Best Swivel Chairs for Living Room Spaces and Nooks

Ian Mutuli
Updated on
Ian Mutuli

Ian Mutuli

Founder and Managing Editor of Archute. He is also a graduate architect from The University of Nairobi, Kenya.
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Besides replacing that mismatched traditional loveseat pair right in front of your TV, swivel chairs are the perfect way to create a cozy, sophisticated and luxurious look. These stylish chairs come in different fabric options and lovely design styles and finishes. The best swivel chairs for living room spaces will compliment your home decor, whether as a single chair or a perfect pair.

Like any purchase, you'll need ample research to help you understand what product suits you most. Lucky for you, we did all the search and testing, so you won't have to. So besides helping you find the best swivel chair styles that won't need you breaking the bank, we'll help you understand what determines the ideal features most suitable for you.

Why Are Swivel Chairs so Popular?

First, what is a swivel chair?

Instead of traditional chair legs, it is a chair with a 360° swivel base. This allows you to take this chair in any direction, full rotation, with minimal effort – making for an elegant way to enjoy your living space without you ever having to get up or physically turn, right?

Whenever we hear the word swivel chair we tend to imagine office chairs. However a few stylish, a bit sophisticated swipes and the nice modern swivel chair has jumped from the board room, to the living room – particularly in small spaces.

There are many reasons to get a stylish swivel chair, which include:

  • Did we mention the stylish part? A swivel chair is the perfect furniture piece to take your home decor to its A game.
  • Comfortable and cool, these chairs make great alternatives to lounge chairs and are a good way of adding personality to your living room and creating conversation areas.
  • Most of the swivel chairs have the lean small profile owing to which they are suitable for small living rooms and small spaces.
  • Versatile enough for use in an office space, library, nursery, reception area or study area, these are the best swivel chairs.
  • Since most swivel chairs have a matching ottoman, they are a great alternative to rocking chairs.
  • If you have had any type of physical pain or injury, a comfortable swivel chair is perfect for supporting your back or neck.
  • Swivel chairs are most commonly found with no arms, and so are perfect for those with pets.
  • Since it’s a swivel chair, you can sit and turn it to face any direction which makes it the perfect chair for living spaces that have an irregular layout or a number of focal points.

TIP: When measuring and planning on the space you want to use then make sure to always consider the diameter of the swivel chair so you can make sure you have enough space for it to rotate fully.

Below, we found the best swivel chairs of different styles, upholstery, shape and price points.

1. Oxford Baby Uptown Upholstered Swivel hair, Boucle White

Oxford Baby Uptown Upholstered Swivel Glider and...
  • EXCELLENT COMFORT, UNLIMITED: With an ergonomic backrest support,...
  • TOOL FREE ASSEMBLY AND EASY TO USE RECLINING MECHANISM: Setting...
  • GENDER NEUTRAL FOR EVERY ROOM: This glider recliner comes in a...
  • MADE WELL: The Uptown has a solid metal base that easily supports...
  • KEY SPECS: The Uptown glider weight 84 pounds and has a weight...

The Oxford Baby Uptown Upholstered Swivel Glider and Recliner is the combination of fashion, comfort and purpose to fulfill the requirements of parents to be and their babies. This nursery chair comes in a flexible design and luxurious fabrics to enhance the beauty of any room while providing ample comfort during feeding, rocking or snuggling.

The Oxford Baby Uptown Swivel Glider and Recliner is both fashionable and functional for any nursery or other room of the house. This multi-functional glider is simply a luxurious piece with boucle fabric and perfect ergonomic design to be an invaluable addition to families with babies. Used for rocking your baby this chair decors with style or for reading a book at night, this gives great comfort with elegance.

2. COLAMY Upholstered 360° Swivel Accent Chair (Set of 2)

COLAMY Upholstered 360° Swivel Accent Chair Set of 2...
  • Comfort and Durability: Crafted from high-quality polyester with...
  • Mid-century Style: Ideal for enhancing any living space, this...
  • Designed with Traditional Elegance: The chair showcases...
  • Optimal Size and Comfort: This chair is designed to perfectly...
  • Easy Assembly and Support: We prioritize your satisfaction! This...

