What Is a Club Chair?

Chances are you have sat in a club chair at one time or another. They are a popular style in many public places including hotel lobbies, libraries and even airport lounges. The club chair is a old style that has kept its traditions, but also branched out to a modern version. No matter what the style, all club chairs have one thing in common: they are built for comfort, with the design fitting the feeling instead of the other way around.

History

The history of the club chair goes back to the 17th century when chairs started to be designed as something more than just utilitarian. Arms were added, seats were cushioned and they were made lower to the ground. The furniture makers of the Victorian period made chairs more comfortable, with thick cushions and lower backs.

Definition

The club chair got its name because it was the chair of choice in the gentlemen's clubs in 19th century England. A club chair is described as an upholstered chair with a low back and arms. Club chairs can come with or without a matching ottoman.

Modern Club Chairs

The 20th century, especially the Art Deco Period saw changes in the club chair. The well stuffed club chairs were made in modern lines as well as the traditional ones. Things have turned around again and now the traditional chair is back in fashion, something with a modern style, but not the Art Deco style.

Leather Club Chairs

Leather Club Chairs come in both traditional and modern designs. Both designs have a square seat and the traditional low back. With the modern chair, the back is the same height as the arms and with the traditional the back is a few inches higher than the arms. Leather club chairs also come in a smaller, round seat design.

Swivel Club Chairs

Swivel club chairs are a distinctly modern invention, but they come in both modern and traditional styles. Modern swivel club chairs have the back a bit higher than the arms, like the traditional, but that is where the similarity ends. The lines are clean and modern and they swivel on a Lucite base. The traditional swivel club chairs are upholstered and the swivel mechanism is hidden by a long skirt.

The Reclining Club Chair

The Reclining Club Chair comes in both traditional and modern designs and in leather and upholstered styles as well. Many manufacturers only make the reclining club chair to order, so you can get one exactly the way you want it to be.