Pairing Accent Chairs & Sofas + 10 Affordable Online Accent Chairs

Rue Magazine/Gillian Segal Design

In my last blog, 10 Affordable Online Sofas To Elevate Your Living Room, I shared some affordable online sofas to instantly add style to your living space (if that wasn’t obvious from the title). In this blog, I will be discussing some things to think about when paring accent chairs and sofas + I will be playing matchmaker and selecting an ideal affordable accent chair to match with each sofa from my last blog.

Making the right sofa armchair match is an art form. You can purchase the passé three-piece living room set, but that’s so boring and not a hot style choice! So before I reveal the happy pairs, let’s outline a few additional things to think about when you are paring accent chairs and sofas.

Accent Chair + Sofa Pairing Things to Think About

LuLu & Georgia

• Scale - This is pretty straightforward. If you are designing a small room, don’t buy huge furniture that doesn’t fit or feels oversized. This applies when pairing too, make sure you are selecting an accent chair that is proportional to your sofa.

• Shape - If you have a sofa with a curved frame in your living space, then you will want to carry that motif over to the accent chair. Don’t think that the overall shape needs to be an exact match, but perhaps there is a curve in the arms, back, or cushion of the chair that compliments the sofa nicely. It is still an accent chair, after all, so you want to be sure you are accent-ing!

• Seat Height - To avoid a cluttered feeling space, you will want to take seat height into account. Your accent chair and sofa do not need to have the exact same seat height, but it’s important to keep them relatively close. If you have a multi-use space, consistent seat heights will help to identify zones - the dining zone will have a higher seat height than the living zone.

• Color - The color of your sofa and accent chair should differ, but still complement one another. Color pairing is a whole skillset and perhaps a separate blog post in itself, but I generally prefer to introduce a pop of color against a neutral tone, i.e. a cream sofa with a rust accent chair, or a vibrant green sofa paired with a tan accent chair. A monochromatic color scheme is an easy way to add color without having a chaotic color story; like pairing a deep violet and pastel lilac. Of course, if you are brave and like a really bold color combo, like a fuchsia sofa and orange accent chair, then think about how the colors relate to each other and make sure that they are a suitable match. Color is difficult so a safe bet is opting for a neutral, minimal color pallet - it will never fail you!

• Texture - Similar to color, texture is an important factor when selecting your sofa/chair combo. So, if you have a leather sofa opt for a textile, like linen or velvet, to accent the leather. This can be taken a step further with the frame; for example, pairing a wood cane accent chair with a chenille sofa. Utilizing texture is a design hack that will help you to create a more layered and visually interesting room.

• Pattern - Using patterns is a great way to add color AND texture. If selecting a patterned piece of furniture, you will want to be sure there are other elements, like shape or color, that connect the patterned piece to its counterpart. Remember, that all patterns do not have to be bold or even conventional. Think of a channel-tufted velvet couch, the striped pattern is created from the texture of the tufting. Visually, it’s the same effect as a striped textile, but it’s a little more subtle to the eye.

Rue Magazine/ Design - Bungalowe

Overall I think the trick to mastering the art of furniture matchmaking is finding the right balance of similar and contrasting elements in your furniture pieces. It’s a lot of information, but remember that design is 19307% subjective and if you are selecting pieces of furniture you love, you really can’t go wrong. To visualize some of the tips, swipe through my accent chair + sofa pairings below. Also, if this is overwhelming, consider working with an interior designer or consultant - that’s what we’re here for! If you want to work with me, send me a message!

10 Affordable Online Accent Chairs + Sofa Pairings

All of the accent chairs in the gallery are available in Switzerland and under CHF 600.

The Donovan from Maisons du Monde

Both pieces have relaxed, more contemporary frames, but are upholstered with natural materials. The plush cream textile on the sofa compliments the worn leather on the chair. As I said, you can’t go wrong with a neutral color pallet!

Accent Chair - Maisons Du Monde, CHF 359.90
Sofa - Sofacompany, CHF 1299

The Elori from La Redoute

This is a great example of how to introduce pattern and color into your accent chair + sofa combo. There are similarities in shape (curved edges) and the pink from the sofa is picked up as an accent color in the chair. This duo is fun, eclectic, but still elegant and fresh feeling.

Accent Chair - La Redoute, CHF 535
Sofa - Made, CHF 1169

The Bourbourg from Home24

The woven leather in this accent chair provides a great contrast to the clean, crisp modern sofa. Leather will relax your interior, so if you like a more casual, inviting setting, throw some leather into your design! Something else to note is the low profile of both the chair and sofa, which will help to define a “zone”, as mentioned in the blog.

Accent Chair - Home24, CHF 469.95
Sofa - Home24, CHF 1399.95

The Cole from Maisons du Monde

A traditional, tufted sofa like this one is best paired with a neutral contemporary accent chair. I chose a contemporary cream chair that not only complements the textiles of the sofa but also the frame. The contemporary frame on the chair modernizes the traditional shape of the sofa.

Accent Chair - Maisons du Monde, CHF 419.90
Sofa - Maisons du Monde, CHF 1499

The Montola form Home24

It’s the contrast that makes this accent chair and sofa duo work. The contrast in shape, color, and materials all work together to create a sultry, modern, industrial style. If you are struggling to find an accent chair for your sofa, leather is always a good go-to.

Accent Chair - Home24, CHF 329.95
Sofa - Galaxus, CHF 1478

The Cebu from Galaxus

I go back and forth with rattan. Sometimes it feels like a dying trend, but when paired with the right sofa, I think rattan can be a fun texture to introduce into an interior. The frame and legs of the chair work to modernize the bohemian duo. Take note that the rust sofa is boxy and has no open space below, contrasting well with the chair’s very leggy, open profile.

Accent Chair - Galaxus, CHF 354
Sofa - Sofacompany, CHF 1299

The Polly from Galaxus

A perfect gray, monochromatic match made in heaven! Though different in shape, these pieces share pleasing curved, contemporary lines which make the accent chair + sofa work well together. This duo is sophisticated and could work in a variety of spaces. I particularly enjoy the interesting shape of the chair!

Accent Chair - Galaxus, CHF 309
Sofa - Westwing, CHF 1499

The Ancelie from La Redoute

Like leather, linen also adds a relaxed sophistication to a room. Because linen is a natural fiber you might think about selecting other natural materials to add to your design. For instance, this natural fiber, woven accent chair complements the washed linen sofa nicely and the sharp shape of the chair provides a nice contrast to the over-stuffed cushy couch.

Accent Chair - La Redoute, CHF 410
Sofa- Maisons du Monde, CHF 1499

The Piet form Sofacompany

Though entirely different in shape, there are subtle similarities between this sofa and accent chair that make them a good match. You will notice the chrome finishes and contemporary flair that the two pieces share, balance out the contrasting frame shapes.

Accent Chair - Sofacompany, 469
Sofa - Home24, CHF 1249.95

The Torrance from Galaxus

This pair shares very little in material makeup, but you will note that they both share downward sloping arms. The greige seat and back of the chair pairs nicely with the dusty teal velvet from the sofa. The sofa is a more contemporary take on mid-century modern, where the chair is more traditional in design; but because both share mid-century roots, they work well together without feeling like a theme.

Accent Chair - Galaxus, CHF 261
Sofa - La Redoute, CHF 1225