How to Choose a Mid-Century Lounge Chair and Ottoman: A Buyer's Guide

October 8, 2026

Few pieces of furniture are as recognisable as the mid-century lounge chair and ottoman. Designed by Charles and Ray Eames in 1956 to feel like “a well-worn first baseball mitt”, it has become the reading chair of choice for living rooms, studies and studios. Because it is so widely reproduced, quality varies enormously. This guide explains what to look for so you buy a chair that will still look and feel right in ten years.

1. Start with the leather

The leather is what you touch every day, and it is where cheaper reproductions cut corners first. Look for:

Top-grain leather, not bonded or “PU leather”. Top-grain is the strong outer layer of the hide; it softens and develops character with use instead of peeling.
Leather on both sides of the cushions, not leather on the seat and vinyl on the back.
Neat, tight stitching around the piping. Lockstitch seams hold their shape; loose chain stitching can unravel.

Our Lounge Chair and Ottoman is upholstered in 100% top-grain Italian leather, front and back.

2. Check how the shell is made

The curved shells are moulded plywood with a decorative veneer. Good shells use multiple cross-grained plies, kiln-dried so they don't warp or crack as your heating comes on and off through the year. Ask how many plies are used and how the veneer is finished: several coats of lacquer protect the wood and keep the colour from fading in sunlight.

3. Look at the parts you can't see in photos

Shock mounts: the rubber or silicone mounts connecting the shells to the frame give the chair its gentle flex. Poor mounts are the most common failure point on cheap reproductions. Silicone mounts last longer.
Base and braces: should be cast aluminium, not thin pressed steel. A solid base keeps the chair stable when you lean back.
Swivel: the chair should turn smoothly through 360° without wobbling.
Cushions: memory foam holds its shape better than standard foam. Removable cushions, as on the original, make cleaning and replacement easier.

4. Choose your colour combination

The combination of leather and veneer sets the mood of the room:

Black leather + walnut: the classic, understated choice that suits almost any interior.
Black leather + rosewood: the original 1950s look, richer and darker. See our Black Rosewood edition.
Brown leather + walnut or rosewood: warmer, softer and forgiving of everyday wear.
White leather + ashwood or walnut: light and Scandinavian, ideal for bright, minimal rooms.

5. Measure your space

A lounge chair and ottoman takes more floor space than most people expect, because the chair reclines and the ottoman sits in front of it. Before ordering:

Measure the floor area, allowing room to walk around the chair.
Leave space behind the chair so it can recline and swivel without hitting a wall.
Check doorways and stairs on the way in. The chair arrives in parts, but the shells are still large.

If you'd like exact dimensions before ordering, contact us and we'll send them over.

6. Delivery, VAT and warranty

Hidden costs are the most common surprise when buying furniture online. Check whether the price includes VAT, whether import or customs fees apply, and what warranty is offered. All our prices include VAT, delivery is free to the UK and European mainland (offshore islands excluded), UK orders arrive within 5 business days, and every piece comes with a 1-year warranty.