Old-Fashioned Is In: All About Wingback Chairs
Trends come and go, but some interior design elements remain. Such is the case of the wingback chair, also known as a fireside chair or simply a wing chair. With a unique profile and silhouette, it seems that the wingback is in vogue.
A Longterm Classic
The wingback armchair is not a happy design accident; indeed, these winged chairs were created with purpose in mind. Originally, the side wings of these high back chairs were meant to shield the user from cold drafts as well as the scorch of fireside heat. The name “fireside chairs” is quite fitting, and it helps explaining why these chairs feel so cosy and secure. The design goes back to late 17th century, and has gone through many phases over the years. The popularity of the fireside armchair is obvious when most houses featured a fireplace. Nowadays, not all houses have or need fireplaces, so it would be expected for the wingback to fall out of grace. And yet, this classic design remained present through many iterations: from functional to popular, to high-brow and posh, to a grandfather’s chair, and finally to today’s modern wingback chair. Our Camila range is a great example of the latter, and it comes with a footstool to boot!
Pro tip: Classic designs go best with classic interiors, but do not be discouraged - mixing modern and classic furniture is a quite ubiquitous practice. The devil’s in the details.
Versatility in Modern Decor
The wingback chair never really left he fashion scene, and managed to remain relevant and present through multiple different iterations. Today, this versatility and adaptability is the reason for the returning popularity of the winged armchair. With its functionality no longer needed, the visual appeal became the focus. You can find these chairs upholstered in every type of fabric and material: velvet wingback chairs, leather wingback chairs, boucle wingback chairs - all of these are popular options people opt for. Different designs change the character of the wingback chair, so it can go from an old-fashioned leather high wingback chair to a modern and elegant velvet piece with ease. Indeed, wingback accent chairs are all the rage now; and for good reason. The Velvet Orange Brianna Wingback is on the smaller side and works perfectly as an accent piece, with a strong colour that can really add the it factor to your home. The silhouette of this type of chair ensures that it is never boring, making it an ideal decorative piece. Another statement to the versatility of wingbacks is how well they go with fun patchwork upholstery. These can still be adjusted to your current decor, as they come with background colour options. The patterned Green Chesterfield Wingback showcases why the dominant colour in multicoloured pieces is the most important; while it is not strictly green, it is not a stretch to call it a green chair!
Pro tip: If you cannot decide on a uniform colour scheme, consider a multicoloured wingback. It will not clash with any accent colours you decide to introduce later.
The Perfect Choice for You
Whether you are after the classic leather wingback look, or you are looking for a modern accent piece, considering a wingback chair is a must. These remain a favourite for cosy fireside chairs, providing a warm spot to unwind or read a book. A high wingback chair can transform a simple corner of your home into a stylish reading nook. Some modern designs remove the armrests or go away with the tall back look, perfect for a less busy interior vision. If you are considering a wingback but cannot decide what design to go for, check out our Liana range and our recliner wingback collection.
Pro tip: If you have a colour scheme in mind, try deciding on the upholstery colour of your wingback chair first and see where it takes you. Textures have a much smaller impact on the look of your home.
