Ergonomic Living Room Furniture
Buy the best ergonomic living room furniture selected and recommended by interior designers. By Caroline Patterson, Sophie Flaxman.
Standard living room furniture, unless you seeked otherwise out, is largely boxy. Squares and rectangles, with corresponding cushions to match. Ergonomic living room furniture takes a different slant on the nature of living room design. Some items are still all right angles, but they are created with a more comfortable fit for the body. And some of the chairs come in fun colors.
Ergonomic Living Room Furniture
Buying Guide
Caroline Patterson
Interior Design Expert
Caroline is a young, New York-based interior designer and home decor writer, obsessed with textiles and designer furniture. Backed with rigorous training from a prestigious design school, as well as a profound understanding of material quality and fabric care, she offers spot-on advice on how to furnish your place with reliable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing pieces.
Sophie Flaxman
Interior Design Expert
Sophie hops between Buenos Aires and London, keeping on top of interior trends and gathering inspiration from around the world. She is a freelance writer specializing in interior design and lifestyle, and an experienced communicator with a background in public relations and marketing. Sophie is also an interior design student at KLC, getting ready to tell stories through interiors that inspire and serve, and create experiences worth remembering.
Buying living room furniture, specifically loveseats, sofas, and chairs, must be treated like buying shoes. You're supposed to have showpieces that are fashionable, sculptural, and collectible.
However, if you truly want to relax, you'll need ergonomic living room furniture that fits you well like a pair of quality running shoes that has just the right amount of cushion and support.
Read our buying guide below to find the best furniture pieces for your body.
- Sofa beds are best for those who live in smaller accommodations because they allow guests to sleep without the need for extra bedrooms. Most sofa beds available in the market today come with foam mattresses. They are adequate for occasional use only. If you’ll be able to spend more on a sofa bed, consider the unit that has a sprung mattress as it offers extra comfort.
- Lounges are often sold according to the number of people that need to be accommodated. You may want to entertain often in your living room. If so, then consider the sofa that has a seating capacity of 6-8 people. Modular lounges are popular today as they can be used independently or put together. They are ideal for those with irregularly shaped living rooms and those who require flexible seating arrangements. If you constantly find yourself stretching out when you’re on the couch, get a lounge that has a chaise so you’ll be able to lie comfortably without taking up the entire seating space.
- Recliner lounges and chairs are good for those who want to take their downtime seriously. They're best for kicking back into the most comfortable seating position, which is reclined, for unparalleled comfort. Recliners may come with or without footrests that can support your feet as you recline.
If you will be using your furniture daily, you need durable fabric. Linen and cotton will prove to be your best options, but make sure you check for loose weaves as they can snag. Another terrific option for you is synthetic microfiber, which is capable of mimicking most fabrics. It's stain resistant as well. Linen and cotton can be treated to resist staining, but they are not as easy to care for and clean.
Your other options are blends of synthetic and natural fibers but they tend to fade in just a year. Leather and wool are stunning and strong, but they can be expensive. Fabrics with patterns that are woven in have the tendency to wear better compared to fabrics with printed patterns. As for silk, it’s sleek but it is fragile. Pile fabrics like boucle, velvet, and chenille are popular as they're capable of masking dirt and resisting wear even in a high traffic area.
Consider how living room furniture (e.g. chair and sofa) fits the body frames of the users. A frame that’s low to the ground can be difficult for people to stand up after sitting for a long time. Sofas with deep seats may also leave petite persons with their feet several inches away from the floor. To find out which is best for your home, think about the function of the room where the furniture will be placed as well as the people who will be using it.