17 Best Armchairs for Small Spaces 2024

Who says bigger always means better?

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As a New Yorker, I get to enjoy many things (Central Park! killer pizza! miles of shopping!), but a spacious apartment is not one of them. And while I’ve grown to love and appreciate my teeny home sweet home—especially the fact that snacks are only ever as far as a few steps away—I can’t deny that it can be difficult to decorate. And I know the girls that get it (read: have similarly small abodes), get it.

Luckily, the World Wide Web is full of places that offer compact but chic furniture pieces—you just have to know where to look. And if you’ve been specifically seeking a petite seat to spruce up your space without overcrowding it, you’ve come to the right place. Since I’ve been there and done that, I went ahead and found 17 of the best small armchairs on the market right now, perfect for tight corners, low ceilings, and “does this even count as a one-bedroom?” square footage.

No matter your aesthetic, I promise there’s a small armchair for you on this list. So without further ado, scroll down and prepare to freshen up your space in the coziest way possible.

I can’t get enough of this wood-and-rattan lounge chair from CB2. It’s casual yet so elevated thanks to the sleek lines and high-quality materials. I mean, don’t you just wanna plop down on that cushion?

Glowing review: “I’m obsessed with this chair. It is light, airy, COMFORTABLE, and a really great deal for the price. It is a beautiful rattan that fits into any space.”

You know that viral cloud couch dupe that was allll over TikTok recently? Well, that same brand (shout-out Albany Park!) also created an armchair specifically for small spaces. She’s super cute, obv, and also comes in an apartment-friendly box (aka a box designed to be easy to move through tight and narrow areas).

Glowing review: “This chair is the perfect depth to curl up in without being too bulky. Great book nook chair! It fits in a corner perfectly.”

Most recliners are chunky and a little funky (negative), but this one is sleek and chic in every way. There are three reclining angles to choose from—105, 120, or 140 degrees—and the high seatback will cradle your head and neck no matter which position you’re relaxing in. You can cop it in a velvet green colorway or a rich brown leather, but I’m in love with the taupe stripe you see here.

Glowing review: “Good value for the price point and very comfortable. Assembling it was quick and easy. We had some space constraints and this fits perfectly in our living room.”

Jenni Kayne really popped off with this cute and neutral chair, and you can’t tell me otherwise. The vintage-inspired lewk is simple and showstopping all at the same time, and the hand-oiled leather feels like butter.

Glowing review: “This chair is gorgeous and remarkably comfortable. The reclining back makes it surprisingly comfortable given the small footprint, which was perfect for the limited space we had for an accent chair. Elegant but approachable and definitely unique.”

I love how versatile these armchairs are. I mean, I can’t think of any space they wouldn’t look good in??? You can style them in a living room (if you’re like me, that’s the arms-length space next to my refrigerator) or toss ’em around a kitchen table for some oh-so-fine dining.

Glowing review: “This chair is perfection! It’s great quality, the fabric is luxurious, and it’s comfortable. It really makes an impact in my office.”

Obsessed with the cloud couch (or our approved cloud couch dupes)? Then you *need* this low-profile armchair iteration from Anabei. The featherless down-stuffed cushions always bounce right back thanks to high-resiliency foam, and the super-soft fabric was designed to protect against stains (so yeah, it’s pet- and kid-friendly!).

Glowing review: “I recently got myself a dark gray velvet armchair, and let me tell you, it’s been the best purchase ever! I absolutely love it. The fabric adds a touch of sophistication to my living space, and the material feels sooo luxurious.”

When I tell you this Wayfair armchair fits perfectly in small spaces, it’s because I know firsthand. That’s right, this cutie has squeezed into not one but two of my New York City apartments—and rather comfortably at that. Plus, it is super easy to assemble, which is always a bonus.

Glowing review: “I love these chairs! The seat cushion is thick and comfortable! Looks and feels well made. Just as they appear in the photos!”

I’m such a sucker for a good shearling accent chair. And while I’ve struggled in the past to find one that doesn’t consume my small living space, this barrel chair from Wayfair is comfortable without feeling oversized. Plus, it comes with an ottoman for even better lounging.

Glowing review: “This chair was everything I hoped it would be! It is aesthetically pleasing and perfect for my recently remodeled guest room. It was packaged well and extremely easy to put together—just had to add the legs!”

This round chair features 360-degree swivel capabilities and distressed velvet fabric. Plus, it looks like it belongs in a five-star hotel, and isn’t that the aesthetic we’re all after?

