If you're looking to add a dash of elegant comfort to your living space, look no further than a bouclé accent chair. Bouclé is a decorative textile that is made up of little loops of yarn that curl to the surface, creating a delicately textured surface. High-end bouclé tends to be made from wool, but as it has filtered down to the mass market, you'll often find it in blends with, or solely made from, cheaper manmade fibers.
The sculptural silhouettes and sumptuous softness of these on-trend pieces make them a must-have for any style-conscious contemporary interior but some models do prioritize style over function, so while they're sensational to look at, they are less so to sink into, and can be a nightmare to keep clean.
However, if you have plenty of experience in shopping for the best accent chairs like I do, you'll know how to see beyond first impressions to consider the quality of the materials used in the upholstery for longevity and ease of cleaning, and the back, seat and – where applicable – arm support to assess them for comfort.
I've spent hours in-store and online looking at bouclé accent chairs and, together with input from the wider Livingetc team, have found the best of the best.
Effortlessly chic thanks to a dimensional texture, yet snug with sumptuous softness, a bouclé accent chair is always the best seat in the house, says interior designer Krysten Ledet, who thinks their beauty lies in juxtaposition: 'Boucle is a great material to add a cozy, textured look to contemporary accent chairs.'
My selection below is based on a combination of our style team's pick of the most on-trend shapes and silhouettes, my personal experience in shopping for good quality chairs, and hours spent reviewing hundreds of customer reviews online. As always, I've only shopped for these bouclé accent chairs at trusted, reputable retailers.
Bouclé Accent Chairs
Livingetc knows design. We spend hours testing and comparing the latest products, bringing only our edit of the very best to you. Find out more about how we review.
Price: $217.99
Was: $539.99
H29.1 x W30.7 x D30in; available in 30 colors and finishes; toss pillow included.
A bouclé accent chair that's also a swivel chair always wins points with me for versatility, but this model really edges out the competition because of its curvaceous shape, which our editor Hugh Metcalf rates highly for small spaces: 'Accent chairs with curves can help not just add character in any interior, but in tight rooms, such as bedrooms or small living rooms, they can look lighter than blockier models, which is why this chair is my top pick. I'm a seasoned Wayfair sale shopper, so I trust it as a brand to buy from, and this wood-framed chair has over 500 positive reviews, most of which highlight its excellent quality.'
Price: $799
H34.25 x W32 x D34.5in; available in 70+ colors and fabric combinations.
Wingback chairs are a timeless classic: first dreamt up by furniture designers in England in the 1600s, their shape was created to shield their users from drafts, and its those associations with coziness that have meant they have never fallen out of style. Perhaps the most recognizable iteration is Arne Jacobsen's iconic Egg Chair, but I love this subtler, more accessible wingback chair which, with bouclé upholstery, combines this classic design with modern textures. Flip between swatch selections of pewter, sand, and gray bouclé to suit your room scheme, or stick to classic ivory for a teddy bear-like hug. Note: this chair is a little bulkier than those above, so measure your space carefully.
Price: $229.99
Was: $289.99
H28.3 x W28.1 x D21in; available in seven neutral shades.
This chair silhouette was first spotted by our Content Director Lucy Searle at High Point Market back in 2022, and she has since seen it repeated by a range of top-flight furniture brands at both Paris and Milan furniture shows in 2024. 'The sleek Mid-Century lines of this wood-framed armchair add a designer touch to any room, and while its pared back silhouette might look too sophisticated for comfort, the height of the wraparound back and its foam-filled seat cushion ensure it's as cozy an accent chair as you'd hope to find,' she says. Online reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with its quality highlighted; note its narrow depth, making it perfect for a corner of a small room.
Price: $244.99
Was: $559.90
H30.5 x W24 x D29in; available in ivory and charcoal.
Although our style team voted this wide side chair into the mix for its unfussy arc shape, I love it for its generous seat depth and lack of arms, too. Why? The seat depth, along with its foam sprung seat construction, makes it as comfortable an armchair to sink into as any, with one reviewer describing it as 'sooo comfy'. Meanwhile its lack of arms means that it's again ideal for small spaces. For me, this chair's ergonomic design is boosted by the touchably soft bouclé upholstery, making it the perfect cozy minimalist living room idea. Loving the dark wood feet, too, though you'd need to match or contrast it carefully with other woods in the room.
Price: $749.25
Was: $999
H29.75 x W32.75 x D36in; available in 20 fabric options.