The COLAMY Upholstered 360° Swivel Accent Chair Set  has one of the amazing designs that features style, comfort and ergonomics. These are chair designs that have strong resemblance to those of the middle of the 20th century and are best suited for the living room, bedroom, or reading corner. Apart from the comfort provided by its soft and well-cushioned padded seat and back these chairs can enhance the look of any home.

The COLAMY Upholstered 360° Swivel Accent Chair Set is perfect for any buyer who seeks both comfort and functionality in their arm chair. Being a mid-century design, this set can now serve many purposes in a living room or a bedroom. Whether it is a time for a party and guests are over or a time where one just wants to relax alone, these chairs offer style and comfort appropriately.

3. COLAMY Swivel Accent Chair Barrel Chair, 360° Swivel Chair 

Swivel Accent Chair Barrel Chair, 360° Swivel Chair...
  • 360° SWIVEL CHAIR: Experience effortless rotation with our...
  • ACCENT CHAIR WITH STORAGE: Featuring a compact and elegant build,...
  • INVEST IN DETAIL: Crafted from high-quality materials, our swivel...
  • PERFECT SMALL ACCENT CHAIR: Compact yet stylish appeal, our...
  • NO NEED TO INSTALL: The swivel living room chair is fully...

The COLAMY Swivel Accent Chair is a stylish and versatile chair that can be used as accent chair for living room, bedroom or even office. This refined barrel chair adds extra function to a small room while looking like just an ordinary chair – indeed, there is an incredible amount of storage space hidden inside! Neutral color and comfortable design of the fabric makes it universal in every sense, perfect for people intending to get both great looking and sturdy sofa.

The COLAMY Swivel Accent Barrel Chair is one of the best home furniture accessory for a number of reasons, they are comfortable, functional, stylish and space-saving. They have a concealed storage cabinet which makes it perfect for small areas; The swivel increases its usability. Whether placed in the living room to be a center of attention or placed in a bedroom to address a need, this chair is a perfect fit for contemporary home.

4. COLAMY Swivel Accent Chairs for Living Room

Sale
COLAMY Swivel Accent Chairs for Living Room, 32Inches...
  • ⏩MODERN LUXURIOUS CHENILLE FABRIC AND SLEEK DESIGN-Experience...
  • ⏩SPACIOUS&THICKENED UPHOLSTERED CHAIR-Boasting a generous...
  • ⏩360° SWIVEL LIVING ROOM CHAIR-Effortlessly interact with your...
  • ⏩WIDE COLOR OPTIONS IDEAL FOR MULTIPLE SETTINGS-Choose from a...
  • ⏩SOLID CONSTRUCTION-The overall frame of this accent chair is...

The COLAMY Swivel Accent Chair is as stylish as it is comfortable and relatively versatile. The base of this armchair has a swiveling function and the chair itself has a large seat as well as a comfortable back rest pillow Making it ideal for use in nurseries, living rooms or bedrooms. It has a slim barrel shape and while the upholstered in white fabric will make it easy to blend in any modern or transitional homes.

The COLAMY Swivel Accent Chair with Plush Back Pillow is a perfect fashion statement for everyone. The fully reclining, 360° swivel mechanism allows any parent with childcare duties to appreciate this chair in the nursery, while its sleek design would look lovely in any living room. The upholstery is white, which creates a chic appearance; however, it means that it has to be cleaned often. This chair is a comfortable one can also be used to complement any home.

5. LINSY Swivel Accent Chair, Velvet Small Barrel Chair with Ottoman

LINSY Swivel Accent Chair, Velvet Small Barrel Chair...
  • 【360-Degree Swivel Design】Introducing our latest innovation,...
  • 【Velvet Armchair with Ottoman】This modern swivel chair is...
  • 【Ideal for Compact Spaces】Perfect for small living room,...
  • 【Unique Blossom-Inspired Design】LINSY “Blossom Chair”...
  • 【Stylish Accent Addition】The barrel chair serves as an...

The LINSY Swivel Accent Chair is ergonomic, stylish, comfortable and fulfills its purpose of serving as a additional chair for the living room, bedroom, baby room or workplace. With its ultra-soft velvet fabric and dimensionally small size of 24 x 24 x 35 inches, it comes with a 360° swivel function and a stylish matching ottoman for comfort to boot.