Glowing review: “Really enjoying my new cozy chair!”

An armchair with a built-in headrest? Pure genius. It doesn’t take up a lot of square footage, but it is plush and wide, making it perfect for curling up with a good book (...or good FYP).

Glowing review: “This chair is beautiful and comfortable! The fabric feels lovely. It’s very easy to assemble, only requiring one person and less than 20 minutes. It’s nice and wide, so I’m guilty of sitting cross-legged in it on occasion.”

If you’re looking for an armchair with that “omg, I just sunk right in” feeling, this one’s for you. Sabai’s iconic Essential Chair features two 100-percent fiberfill pillows to keep you cushioned from both sides and high-resiliency foam for extra bounce.

Glowing review: “Love the Essential Chair. The long legs and angled arm rests make it so modern and elegant. The velvet fabric is luxurious. And it’s super comfy!”

This Crate and Barrel pick will look perf no matter where you place it—around a table, at your desk, or in the living room. The curved back also gives you a cute lil hug every time you sit down, and couldn’t we all use some more of that in our day-to-day?

Glowing review: “I needed a comfortable dining chair that gave me proper support and held me upright without leaning backward. The Axel Chair is perfect for that and also has armrests at a good height. It is an extremely comfortable chair, and worth every cent that I paid for it.”

This stunning velvet armchair might look like it would drain your entire savings account, but it’s a much more budget-friendly option than similar luxury designs. Perigold also offers complimentary design advice if you can’t decide where to put it in your home!

Glowing review: “Obsessed with this chair! Creates such a perfect balance in my office space.”

This sturdy rattan chair, born out of the Opalhouse x Jungalow collection at Target, is such a chic addition to any space. It’s actually really, really comfy despite not having any cushions and basically acts as a clean canvas—just add a pop of color with a cutie throw pillow or snuggly blanket.

Glowing review: “Beautiful chair. Received many compliments from guests.”

This is *not* your weird uncle’s old leather recliner. No, no, no—this sexy armchair is giving cool, cosmopolitan (heh) woman. The leather is soft, and the contoured seat and back make it unbelievably comfy. Like, maybe a little too comfy if you’re trying to do work while sitting in it.

Glowing review: “This chair feels like it's been in your home for years, fitting like a glove. I have it in my office and I love to read and relax there. The Urbino leather is durable and has a nice texture, and the wood is sculptural without being overbearing.”

This looks like the armchair equivalent of your fave oversized, comfy sweatshirt. Don’t ask me to explain, I know you know what I’m talking about. If I were you, I’d plop it in an office or library for instant old-school-chic vibes.

Glowing review: “Love the chair. Perfect size, swivel is a nice feature. Well constructed. [A] little firm but still comfortable, especially with a pillow behind my back since I’m short (5'2").”

If there’s one thing we all learned during lockdown, it’s how nice it is to have an outdoor space that brings you joy. Of course, every good backyard/patio/fire escape set-up needs a good chair for lounging, and this armchair from Outer is it. Not only is it comfy (hello, memory foam cushions!), cute, and timeless, but the fabric is machine-washable and fade-resistant, so you don’t have to worry about spills or sun damage. It also comes with built-in waterproof covers, which are way more convenient than you’d ever believe.

Glowing review: “We absolutely love it! That teak is so solid and beautiful and the cushions are super comfortable. We recently updated our screened-in porch area and it went from being our least favorite space in our home to being the one place we never want to leave! It’s officially our favorite sitting area in the house.”

Our lifestyle team includes lifestyle director Rachel Torgerson, lifestyle editors Christen Johnson and Hannah Chubb, and associate editor Annabel Iwegbue—collectively, we have decades of experience researching and selecting the best buys for you.

As you may know, we spend all day, every day scouring the internet, testing products, and reading reviews for highly sought after items so that we can bring you the type of high-quality content we’d want for ourselves.

Megan Schaltegger is an NYC-based writer. She loves strong coffee, eating her way through the Manhattan food scene, and her dog, Murray. She promises not to talk about herself in third person IRL.

Hannah Chubb is the lifestyle editor at Cosmopolitan, covering all things home, travel, food, health, career, and more. She spends pretty much every hour of every day curating the internet for the best new products, trends, and travel destinations. You can typically find her looking for houses she can’t afford on Zillow or Airbnb, planning her next meal before she gets to the restaurant, or taking all of the Justin Bieber classes over and over and over again on Peloton. Follow her on Instagram.

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