Best Armchairs for Small Living Rooms and Flats

Key takeaways

• Measure your room carefully and aim for compact armchairs around 65–80 cm wide with slim arms and a shallow depth to leave clear walkways.
• Chairs with raised legs and light, neutral upholstery help a small living room feel more open and airy.
• Two smaller armchairs can sometimes work better than one small sofa, especially in narrow or awkwardly shaped rooms.
• Look for multi‑taskers such as storage chairs or compact chair beds if your flat needs to double as a guest room.
• Shell-style accent tub chairs like this compact velvet accent chair can give you comfort and style without taking over the floor.

Why this category matters

In many UK homes, the living room does double or even triple duty as a place to relax, work, watch TV and entertain. If the space is small, the wrong chair can quickly dominate the room, block light and make everything feel cramped. A well‑chosen armchair, on the other hand, can deliver a comfortable seat, define a cosy corner and even offer hidden storage or an extra bed for guests.

Space‑saving armchairs are particularly important in flats, converted terraces and new‑build homes where open‑plan layouts and narrow rooms are common. Traditional, bulky armchairs with rolled arms and deep seats may look inviting in a showroom, but once they are squeezed into a small living room, they often leave no space for side tables, floor lamps or simply walking past without bumping your shins.

Getting this category right is about more than just picking a small chair. You are balancing comfort, aesthetics and function. A slim, upright accent chair might be perfect for occasional seating, but uncomfortable for long film nights. A compact armchair with generous padding and supportive arms could be ideal for reading, but you might need to sacrifice some width or choose raised legs to keep your floor area feeling open.

Finally, armchairs are a chance to add personality. Even in a very small living room, a single accent chair in a lovely velvet, leather or textured fabric can become the focal point and tie your decor together. Choosing carefully means you will not be replacing it in a hurry, so it is worth understanding what to look for before you buy.

How to choose

Start with your measurements. Measure the length and width of your living room, then note any radiators, doors, alcoves and built‑ins. Sketch a simple plan on paper, marking where your sofa, TV and main walkways are. For small rooms, a comfortable armchair width is often between 65 and 80 cm, with a depth of 70 to 85 cm. Anything much deeper can eat into precious floor space and make it harder to move around.

Next, think about arms and legs. In compact rooms, slim or low‑profile arms free up more usable seating without increasing the overall width. Chairs with visible legs, like the blue velvet tub chair with gold legs, allow light to flow underneath, making the room feel less crowded than a bulky armchair that sits flat on the floor.

Seat height and back support also matter. If you plan to use the chair daily for reading or TV, look for a medium‑firm seat and a backrest that supports your shoulders. Wingback designs, such as the HOMCOM retro wingback chair, can work well in corners and give a cocooning feel without needing huge dimensions, provided they are not overly deep.

Finally, consider finishes and colour. Light, neutral fabrics like soft grey, beige or off‑white can make a small room feel larger, while a single accent colour can add interest without overwhelming everything. Velvet and chenille textures add a touch of luxury in small doses. If you have kids or pets, a durable fabric with removable cushions or wipe‑clean leather might be a better choice. If you are uncertain which upholstery suits your lifestyle, you may find our guide on fabric vs leather armchairs useful.

Common mistakes

One of the biggest mistakes in small living rooms is choosing an armchair that is simply too big for the space. It is tempting to prioritise the comfiest, deepest chair in the shop, but once it is home, you realise you can no longer open the balcony door or you have to shuffle sideways past the coffee table. Always compare the listed dimensions to your floor plan, and allow at least 60–75 cm for walkways where people need to pass comfortably.

Another common issue is ignoring visual weight. Even if a chair technically fits, a chunky design with a solid base and dark, heavy fabric can dominate a small room. In contrast, a compact tub chair with slim metal legs and a curved back, such as the white Yaheetech velvet armchair, may feel lighter and more elegant even in the same footprint.

People also often forget to think about how the chair will be used. A sculptural accent chair might look stunning but feel too upright or firm for an evening of TV. Conversely, a very low, slouchy chair may be difficult for older family members to get out of. Be honest about who will be sitting there and for how long. If you need the armchair to double as guest sleeping space or storage, you may be better exploring compact chair‑beds or ottoman‑style designs; our guide to armchair alternatives for small spaces can help with those options.

