Choosing the Perfect Wingback Chair

A wingback chair is always a win. But choosing the perfect wingback can be a vexing proposition. Wingback chairs come in a wide range of styles, ranging from ultra-antiquated to proactively modern (think: Arne Jacobsen’s Egg Chair). If you have your heart set on a wingback, but you’re not sure what kind, we’re here to help. Below, we walk you though the wing-related questions worth asking before you fly the coop.

Why a Wingback Chair?

Before we delve into the more nuanced aspects of wingback chair buying, it’s worth asking yourself, why a wingback? Are you drawn to their traditional air? Or are you more enchanted by their insulating qualities that can help block noise, or create a cozy cocoon-like feeling? Taking stock of why you want a wingback can help inform what style you ultimately land on. For instance, if you want a wingback for its noise-cancelling abilities, choose one with sizable wings.

Where are You Putting Your Wingback Chair?

Whether you’re placing your wingback in front of a hearth or tucking one into an attic dormer, assess how much space you have to accommodate it. Knowing how much space you have to work will dictate what size wingback you can choose. If you have a surplus of space, you may even want to use a pair of wingback chairs. Wingbacks’ upright silhouette makes them a great pick for square footage-squeezed spaces like in front of a fireplace. While on the topic of fire-front wingbacks, homeowners and designers love the sartorial-like elegance a wingback — and especially a pair of wingbacks — can bring to a fireplace.

If you have more space to work with, consider a wingback with a more lounge-y silhouette, such as a Danish Modern wingback, as they tend to be less compact. If you’re a staunch traditionalist with more space, try a wingback with an upholstered box base.

What Feeling Do You Want Your Wingback Chair to Convey?

Wingbacks have enviable mutability. Upholstered in a classic burnished leather they can be the epitome of traditional. However, outfitted in a boisterous print — say, Scalamandre’s Chi’en Dragon — they can swing eccentrically rogue. Consider how you want your chair to read in your space to best make a call on what fabric.