range of customisation options. This includes everything from upholstery to framework, colour, size, backrests, padding and finishes.
- Active seating solutions: Ergonomic designs are in hot demand and include increased lumbar support, swivel bases, height adjustability and wheels for extra mobility.
- Multi-functionality: From recliners to chairs on rockers, the key to modern furniture is its ability to be versatile. Offering a delicate balance between sitting upright and relaxing, mechanisms have become a big part of the internal workings of each profile, giving its users the best seating experience possible.
Luxury furniture at FCI London
Our vision has always been to bring customers the best brands in the world at competitive prices and, with over 700 to choose from, we've achieved exactly that.
Sales and discounts on chairs at FCI London
We are always on the lookout for fresh new designs and products which allows us to update our 30,000 sq. ft showroom regularly.
This means that from flash furniture sales to huge discounts on ex-display items, FCI London frequently offers you a chance to get luxury seating for less.
Since our clearance items are sold on a first come first serve basis, subscribing to our newsletter will help you stay updated about the latest offers and discounts.
We can also source any luxury chair brand for you at an unbeatable price, even if it’s not available anywhere in London or the UK. So if there’s a particular product that you’re interested in, just send us a WhatsApp or make an appointment to meet with our team and we can discuss your next great furniture find.
Book an appointment with an FCI expert
Whether you’re interested in armchairs, recliners, outdoor offerings or the perfect match for your dining room, our skilled team will help you make a selection that will elevate your home.
FAQs
When were chairs invented?
Chairs were first recorded in Egyptian times and went on to become a status symbol in high society. From royal thrones to the humble stool, they have been an icon of furniture design through the ages and have played a role in every genre in history.
Where to shop for chairs in London?
Over the last three decades, FCI London has curated fine furniture from some of the top manufacturers in the world. Now offering over 700 brands under one roof, it is a stalwart of London's design industry and well worth a visit if luxury and style are important to you.
What chairs are best for your back?
If you have issues with your neck, spine or lower back, then look for a seating solution that is ergonomic and provides optimal comfort and lumbar support. Recliner chairs are particularly useful, allowing you to sit back and relax without causing any pressure. You can shop for a wide range of them at FCI London.
What chairs go with glass dining tables?
Contemporary glass dining tables offer an opportunity for you to define your spaces with a standout chair. We recommend that you choose something with eye-catching upholstery, wooden legs and striking finishes to add visual impact to your ensemble.
What chairs go with a black dining table?
For a classic look, neutral colours like black, white or grey pair beautifully with a black dining room table. However, if you’re looking for something more vibrant, find a dining chair set upholstered in a bright colour or sophisticated pattern. FCI London offers customisations on most of their luxury brands, so make an appointment with one of its consultants to discuss your options.
Can chairs cause back pain?
Because we spend a great deal of our working day seated, badly constructed chairs can put pressure on your neck, spine and hips, leading to ongoing pain. This can be mitigated by investing in one that provides you with ergonomic lumbar support. Take a look at FCI London’s quality offerings for something fabulous.
What are the best chair brands?
Italian furniture is known for its attention to detail, innovation and exceptional craftsmanship and is a popular choice amongst discerning Londoners. You can find the best of the best at FCI, which stocks everything from beautiful Gamma & Dandy armchairs to dining sets with adjustable backrests from Naos. With many more brands on offer, we suggest that you make an appointment for a consultation and discuss your needs with their expert team.
A word from our customers
Founded in 1985, we've been in the luxury furniture and accessories business for over three decades and have nurtured long-term relationships with our suppliers, interior design partners and esteemed client base.
From helping you select a quality armchair to customising a set of bar stools, we make sure that your home landscapes are perfect in every way.
This is why our patrons think we're the experts of choice:
Most Popular on FCI London: Fitted Wardrobes | Luxury Designer Rugs | Luxury Sofas | Luxury Furniture Store | Luxury Interior Designers | Luxury Bedroom Furniture | Luxury Modern Chairs | Luxury Coffee Tables | Luxury Designer Kitchens | Luxury TV Units | Luxury Dining Tables
Transparency's kind of our thing.
Here's what real customers have to say about us.
