Curling up with a good book is a pleasure that few of us get to enjoy in this hectic, always-on, perpetually-connected, 24-hour-news-cycle world. Readers rarely can take the time to savor the words of great minds, or even just enjoy the mental saccharine of popular brain candy books; be they trashy romance or outrageous thrillers. Worse, even when we get to finally sit and relax with our favorite tome, too often discomfort can spoil the experience, leaving us happy with the literature, but suffering from the tortuous pain of a bad reading chair.If you’re one of the bibliomaniacs out there who is developing bad posture from the wrong sitting apparatus, perhaps we can be of assistance with the 18 best reading chairs.Minimal Expense: Seeing is believing when it comes to the POÄNG series of furniture from IKEA. Deceptively cheap, it’s easy to dismiss these pieces, but once you try out the bentwood frames in your choice of rocker or standard, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the comfort, and downright shocked at how elegant they look in person.
Made in your choice of fabric or leather, there’s no downside to be had. [Amazing setup by Katy at TheCleverBunny]Dauntless: Don’t think, just sit. This chair virtually calls out to passers-by to come and relax. Sock arms, wedged legs, and a semi-attached pillow; it comes in sleeper varieties if you expect company, or you can simply enjoy the standard flavor in your choice of customizable colors.At the Abbey: Perfect for John Bates to rest his weary leg, the Chesterfield armchair harkens back to 18th century England, but it’s far from archaic. Rolled arms and deep button tufting add style to any home, and the feather and deep foam cushions will give any rump a pliant rest for reading.Just Like Mom’s: A little more rigid than most of our favorite reading chairs, this has a relaxed yet ready feel. The ‘50’s cut might make it seem a little dated, but once you throw your legs over the side and dig into a volume, it’ll feel like home in moments.Dorm Dreams: Wrapped in velvet or phur, you can get multiple covers for every occasion, then mold The BigOne into whatever shape suits your home and your reading style.
At 8 feet in diameter and sitting 3 feet off the floor, this is the throne of beanbag chairs.Post-Modern: Behind the sharp angularity of the Oculus is a deep seat with very gently sloped arms that puts you in a comfortable power pose, cradling your back and neck. From Hans J. Wegner, the Oculus is good for minimalists who prize plenty of padding.American Custom: There’s few things more American than a recliner, but they’re not typically good for browsing through a book. Using a leverless fabric body with walnut legs, the Dalton’s clean lines can go anywhere, taking the option to lay back or go bolt upright along with it.The Professor: Slung low and deep, the Churchill feels more like sitting in a cigar and whiskey bar than in your house, but once you’re enveloped in the plush leather and the plump cushioning, you’ll be eager to stay for as long as it takes to finish all of Narnia’s Chronicles.Flower Child: Capturing the essence of the summer of love, the Sling uses suspended webbing to give you a sense of sitting on air with just enough structure from the
hardwood lines to add in a feeling of solidity and security.Traditional: Crafted in the same way for 30 years, the Rocker is made out of hand-stretched saddle leather that has been vegetable tanned to perfection. When seated, the chair draws around the reader thanks to mortise and tenon joints. The result is a perfect fit for every person.Body Sculpture: The curves of the LC4 are meant to mimic that of the human body so as you rest on it, you are smoothly and naturally supported. The only challenge is not falling asleep while you dig through Proust’s dense prose.Throwback: Vintage 60’s style in plenty of eye-popping colors, the yasmin is low and deep, putting your back and shoulders at the right angle for reading without straining your neck or ruining your décor. The teacup shape can be tiring, so add in an ottoman, or just get up and move on occasion.A Little English: Inspired by the English club chair, Ray and Charles Eames use molded plywood to create a frame that is comfortable and rustic, but also soft and supple.
Like a favorite baseball mitt, it’s heaven for long sitting sessions.Privacy Perch: When you plant your backside into the Majestic, you’ll feel like peasants should bow and scrape before you. Volute scrollwork lines the exterior while the wings and immense back prevent anyone from reading over your shoulder.Matched Set: An homage to the 1970’s, you’ll find yourself flopping onto these again and again merely because they beg for you to do so. Use one alone or combine them to create your own little book nook, the brown leather and tight stitching might be the only good thing to come from the Disco Decade.Patio Perusing: Part of Harry Bertoia’s 1952 wire collection, this Chaise is intended for reading by the pool or out on your terrace. With a few adjustments you can sit comfortably on the odd shape in a wide array of positions to save your spine from distress and alleviate aches.Nest Egg: Hand-crafted by the people of New Zealand, the bowl shape is for those who take their curling very seriously.