Low-backed armchairs don't just look more inviting than some of their high-backed counterparts (not looking at you, wingbacks, you're good), their shape can also complement a low-ceilinged room perfectly, helping to correct the space's proportions. Designed in collaboration with Ross Cassidy, who is known for creating rooms furnished in inviting, sinuous curves, this bouclé accent chair's low back gives it an oversized silhouette that's pure magic. Its rounded walnut legs effortlessly ground its bubbly proportions, whilst adding a compelling organic touch. We love it in black but if you want yours to draw less attention, look to the lighter, neutral fabrics available.
Price: $550
H29.9 x W31.5 x D36.6in; available in earthy colors.
We couldn't let this edit pass without adding our favorite slipper chair to the bouclé accent chair mix. This curvy chair has been highlighted by our design editor Aditi Sharma Maheshwari who loves it for the simplicity of its silhouette and its useful swivel function. Made by Joss & Main, a furniture company I rate highly for its quality pieces and trend-lead shapes and fabrics, for me, this chair's combination of good looks and what reviewers say about how comfortable it is makes it a winner. Its low-slung seat and back make for an ultra-relaxed vibe, and reviewers quote it as perfect for lounging. Choose between ivory, black, or gray bouclé upholstery.
Price: $569.99
Was: $599.99
H28.7 x W47.63 x D33.85in
A good 10in wider than the rest of our finds, this generous bouclé accent chair makes the cut for me, not just because of its generous proportions (part chair, part small sofa) but also because of the Art Deco design details that are reminiscent of Eileen Gray's sublime 1927 Bibendum chair that has inspired lookalikes for nearly 100 years. Its tufted stitching feels equal parts retro and refined, while its gilded golden feet add a touch of subtle glamor – though be careful to match other metals in the room with them carefully. Unlike some of the chairs in our selection, this one is meant for lounging, so it's worth knowing that there's extra comfort in the seat pad from increased foam thickness.
Price: $549
H26 x W21.5 x D23.5in
The teeniest of our selection of bouclé accent chairs, this cute find, created exclusively for CB2 in collaboration with the Barcelona-based contemporary design studio Mermelada Estudio, was designed for the vanity, but its stacked silhouette makes it perfect as a small dining or living room chair, though bear in mind that the seat height, at 18.25in is relatively low so you'll need to match it carefully with an equally low-slung dining or coffee table for the proportions to work together. Not quite black, not quite gray, this darker take on the usual bouclé accent chair adds a dash of drama to a room. Wood-framed, it has a supportive cushion that invites lingering.
Price: $898
H30 x W29.25 x D34in
A departure from the softer, curvier models in our edit, this bouclé accent chair is the top pick of our color and trends editor Lilith Hudson. 'I love its Mid-Century looks, and particularly appreciate the contrast between the deep seat and relatively unstructured back cushion, and the pencil-thin steel legs and ash wood arms wrapped in leather coils. This type of chair appeals to me not just because it could be a one-off vintage find (swap out or cover that back cushion to individualize it further), but because it can work in any room – it would look just as good by a living room fireplace as it would in the corner of a bedroom or home office.' If you like this but want a higher back, take a look at Anthro's Bouclé Headrest Lounge Chair, too.
How should I style bouclé accent chairs?
Bouclé upholstery, like velvet, draws attention. Since bouclé is often in ivory or white, interior designer Krysten Ledet likes to incorporate accent chair covered in it 'in rooms with darker color palettes. The juxtaposition between light and dark will add another layer of eye-catching contrast,' she explains. She adopts the opposite rule for instances in which she comes across darker hued bouclé accent chairs, situating them in light, bright rooms instead.
Should a bouclé accent chair be a different color to the couch?
You'll often see white bouclé accent chairs matched with white bouclé couches and the result is a calming, clean finish that plays to the principles of comfortable minimalism in interior design perfectly. However, the very purpose of an 'accent' chair is to create a moment within the space, so choosing a color that contrasts whether dramatically or gently can be useful in disrupting the scheme a little. Bear in mind that the more intriguing the shape of the chair, the more of an impact it will make on your scheme, so don't make a complicated silhouette fight for attention with too many other sculptural pieces.
-
The 5 Art and Design Exhibitions in London That Are on Our Culture Editor's Radar Right NowFrom public art installations to design-centric group shows, this selection of creative events open in the British capital will immerse you in the breadth of its cultural scene in and outside of traditional gallery spaces
-
Before and After — This Kansas Kitchen Went From Dark and Dated to Open and Bright, Here's HowThanks to Forward Design Architecture, this once-old-fashioned kitchen now feels breezy and is wonderfully connected to the home's primary rooms