The LINSY Swivel Accent Chair with Ottoman is highly recommended for those in search of fashionable and ergonomic chair in a compact design. Its manufacturing use of velvet materials, its compact barrel shape and the included pull-out footrest makes it stylish as well as functional. Though it does not have features of reclining it is ergonomically designed and swivel which makes it very comfortable for different purposes.

What to Consider as You Buy the Best Swivel Chairs for Living Room Spaces?

A right swivel chair can do the trick in your living room to turn it from drab into fab. However there are different types of swivel chairs, and it might seem a bit overwhelming to decide what is the most suitable one for your space.

A. What Type of Chair?

Generally, the best swivel chair should fit well with the rest of your furniture and still keep its purpose. Luckily, there are lots of different ways you can style it fitting all kinds of aesthetic looks.

Types of Chairs

i) Armchairs

Just as the name suggests, these chairs feature arms in their construction.

ii) Slipper Chairs

They are armless, giving them a lighter, smaller, and more streamlined look. However, these chairs suit all sorts of areas, but they are also well suited if you have a room with an open floor plan or one with lots of traffic.

iii) Side Chairs

The arms of these chairs were left out but they’re smaller than dining chairs and have higher backs and legs. Best suiting for spaces with more visual weight, or a sidewall. They are perfect for adding seating without crowding a room. When coupled with a writing desk, they also work well.

iv) Lounge Chairs

These are often the best if you want big chairs in wide and deep seating space. And most also include matching ottomans for additional comfort.

v) Barrel Chairs

They are round backed, barrel shaped, they cut them in the middle vertically. Because of the circular design, they suit small settings.

vi) Club Chairs

They originated in social clubs; they were designed to provide a next level of comfort. High arms, a thick padded frame and rich quality upholstery are all on offer.

B. What Is the Purpose?

The best swivel chair styles depend on why you’re getting the swivel chair. So here are some questions you can ask yourself to help narrow down your options and identify the best choice:

  • How will you use the chair in the room?
  • Will the chair need to be moved as often?
  • How much support do you need?
  • Are you going for a casual or a more formal design?
  • How much space is in the room?

The chair that fills out most of the spaces in this checklist is most suited for you.

C. What Interior Design Style?

Here are some interior design styles and tips to help you:

Interior Design Styles

  • Modern look: The straight clean lines and minimal curves give this clean, minimalist look. In this decor style leather swivel chairs do well.
  • Mid-century modern style: However, it´s still a minimalist look that tries to emphasize esoteric beauty and functionality of the industrial age with construction materials. Take the 1930's - 1960's wood from Scandinavia, for example.
  • Contemporary style: This is a warmer look with a bit more ornamental and curve to it but this still belongs to a modern style of bookcase. And modern swivel chairs do this well.
  • Traditional style: This look has curvy and ornamented furniture styles resulting in a cozy atmosphere for your room.
  • Transitional look: This furniture style is a combination of modern to traditional styles.
  • Rustic look: This furniture style incorporates rough and on-the-surface vulgar appearance of the use fabric and those metallic framework that has created a look of antiques.

These are the most popular decor design projects you can go by.

D. What Fabric Upholstery?

You can choose from fabric options that suit your specific taste. Ultra suede and leather are two of the most durable fabric choices. That’s unfortunate, because that also explains why leather swivel chairs are so expensive.

The lower priced options are cotton, polyester, and synthetics blends but not that they are any less durable. They are also easier kept. In addition, these fabrics can be pretreated with chemical stain protection treatments. But other fabric choices can be velvet, linen, microfiber, and wool.

Frequently Asked Questions on the Best Swivel Chairs for Living Room Spaces

1. How much space should you maintain between swivel chairs?

Ideally, you'd need roughly 40" of space between a pair.

2. Where should you put a swivel chair in the living room?

The most popular spots to place your swivel chair include:

  • Near a coffee table
  • In the empty corner
  • Next to the fireplace
  • Across or perpendicularly to a couch or loveseat

Ultimately the right place will depend on the shape of your living room and the decor style you want to pull off.

Ian Mutuli

About the author

Ian Mutuli

Founder and Managing Editor of Archute. He is also a graduate architect from The University of Nairobi, Kenya.
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