Let’s lounge: Our guide to choosing lounge chairs for restaurants & hotels

Lounge chairs are a key element in most commercial interior projects - from hotel lobbies and bedrooms to bars, lounges and waiting areas, a lounge chair offers real comfort and injects a stylish note to set the tone on arrival, or encourage guests to sit back and relax.

Our contract furniture collection includes hundreds of lounge chairs, with options for upholstery, finish and fabrics, but there are a few key things to consider when choosing a lounge chair to suit your space.

1. Shape & style

Do you want something that’s sleek and streamlined, or a lounge chair that makes a statement? Our collection includes lounge chairs which take inspiration from classic furniture design - such as the elegant Camelia, with its distinctive chrome metal finishes and studded trim.

Upholstered in deep blue mock suede, it adds a touch of glamour to this atmospheric West End cocktail bar (below), while a bold print fabric gives a different look in the elegant interior at Regent’s University, London.

The Elane Lounge Chair features contemporary classic styling, with a mid-century feel that works well in a restaurant or bar. Choose the simple version or add a design detail with a hole cut from the back.

The simple silhouette of our Roll Lounge Chair makes it a really versatile choice for a range of projects - surprisingly lightweight, its generously rounded seat and backrest mean it’s incredibly comfortable, and with a wide range of upholstery options, it works well in so many spaces.

If you’re thinking of a statement chair, there’s lots of choice in our collection. A standout shape or silhouette adds interest to an interior and can create a focal point in a bar, lounge or lobby. Our new Crabby Lounge Chair does just that - inspired by the movement of a crab on the tips of its claws, the curved padded seat contrasts with the sleek steel frame.

Our Denver Lounge Chair meanwhile packs a punch in this hot pink upholstery, and is a super-comfortable addition to a bar or lounge. The playful shape and smooth curves make this a great choice and the bold backrest wraps around your body like a hug.

Our Bros Lounge Chair is sure to be bagged as the best seat in the house - with its deep, padded cushions, distinctive rounded shape and visible seams, it’s a perfect choice for a hotel lobby or lounge bar, giving guests an indulgent spot to sit on arrival or to relax with a drink.

2. Fabric or leather upholstery

We work with a range of suppliers to give you an extensive choice of fabrics and leathers, including our premium faux-leather options, all suitable for use in commercial interiors. Leather has traditionally been seen as a more durable, hard-wearing option, but the fabrics we use now are all incredibly practical and look great. 

Velvet is a fabulous option for lounge chair upholstery, whether in soft chalky pastels or rich jewel shades. Our Annie Lounge Chair looks great in a vivid emerald green and royal blue in this colourful lounge at a Surrey hotel.

Several recent projects have mixed patterned and plain fabrics, bringing together block colour and bold patterns as a great way to make an impact.

Our Frida Lounge Chair has a retro feel, enhanced here by the use of sleek tan leather to upholster the seat and back. Leather will wear and age beautifully, developing a patina over the years and bringing character to a commercial interior.

And if it’s hard to choose, there’s plenty of potential to use both fabric and leather in one lounge chair - as seen in our project at this stylish High Wycombe hotel. Our Cliff Lounge Chair is a standout piece and features split upholstery in striking geometric fabric and contrasting leather.

3. Wooden or metal frame

You may choose a lounge chair with a concealed frame or swivel base, such as our Padova Chair, or you might opt for a visible wooden or metal frame which becomes a key part of the design.

A wooden frame adds warmth and texture, with the added benefit of being able to choose from a wide range of stains and finishes to customise the wood. Whether you opt for a natural oak finish or deep stained wood, there’s something to suit any bar, restaurant or hotel interior.

Our new Lamorisse Lounge Chair is an inviting chair to sink into thanks to its plush, enveloping cushion. The contrasting sleek, solid-wood frame is characterised by supportive, rounded armrests in steam-curved ash wood, available in a variety of frame finishes to match your space.

Our Leonora Lounge Chair looks great in deep-brown faux leather with a dark stained solid-beech frame - seen in our recent project at Newcastle’s Hotel Indigo. The striking silhouette and sleek styling makes Leonora a perfect choice for any commercial interior - bar, restaurant, office, hotel lounge or lobby.

A metal frame gives a contemporary look to a lounge chair, and like our Rimo Chair, many others in our collection are available in a range of colours, powder-coated for your desired finish.

Take a look at our Strike Lounge Chair, which features a visible tubular steel frame in chrome, copper, brass, titanium or painted steel.

A recent addition to our popular Lisa collection, this sled lounge chair comes with an optional pouf and is inspired by the elegant interiors of the 1950s and 60s. The slimline tubular structure envelopes and supports the backrest, and features a padded seat and back.

4. Bespoke is beautiful

As our guide to choosing lounge chairs shows, our collection includes a wide range of options to suit any commercial interior. 

But if you’d like something a little different, there's nothing we love more than working with clients and designers to create a bespoke piece for their project. We'll help realise your vision, and suggest ways to make your finished furniture stand out from the crowd - like this bespoke Bond lounge chair we created for a hotel lounge at the home of English football.

Anything's possible, and we're full of creative ideas to help deliver something special.

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