Almost everyone who loves interiors has a chair they keep saving. For plenty of people, it’s the Eames lounge, with its leather, bent wood and matching footstool. It turns up in damp Victorian terraces and glass-fronted new builds alike, so a lot of people choose it first and then plan the room around it.
Here’s what it costs, which size to pick, what suits a British house, and whether the Eames-style version is a fair swap for the real thing.
What Is an Armchair Designer, Exactly?
An armchair designer is someone who does up rooms in their head. You’ve got a folder full of saved photos, you’ve moved the sofa three times without lifting it, and nobody’s paying you for any of it.
You know which wall wants painting, which rug is wrong, and which corner is crying out for a proper chair. Most of the time you’re right, too. The trouble starts when it’s time to turn the daydream into something you can sit on, and that’s where this guide comes in.
Why Every Armchair Designer Ends Up Wanting an Eames Lounge Chair
The Eames lounge chair came out in 1956. Charles Eames said he wanted it to look like a well-used first baseman’s mitt. That’s an odd thing to aim for in a chair, but sit in one, and it makes sense. It’s soft and a bit worn-in, and it wraps around you.
You can look through our full range of Eames-style lounge chairs and ottomans while you read.
Armchair Designer Question: Is an Eames-Style Lounge Chair Worth It?
Our Eames-inspired lounge chairs start from £895. A licensed original costs several thousand pounds. With ours, you get the look, the layered-shell shape, and a comfortable seat, but not the manufacturer’s name or the resale value.
It comes down to what you want. An original from Vitra keeps much of its value, and it might end up with your kids one day. If you’d rather sit in it every evening and not worry about a mug ring, the Eames-style version makes more sense for the money.
Here’s how our prices step up:
● £895 to £945: standard chair and ottoman in walnut, rosewood or ash
● £1,045: Tall and XL versions, plus the Deluxe range in waxed leather
● £1,295: the Ultra Premium Tall with a snap-lock design and removable cushions
How Much Space Does an Eames Lounge Chair Need? An Armchair Designer’s Floor Plan Check
Measure 1.5m from the back of the chair to the end of the ottoman. Width is about 85cm. Then leave roughly 60cm at the side, or you’ll be shuffling past it sideways every time you walk in. Like to lean right back? Give yourself a bit more room behind. Tall and XL versions are bigger, so check the dimensions on each product page.
Before you order, stick masking tape on the floor in the chair’s footprint and leave it there for a weekend. Most “it’s too big” regrets would have shown up by Sunday night. The ottoman needs a home too, for the times you aren’t using it.
Standard, Tall or XL? Sizing Advice for the Armchair Designer
Standard suits smaller rooms and shorter sitters. Tall has a longer, deeper backrest, and it’s the one to pick if you’re around 6ft or like your head properly supported. XL is wider and works in bigger living rooms. One customer review on our site recommends Tall over the other two.
Walnut, Rosewood or Ash: Picking a Wood Finish
Walnut is the warm, mid-brown option. Put it next to an oak floor or some Victorian picture rails, and it looks like it’s always been there.
Rosewood is darker and richer. With black leather, it gives a room a library feel.
Ash is the pale one. Pair it with white leather in a north-facing room, and that dull corner stops feeling gloomy.
Aniline or Waxed Leather? Which One Suits Your Home
Choose aniline if you want the softest, most natural look, and you don’t mind it showing a few marks. Choose waxed if the chair will get everyday use and you’d rather it took scuffs in its stride.
Our standard range uses aniline leather. It looks lovely, but it marks easily. Dark jeans can leave a bluish tint on the paler colours, so if you’re drawn to ivory white, be realistic about who’ll be sitting in it.
The Deluxe range is waxed leather, in Vintage Tan and Olive Green. Scuffs tend to blend in, and over the years it darkens and softens. Plenty of people find it looks better at year five than it did on day one.
