What Is a Side Chair?
All about this stellar accent chair.
Wondering "what is a side chair"? This type of accent chair is designed to be extra seating in a living room or bedroom, or to sit at the sides of a dining table. This type of accent chair generally features a straight back and four legs. The seat can be upholstered for comfort, or made from wood, metal, or other materials. A side chair’s key distinguishing design feature is its lack of arms – these chairs are designed this way so they take up less space in a room, and so they can be easily tucked under a table or desk when not in use.
Benefits of a Side Chair
- Due to their simple, understated design, side chairs are versatile and can blend into the aesthetic of various rooms in the home. They work as dining chairs and as an accent chair/extra seating in other rooms in the house.
- Side chairs are typically lightweight and can be moved around and used for different purposes in the home – going from being tucked under a desk to being used as a dining room table chair to being extra living room seating for guests.
- As mentioned above – due to their armless design – they provide extra seating without taking up much space, making them ideal for small rooms or apartments.
Side Chair vs. Armchair
Side chairs are primarily different from armchairs by their armless design. Unlike other kinds of accent chairs, they can be used in either the living room or dining room – also due to their armless design. Side chairs can be pushed right up to a dining room table while you eat, giving you back support and a comfortable seat to relax in, and then tucked under the dining room table and out of the way once you’ve finished. Most armchairs don’t work well as dining chairs since their arms keep you from sitting close to the dining table (and likely keep you from being able to comfortably reach your dinner!).
Armchairs also typically have a larger profile and take up more space in a room than a side chair. Read Types of Chairs to Know for Your Home for more information about other chairs, including types of armchairs, and which ones will work best for your specific needs.
