Not Your Grandmother’s Swivel Chair: How to Style a Modern Take on the Comfy Seat
Swivel chairs are back in a big way. We’ve gathered some of the best options out there to bring some modern comfort into your home.
Castlery
The retro swivel chair from the ’70s might have fallen out of fashion and made it harder to find that perfect vintage seat, but don’t worry: A new swivel chairs are here for modern design needs.
Vintage lovers, conversationalists, and readers who need to keep moving will find that swivel chairs have returned to brands nearly everywhere. And trend reports from Stylecaster, Vogue, Havenly, and more call out swivel chairs, especially the oversized variety, as the furniture focal point to add to your space this year.
“In the last few decades, we’ve seen swivels predominantly in office chairs. But, we love that this style is making a comeback in home settings,” says Leah Howatson, head of marketing at Castlery. “The vintage styles of swivel chairs tend to be quite large and bulky. At Castlery, we’ve put a modern spin on the style.”
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Clean lines with curved edges, bold and bright colors, and performance fabric that can withstand spills of any kind set the modern swivel chair apart from its predecessor.
Lulu and Georgia
This trend isn’t just for style and design points. Howatson also notes it’s a way to stay actively engaged when entertaining.
“Eye contact is such a meaningful way to connect in these hectic times where we are so used to being on our phones,” she says. “The ability to seamlessly twist and swivel facilitates better in-person conversations, especially when you consider that most static living room seats are pointed toward the TV. Swivel chairs are perfect for entertaining, especially in gatherings where people are scattered throughout a room.”
Anthropologie’s website says it simply: “When space is at a premium, savvy seating is a must.”
Anthropologie
While my grandmother’s blue-and-white floral swivel chair certainly felt stylish in its day (bonus: it was like a festival ride for a small kid), new 360-degree swivel styles fit in with modern rooms that play with color, pattern, and contemporary shapes.
Feeling like you need your own swivel chair now? Here are a few places where you can find one:
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Williams Sonoma Home
Williams Sonoma Home’s take on a wingback chair offers curved lines and drama to your space.
Castlery
Follow the trend of curved lines in your furniture with this swivel chair. It’s also compact enough that it’s the ideal option for a conversation corner that features two of these chairs and a side table in the middle.
Anthropologie
Anthropologie’s team says online that this chair is “petite enough for cozy nooks and tight spaces, but commanding enough for open-concept contemporary spaces.” They’re speaking our language. When you’re tight on space but want to make a statement, a chair like this will do just that—and it swivels 360 degrees.
CB2
CB2’s vintage-inspired tufted chair is a statement piece for modern, vintage, or Art Deco spaces.
CB2
This style features creamy ivory boucle and can be styled as an office chair, corner accent chair, or as an addition to any modern living space.
Lulu and Georgia
Lulu and Georgia’s circular design makes for the ideal conversation chair—place it in a corner, place it next to your sofa, even place it at the head of your dining table.
Grandin Road
For a vintage or traditional feel with a twist, opt for this blush-toned option with wood legs.
Target
This barrel chair has fabric options ranging from $192 to $320 for an affordable but stylish furniture choice.
Anthropologie
When you not only want a swivel chair but you want a full, rounded seat to set off some harsh angles in the rest of your room, Anthropologie has the choice for you—in dozens of fabric and color options.
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