An armchair is a small piece, but it carries many decisions: how high you sit, how far back you lean, what the arm feels like under your hand, and how it sits next to the sofa you already own. Ordering one to your own measurements is simpler when you know which details can be changed and what information helps.
This guide walks through the choices for a custom armchair from Sitdesign, from dimensions and upholstery to matching an existing sofa and the time it takes to make.
Start from a standard model
Our armchair collection has standard models with set dimensions, and for most people one of them is the right starting point. A model such as the Jackson armchair or the Oscar armchair gives you a known back shape, arm profile and seat. You then change only what your room or your body needs. Custom dimensions are available on request, so you are not limited to the catalogue sizes, but starting from a model keeps the proportions balanced.
Which dimensions can be set on request
These are the measurements that make the most difference. The typical ranges below are general guidance for lounge armchairs:
- Overall width: typically 75–95 cm. Narrower armchairs suit pairs facing a sofa; wider ones work as a single reading chair.
- Overall depth: typically 80–95 cm. Check it against the walking space behind and in front of the chair.
- Seat height: typically 42–46 cm. A slightly higher seat makes it easier to stand up; a lower seat feels more relaxed.
- Seat depth: typically 50–58 cm. A shorter seat supports upright reading and shorter legs; a deeper seat is for lounging.
- Back height: a high back supports the head, while a low back keeps sightlines open in the middle of a room.
- Arm height and width: wider arms give space for a cup or a book; lower arms make the chair look lighter.
A practical method is to measure a chair you already find comfortable and send us those numbers. Also measure the narrowest door, corridor or lift on the way to the room, so the finished piece can be delivered without trouble.
Leather, fabric or your own material
We upholster in genuine leather, never faux leather. There are 76 leather colours in 12 colour families, and Italian leathers form our top leather group. Leather samples are sent on request; look at them in your room in daylight and again in the evening, because colour shifts with the light. If you want to read more about that group, see our post on Italian leather.
Fabric upholstery is also possible, and we accept customer's own material (COM). If you choose COM, send us the fabric details before you buy it, so the quantity needed for your armchair can be confirmed first.
Matching an armchair to an existing sofa
Many custom armchair orders are for a room that already has a sofa. To make the two pieces read as one group, a few details matter:
- Seat height: keep it within 1–2 cm of the sofa, so people sit at the same level in conversation.
- Arm and back lines: echo the sofa's arm shape or back height, or choose a clear contrast on purpose.
- Leather colour: leather on an older sofa changes with use and light, so compare samples next to the sofa itself rather than from photos.
A deliberate contrast also works well. A Platon sofa in a light tone can be paired with two armchairs in a darker shade from the same colour family. A pair of leather armchairs is how we showed this type of piece at CNR İMOB 2020.
What is inside the frame
Changing the size does not change the construction. Every piece is handmade in our own factory in Büyükçekmece, Istanbul. Upholstered frames are made from kiln-dried beech, and seats use high-resilience (HR) foam with sprung seating. Seat depth and seat height affect how an armchair feels more than most people expect, so tell us how you like to sit: upright for reading, or leaning back to rest.
Lead time and what to send
Upholstered pieces such as armchairs take 3–4 weeks to make. To prepare a quote, it helps to send:
- The model you start from, or a photo of the shape you want.
- The dimensions you want to change, in centimetres.
- Room measurements and the width of doors and lifts on the way in.
- Your leather colour, fabric choice or COM details.
- The number of armchairs and the delivery city.
If you are matching an existing sofa, add photos and its seat height. Send these details through our contact page to ask for leather samples and a quote for your armchair.
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