Stylish seating: Have fun when choosing an accent chair

An accent chair can spice up a space and provide both style and function. Here are things to consider when choosing just the right chair.

Use

When picking a chair, consider how and when it will be used. Is it something you want for comfort and coziness or something sleek and modern to express your style? Will it be used often in a family room or rarely in an entryway? A chair can accent any room of the house as well as the deck or patio.

If you need additional comfortable seating, you might choose a chair similar in style to your other seating pieces. Think about size - a piece that is too big or too small for the space will look out of place while not providing the accent you're looking for.

Fabric

Picking a fabric for your chair is one of the most fun and creative ways to say who you are. There are no hard and fast rules, but coordination in style, scale and color could be guidelines.

Do you need to brighten up an otherwise neutral pallet? Try a fun print matched with one or more of the colors in your room. If other pieces in the room already have a lot of pattern or colors, a solid color accent chair can help anchor the space.

If you combine prints, they should not be the same scale - in other words, a large print with a small one or a print with a stripe would look great.

Don't be afraid of color. This is a chance to have fun and use favorite colors you may not have used in the main pieces in the room.

--

Simpson Furniture has been a premier retailer for home furniture, flooring and home decor since 1946.

2300 Jones Blvd., Coralville; (319) 545-5005 and 2300 Main St., Cedar Falls; (319) 266-3535; www.simpsonfurniture.com