Barrel Back Chairs
You will feel like you are sitting in the lap of luxury when you plop yourself down in one of these upholstered barrel back chairs. They are very handsome and come in tons of upholstery options, not to mention they're very well made by some of the finest furniture makers. They have a classic look that will properly accent your space in style in class.
Cane Barrel Back Chair
$550 $799.99
Cane Barrel Back Chair
Birch Lane™
$550 $799.99
Made with sturdy and durable birch wood and cane, this cane barrel back chair has a tightback inset fabric cushion. The matching seat cushion features web suspension for support. Measuring 27.5” wide by 28.25” deep, the chair back reaches 33.5” high and has continuous sloped arms.
Designer Advice:
We love the look of this cane barrel back chair. The combination of material and style suits both a traditional and transitional style home. Create a color palette for the rest of the room by first repeating the greige fabric color and the cane stain. Add a darker wood stain color, a little black, and then two or three accent colors.
Commercial Barrel Back Chair
$259.99 $469
Commercial Barrel Back Chair
Gracie Oaks
$259.99 $469
The stained legs on this barrel back chair are a unique driftwood color, giving the chair a contemporary look. It’s upholstered in a commercial-grade cream or gray linen that’s flame retardant. Measuring 28” high, the barrel back partially wraps around the sides of the chair.
Designer Advice:
This barrel back chair is made to commercial-grade standards. They’re tested for durability, stability, and weight-bearing qualities. Built to survive eight hours of use in a day, these chairs are ideal for doctor’s or lawyer’s waiting rooms. You can set them up around the perimeter of the lobby or pair two on either side of a sofa that’s upholstered in a contrasting color.
Velvet Barrel Back Chair
$314.99 $599
Velvet Barrel Back Chair
Etta Avenue™
$314.99 $599
Velvet upholstery and a brushed gold frame combine to give this barrel-back chair a contemporary and glamorous look. You can choose from one of the seven fabric colors available. The chair weighs 37 lbs and can support up to 300 lbs. It comes fully assembled.
Mid Century Modern Barrel Back Chair
Mid Century Modern Barrel Back Chair
Steelside™
Available in black or dark moss green, this mid-century barrel back chair’s upholstery is made with polyurethane that looks like leather. The chair seat base features formed plywood and comes in one piece. On delivery, screw the four wood legs into the base of the seat.
Designer Advice:
The scale of this mid-century barrel chair makes it ideal for small-space living. It takes up only 19.5” by 18.25” of space at its widest point. The seat height is just under 18”, so it can do double duty as an occasional chair for a living space and for sitting at a dining table or a desk.
Vintage Style Barrel Back Chair
Vintage Style Barrel Back Chair
Caracole Classic
This one-of-a-kind vintage barrel back chair uses coral-like detailing in the leg and chair supports. The organic design is made from solid cast brass that’s finished in gold brush with white enamel. The seat and chair back are upholstered in a polyester blend fabric over a combination of foam and feather filling.
Buying Guide
Chloe is a highly-regarded expert in all things vintage and antique. She’s excited to share her vast knowledge with readers and clients wishing to infuse their homes with a mixture of old-time warmth and modern comfort. In addition to her design work, Chloe regularly volunteers at her local community center, teaching DIY projects to adults and kids.
Barrel back chairs are chairs which consist of a seat and then a large back piece which surrounds the chair and provides arms too. The name is taken from the fact that these chairs do look like they are made somewhat in the shape of a barrel, and their short legs often contribute to this look too. This is a look which has been featured in homes for decades, if not centuries, and you can opt for the modern versions of the chair or the traditional furniture.
The patterns will vary on upholstered barrel back chairs. Since they are upholstered, the most common material is fabric, creating a comfortable environment in your home. Let's consider some of the most popular patterns that people choose when buying barrel back chairs.
- Subtle floral pattern: This is normally upholstered using one main color for the chair. For example, light brown or beige are common colors. The material is then embroidered with flowers and leaves which are a shade just slightly darker or lighter than the main color. This means that the floral pattern doesn't stand out too much, but is obviously not a completely plain piece of furniture.
- Brighter floral pattern: Similar to the subtle pattern mentioned above, the brighter floral patterns have more contrast and are therefore more colorful. While the main background color might be beige or cream, the flowers will normally have some pink, green or purple thread running through them to add color. If choosing this pattern, consider any other prominent colors in the room to decide whether it will clash or work well.
- Plain pattern: Since many of these chairs have an antique frame, the fabric upholstery is the chance to make it a little more modern. Since floral patterns are very traditional, many buyers like to consider plainer solid colors. Dark colors are popular if you intend to make the barrel chair a feature piece in a room or the only furniture for seating, while lighter colors work well as part of a wider living room suite.
A common look for older chairs is the distressed wooden look. While this may have been reinforced with newer wooden materials, the upholsterer is careful not to force the chair to look its antique look. A distressed frame paired with modern upholstery can create a beautiful contrast which is ideal for homes furnished with a shabby chic design.
