Enduring appeal and natural sophistication Stylish. Comfortable. Classic. Incomparable. Those are just a few of the words that could be used to describe the appeal of leather accent chairs. As a natural material that improves with age, leather adds character and a striking visual texture to any furniture scheme, whether it be contemporary, transitional, or traditional. The appeal of leather Mankind has used leather for clothing since the Stone Age, and this long and intimate relationship is undoubtedly part of the reason that leather is so fundamentally appealing to so many people. But leather is obviously much more than just the atavistic gift of primitive cave dwellers to today's interior decorators - or the favorite material of retro designers who love the leather couches of the 1960s and 70s. Leather has been used for the upholstery of chairs since at least the Middle Ages, and has had a decorative impact on chair designs all around the world. As Robert F. Trent writes in Upholstery in America & Europe, "In the seventeenth century, leather chairs were the characteristic seating furniture of prosperous people living in English and American urban centers." |  |
What made leather chairs appealing in the seventeenth century is still what makes them appealing today: their sophistication, their authoritative appearance, their sumptuousness, and the way leather seamlessly complements other natural materials such as wood.
Leather Care and Maintenance
Though much more durable than fabric, a leather accent chair will require regular cleaning to ensure that it lasts and looks its best. A leather chair should be dusted every week with a damp cloth and kept away from direct sunlight or sources of heat. Treat the chair with a suitable leather conditioner and protectant several times a year.
Decorating with leather chairs
Accent chairs draw attention, and leather accent chairs even more. Leather chairs can be used as accent pieces in virtually any style, from American colonial to modern. When deciding how to decorate around leather club chairs or black leather chairs, consider the qualities of your particular chair. Does it appear aloof or inviting? Light or heavy? Decorating with plants, natural fibers, and warm-hued woods is a great way to make a leather chair fit into a room. Use lighter, more natural colors to offset a chair that has a heavy or imposing presence.