Dark Leather in a Dim Room: Lighting Tips for the Armchair Designer
In December the sun’s gone by 4 pm, and a black leather chair in an unlit corner just disappears. Put a lamp with a warm bulb (around 2700K) next to it and the problem’s solved. If your living room faces north, this matters even more, so check the corner at different times of day before you choose a colour.
Where Should an Armchair Designer Put an Eames Lounge Chair in a UK Home?
A bay window works well. Angle the chair so the light comes over your shoulder, and check where the radiator sits first, because you don’t want leather pressed up against it.
The alcove beside a chimney breast is another good spot, and plenty of older houses have one. Chair on one side, a little table and lamp on the other. A corner like that looks odd and empty until something’s in it. A box room or snug works well too, and so does a quiet corner of a home office.
Keep the leather 30 to 50cm off the radiator, and the same goes for a south-facing window that gets the afternoon sun. Heat dries leather out, and sun fades it.
Styling Tips from One Armchair Designer to Another
One showpiece chair per room. Let it be the loud one and keep everything else quiet.
● A wool throw looks better over the ottoman than the chair, where it hides the shape.
● An arc floor lamp means you’re not relying on the ceiling light.
● Keep a small round table at arm height for your tea and your book.
● Add a rug, with the front of the chair sitting on it.
● Want a second seat? Our occasional chairs are lighter and won’t compete with the Eames.
What to Check Before Buying an Eames-Style Lounge Chair
- Fire safety label. In the UK, new upholstered furniture has to meet the 1988 Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations, and there should be a permanent label on it. If there isn’t one, ask why.
- The leather itself. Ask whether it’s aniline, semi-aniline or waxed leather, or bonded leather. Bonded can peel.
- Removable cushions. They make cleaning easier and can be replaced later.
- Wood veneer. Find out which wood it is, not just the colour name.
- Assembly. Customers who’ve built the chair themselves say it’s manageable alone but easier with two. It also means no squeezing a finished chair down a narrow terrace hallway.
- Returns. Read the returns policy before ordering any large piece.
Armchair Designer FAQs: Your Eames Lounge Chair Questions Answered
How much does an Eames lounge chair cost in the UK?
A licensed original from Vitra usually costs several thousand pounds. Our Eames-inspired lounge chairs and ottomans start from £895 and go up to £1,295 for the Ultra Premium Tall. The price depends on size, wood finish, and leather type, and the ottoman is included in every listing.
What’s the difference between an original Eames lounge chair and an Eames-style one?
Eames-style chairs follow the same look: moulded wood shells, leather cushions, a matching ottoman. They aren’t made by Vitra, the company that holds the licence. That’s why they cost less, because the brand name and the resale value aren’t part of the deal.
How big is an Eames lounge chair?
A standard chair is roughly 85cm wide and deep, and you’ll need around 1.5m front to back once the ottoman is pulled up. Tall and XL versions are larger. Check the exact measurements on the product page, and mark the footprint on your floor with masking tape before ordering.
Is an Eames lounge chair comfortable for long sitting?
Mostly, yes. The deep cushions, headrest, and tilted-back angle make it good for reading or a long film. It sits lower and leans back more than a normal armchair, so think about how you actually sit before you buy. One customer called the cushioning plush but firm. If you’re tall, look at the Tall size.
How do I clean and look after an Eames leather chair?
Use a soft, dry cloth for dusting, and wipe spills up quickly. Skip harsh cleaners, as they can strip the finish. Keep the chair 30 to 50cm from radiators and out of strong afternoon sun. Check the care advice for your type of leather too.
Ready to Turn the Daydream Into a Room?
Still thinking about it? Tape the chair’s footprint on your floor and leave it for a weekend. See if you trip over it. If you don’t, have a look at our Eames-style lounge chairs and ottomans. If you’re tall, the Deluxe Vintage Tan waxed leather is worth a look. Got questions about sizes, finishes or delivery? Message us and we’ll help you choose.
