An armchair is the piece people sit in alone, often for an hour or more with a book, a coffee or the evening news. That makes its proportions more personal than a sofa’s: a few centimetres of seat depth or arm height decide whether you lean back comfortably or perch on the edge. Before choosing a model or a leather colour, it helps to know what each measurement does.
This guide walks through the seat, the back and the arms, then the cover material and the place the chair will stand. The figures are typical trade ranges; when you compare models in our armchair collection, check them against the person who will use the chair most.
Seat height and seat depth
Seat height is measured from the floor to the top of the front edge of the cushion. Most armchairs sit between 40 and 46 cm. Lower seats feel relaxed and look lounge-like; higher seats are easier to get out of, which matters for tall people and for older family members.
- 40–42 cm: a low, relaxed lounge feel; suits a reading corner or a television room.
- 43–46 cm: a neutral height that works for most adults and lines up with typical sofa seats.
- 47 cm and above: easier to stand up from; useful in a bedroom or for anyone with knee or hip discomfort.
Seat depth is the distance from the front edge to the backrest. Around 50–55 cm gives an upright, supported posture; 56–65 cm invites you to lean back or tuck your legs up. A quick test: sitting fully back, you should have two or three fingers of space between the front edge and the back of your knees. If your feet do not rest flat on the floor, the seat is too deep or too high for you; a small difference can be corrected with an extra back cushion or a footstool.
Back height: low, mid or high
The back decides how much of your body the chair supports and how much visual space it takes up in the room.
- Low back (overall height around 70–80 cm): supports the lower and middle back, keeps sight lines open and suits a chair placed in the middle of a room, facing a sofa.
- Mid back (around 80–95 cm): reaches the shoulder blades; a balanced choice for daily reading and conversation.
- High back or wing back (100 cm and above): supports the head and neck, which makes it the natural reading chair; it reads as a stronger shape, so it usually sits more comfortably against a wall or in a corner.
The angle matters too: a back reclined by roughly 100–110 degrees from the seat is comfortable for reading and conversation, while a deeper recline is meant more for resting.
Arm style and overall width
Arms carry your elbows when you read or hold a cup, and they define the chair’s width. Arm tops typically sit 18–25 cm above the seat; much lower and your shoulders drop, much higher and they push up. Wide, padded arms are comfortable to lean on and can hold a book; slim or track arms keep the chair compact; rounded, scrolled arms give a softer, more classic outline.
Overall width usually runs from about 65 cm for a compact chair to 90 cm or more for a generous lounge chair. Measure the space, then subtract the arms: what your body actually uses is the inner seat width, typically 50–60 cm. Models such as the Saturn armchair, the Gloria armchair and the Apollo armchair show how differently arms, backs and proportions can be handled; if a model is nearly right but needs a few centimetres changed, custom dimensions are available on request.
Leather or fabric
Sitdesign upholsters in genuine leather only, never faux leather, as well as in fabric. Leather wipes clean easily, softens with use and suits a chair that sees daily wear; a semi-aniline or corrected-grain finish is more forgiving with children and pets, while aniline leather feels softer but marks more easily. Our leather range runs to 76 colours in 12 colour families, Italian leathers form our top leather group, and we send leather samples on request.
Fabric gives a warmer touch in winter and a wider choice of textures and patterns. Fabric upholstery is possible, and we also accept customer’s own material (COM) if you want the chair to match curtains or another piece. For a fuller comparison, see our guide to leather vs fabric sofa sets; the same points apply to a single seat.
Where the armchair goes
- Reading corner: choose a mid or high back, a seat depth near 55 cm and arms wide enough to rest a book on. Place a floor lamp behind your shoulder on the side of your page-turning hand, and a side table within reach, at roughly arm height.
- Beside the sofa: keep the seat height within 2–3 cm of the sofa seat so the group looks level, and leave about 40–45 cm between the chair and the coffee table.
- Bedroom: a compact chair 65–75 cm wide with a slightly higher seat is practical for dressing and putting on shoes. Leave at least 60–75 cm of walking space between the chair and the bed.
Checklist before you order
- Sit in a chair you already find comfortable and measure its seat height, seat depth and arm height.
- Decide the main use: reading, conversation, television or dressing.
- Mark the footprint on the floor with tape, including space to stand up and walk past.
- Choose leather or fabric for the way the chair will be used, then ask for samples to see the colour in your own light.
Every Sitdesign armchair is handmade in our own factory in Büyükçekmece, Istanbul, on a kiln-dried beech frame with high-resilience (HR) foam over sprung seating. Send us your measurements and the room you have in mind through our contact page, and we will send leather samples and a quote for the model you choose.
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