Finally, do not overlook layout. Placing a single armchair directly in front of a window can block precious natural light, while pushing it tight into a corner may make the room feel unbalanced. Often, angling a chair slightly towards the centre of the room, or pairing two smaller chairs opposite a compact sofa, creates a more sociable, open layout without costing extra space.

Top armchair options for small living rooms and flats

The following armchairs illustrate different approaches to saving space without sacrificing comfort. All are compact enough for smaller UK living rooms and flats, yet each brings a distinct style and feel. Use these examples as a benchmark for dimensions and features when comparing other options.

Pay attention to overall width and depth, leg style and upholstery, and think about how each chair would work with your existing sofa and coffee table. If you are still refining your overall living room look, you may also want to read about modern vs traditional armchairs before committing to a particular style.

Blue Velvet Shell Tub Chair with Gold Legs

This compact blue velvet tub chair pairs a shell‑shaped back with slim gold‑plated metal legs. Its curved silhouette gives you a surprisingly generous seat while keeping the overall footprint small, making it a strong candidate for a corner reading spot or as an accent chair beside a compact sofa. The raised legs help keep the floor visible and make the whole piece feel lighter in a small room.

In a narrow living room, this style works particularly well as a single statement chair opposite a two‑seater sofa, or in pairs in front of a bay window. The velvet upholstery adds a touch of luxury, and the supportive backrest is better for longer sitting than many purely decorative accent chairs. The main trade‑off is that the tub shape wraps around you, which may feel a little snug for very tall or broad‑shouldered users, so check the internal seat width carefully.

You can explore this compact shell tub chair in more detail here, or compare colour options and sizing information on its product page.

White Velvet Accent Tub Chair

The Yaheetech velvet armchair takes the shell‑back tub shape and gives it a softer, lighter twist with white upholstery and slim metal legs. Visually, this style almost disappears against a pale wall, which can be invaluable if you are trying to make a compact living room feel brighter and more spacious. The curved back is supportive without being bulky, and the seat is well‑padded for everyday use.

This chair works nicely in multipurpose spaces: in a small open‑plan living area it can double as a dressing‑table or desk chair when needed, then swivel back into the living zone as extra seating. The pale colour will require a bit more care, especially with pets or young children, but it also reflects light, helping to open up the room. Pair it with a small side table instead of a bulky coffee table to keep the overall footprint low.

If you are drawn to very light, neutral decor, you can check measurements and customer impressions of this white velvet chair on its listing, or browse more images and angle shots here to see how it might sit in your own space.

HOMCOM Retro Wingback Chair

The HOMCOM retro accent chair offers a more traditional wingback shape in a compact package. With its button‑tufted back, wooden frame and snow‑flannel style fabric, it suits classic or mid‑century inspired interiors. Despite the winged sides, the chair does not have an oversized footprint, and the visible wooden legs help stop it feeling too heavy in small rooms.

This style is ideal if you want a dedicated reading chair in a bay or alcove. The higher back and wings provide extra head and shoulder support compared to many low accent chairs, which can make longer reading sessions more comfortable. The flip side is that it has a slightly more upright feel, so it may not be the best choice if you prefer to lounge or curl up with your feet on the seat. In a compact living room, it works well angled slightly towards the centre of the room with a slim floor lamp behind.

You can view more photos and size details for the HOMCOM wingback chair on its product page, and see how other buyers have styled it in smaller living spaces in the review gallery.

Tip: before you buy, mark out the armchair’s footprint on your floor with masking tape or newspaper. Sit on another chair inside that outline to check you can still open doors, walk past and use nearby furniture comfortably.

Conclusion

Choosing the best armchairs for small living rooms and flats is all about balancing comfort, scale and visual lightness. By focusing on compact dimensions, slim arms, raised legs and lighter fabrics, you can create a seating area that feels welcoming without swallowing your floor space. Two small armchairs can sometimes serve you better than one small sofa, especially in awkward or narrow layouts where flexibility matters.

Use the example chairs in this guide as a benchmark when you compare other options. Shell‑back tub chairs like the compact blue velvet tub chair, lighter accent pieces such as the white velvet accent chair, and space‑saving wingback designs like the HOMCOM chair all show that you do not need a huge footprint to sit comfortably.

With a tape measure in hand and a clear idea of how you use your living room, you can confidently choose an armchair that fits both your space and your lifestyle, and enjoy a cosy, uncluttered room for years to come.