Fabric Armchairs

Why Choose a Fabric Armchair?

A fabric armchair earns its place in a room differently from a leather one. Where leather feels cool and formal, fabric stays soft and warm against your back, and it comes in colours and textures leather simply cannot match. That is why most people choosing a single chair for reading, relaxing or filling a quiet corner end up with fabric. Our range runs from compact accent chairs to powered recliners, in a broad palette, so there is one to suit almost any room. For matching sofas, see our fabric sofas range.

Accent Armchairs or Recliner Armchairs?

The range splits into two types. Fixed accent armchairs - like the Verona, Canterbury and Somerford designs - are for reading, relaxing or adding character to a corner, with clean lines and nothing mechanical. Recliner armchairs add a footrest and a reclining action: the Conway is a manual recliner using a lever and your weight, while Tanya, Foster, Maple and Roma are electric recliners that recline at the touch of a button and hold any position. Browse the wider recliner range for more reclining designs.

For the powered options specifically, our electric recliners range gathers them together.

Chenille, Weave, Suede or Velvet?

Texture is a big part of a fabric armchair's character. Chenille gives a deeper, brushed feel that catches the light and looks plush; weave is flatter, more textured and tends to hide everyday marks better, which suits busy homes. Beyond those, the Maple recliners come in soft suede and the Olympia in plush velvet. Each has its own feel, so it is worth choosing by touch as much as by look - our velvet range shows the velvet finish across other pieces.

Choosing a Colour

The colour range is what makes a fabric armchair so versatile. Options include grey, beige, caramel, charcoal, black, cream, brown and truffle, so you can match an armchair to an existing sofa or set it apart as an accent piece. Darker shades like charcoal and black hide marks well in a busy room, while cream and beige keep a corner feeling light and airy. To coordinate with a scheme, our grey sofas range shows the same tone across other shapes.

And for the lighter end, our cream sofas range pairs well with a cream or beige chair.

Fabric vs Leather Armchairs

Both have their place. Fabric is soft, warm and available in far more colours and textures, which makes it the natural choice for a cosy reading chair or a colourful accent piece. Leather is cooler to the touch, wipes clean easily and brings a more formal, premium look that ages with character. If you would like to compare, our leather range covers hide options - but for a single chair in a living space, most people find fabric the warmer, more flexible choice.

Fitting an Armchair into a Corner or Small Space

An armchair is a great way to use an awkward corner or a spare bit of floor. Measure the corner width and depth, and allow a little clearance on each side and room in front to sit down comfortably - a recliner also needs space ahead for the footrest to open. Angling a chair across a corner often works better than squaring it into the walls, and a compact accent chair suits tighter spaces better than a larger powered recliner. Mark the footprint with tape to be sure.

Pairing an Armchair with Your Sofa

You can either match or contrast. To match, choose a fabric armchair in the same colour family and a similar texture to your sofa for a coordinated, pulled-together look. To make it an accent, pick a contrasting colour or a different texture - a chenille chair against a weave sofa, or a caramel chair in a grey room - so it draws the eye. The broad colour and texture range here makes either approach easy, whether you are buying to match a sofa you already own or starting fresh.

Caring for Fabric

Fabric armchairs are easy to live with. Vacuum gently with an upholstery attachment to lift dust and hair, and blot spills straight away with a clean, dry cloth rather than rubbing them in. Brush chenille and velvet to keep the pile even, use a cleaner made for fabric rather than harsh household chemicals, and keep the chair out of strong, direct sunlight so the colour stays even. A little routine keeps a fabric armchair looking fresh and inviting for years.

Delivery, Finance and Old Sofa Removal

Delivery is free across England and Wales, with most in-stock armchairs arriving within around 7 to 10 working days and the date confirmed in advance; a few made-to-order designs take a little longer, as noted on the product page. Our two-person team brings the chair into your ground-floor room, and you can add old sofa removal at the checkout. See our full delivery information for what is included.

You can spread the cost with 0% deposit and interest-free options - PayPal Pay in 3, Klarna, Clearpay and DivideBuy - subject to credit check; see our full finance options for terms.

Why Buy Your Fabric Armchair from Furniture Instore?

With 24 fabric armchairs - accent chairs and manual and electric recliners, in chenille, weave, suede and velvet, across a broad colour range, from £199.99 - there is a chair for almost any room and budget. Delivery is free across England and Wales, our two-person team brings each chair into your room, and you can spread the cost with 0% deposit and interest-free finance. We are rated 4.8★ Excellent on Trustpilot from more than 4,800 genuine customer reviews, and every order is backed by our 14-day returns policy. To complete a seating layout, our footstools coordinate with many ranges - or call the team on 02476 705 600, Monday to Saturday 9am–5pm.

Frequently asked questions about fabric armchairs