Plush as a gossamer cloud, there’s but one difficulty: Getting out of it.Conversation Piece: An oddly cute piece crafted by the Campanas, there’s only 25 of these in the world. The rarity makes them special, but sit on it for a few minutes and you’ll quickly find that the arrangement of stuffed toys has an allure that goes beyond mere collector’s bliss.Best Camping Chairs of 2016 For seating comfort that can go on any adventure, we break down the top camp chairs on the marketDon’t get me wrong–I like IKEA. Sure, it’s a pain to assemble a bed frame using only an Allen wrench and drawings of a humanoid creature. But it’s the go-to place for affordable furniture, and they have a lot of great stuff. But maybe you’re ready for something different. Perhaps you’ve gotten lost in their store one too many times. Or maybe you’re tired of seeing the same LACK side table and POANG chair in everyone’s home. You want a little variety, and I don’t blame you. If so, here are ten other affordable furniture stores like IKEA (minus the maze).
Yes, Amazon is actually a pretty amazing place to find affordable furniture. Now, their prices can be over the place. But with some filtering, and you can find great deals on furniture. I once bought a comfortable, executive desk chair for $25. That’s an extreme example, but it’s worth a look. Their daily Gold Box Deals also often include steep discounts on furniture. Yes, Sears has an online outlet, and you can find some incredible deals. In my own search, some discounts were up to 82%. Some of their sofas–not futons–were as low as $280. The caveat is, not all items can be shipped, and some of them may not be available for pickup near you. The good news is: you can browse by pickup location to find a store nearby. If you’re into simple, minimalist design, you’ll love Muji. They’re quite similar to IKEA in price, quality, and aesthetic. Muji has locations throughout Europe and Asia, but in the States, their storefronts are limited to New York and California.
You can order items online, and you’ll have to pay for shipping. But their prices are pretty affordable, so it may be worth the extra cost. Frankly, a lot of their stuff is overpriced. But some of their furniture items are comparable to IKEA prices, especially when they’re on sale. And if you check their clearance section, you can usually find some decent deals. It might be a long shot, but it’s worth asking. Some furniture stores will sell their floor models for a fraction of the price. At one frou-frou store here in L.A., I nabbed two fancy floor model barstools for $70 each. IKEA prices, better quality. Here’s another online retailer whose prices are all over the map. Some of their stuff is, frankly, insanely expensive. But a lot of is it surprisingly affordable–and not just by comparison. Oddly, depending on the day and time, I’ve noticed their prices fluctuate. So here’s a tip: if you’ve got your eye on something, monitor it for a while.
Also, consider searching in Private or Incognito mode. Sometimes, you’ll find lower prices. You probably know that Overstock is a discount surplus site, but maybe you didn’t know their prices rival even Amazon’s. I’ve found a few of the exact same Amazon products cheaper at Overstock. So make sure compare prices. Bonuses: free shipping if you spend more than $50 and a 10% off coupon if you sign up for their email list. Big Lots is another option, and you probably have a store near you. They’re similar in quality and price to IKEA, just with less variety. You can find even better deals on their furniture clearance items online. Some of their stuff is a bit more expensive than IKEA. But, occasionally, they have sales that bring down the prices considerably. Oh, and here’s a funny story: Years ago, I bought a couch, in-store, for like, $450. A few years later, the cushions started sinking. Granted, I had a few couch guests over the years (and I did jump on it once, when I got my first job in LA).
But I felt like the couch should’ve been able to handle that. When I emailed Cost Plus, they agreed. And they gave me credit, for the exact amount I paid, to buy a new couch. So they get bonus points for their amazing customer service. Etsy is a great place to find handcrafted furniture. Yes, sometimes, these prices are going to be expensive–after all, these are independent store owners. But, considering the quality, there are remarkable deals to be had. You can find decent prices on reclaimed or upcycled vintage furniture, too. Some will argue, rightfully, that it pays to spend a bit more money on quality furniture you’ll have for years. This is definitely true. But not everyone can afford a $2,000 couch; sometimes you have to compromise. Also, if you take care of your stuff (i.e., don’t jump on your couch when you get a new job), you might still be able to keep lower-quality items for a long time. Of course, you can also get great deals on quality used furniture with tried-and-true methods: yard sales, estate sales, thrift stores, etc.