10 Best Reading Chairs Comfortable Enough to Spend All Day In (2026)

The most important element of a reading chair is that it’s a comfortable, welcoming space to lose a few hours with your nose in a good book. But for any design lover, its visual statement is nonnegotiable. In pursuit of the finest reading chairs out there—ones that dovetail comfort with design prowess—our staff tested a range of picks firsthand to ensure that the comfort and durability were up to our standards (more on that below).

A welcome addition to any living room, our top picks are cozy enough to curl up in yet supportive enough not to require adjusting your sitting position every few minutes or scrambling for the nearest lumbar pillow. Based on style and enthusiastic reviews from our team of editors and contributors, as well as countless hours spent actually reading from these seats, these are the best reading chairs, including a beloved Pierce & Ward Slipper chair, along with an oversized silhouette that doubles as a sleeper chair. Keep scrolling to find the one that suits how you read.

Our Top Picks:

• Best Classic Reading Chair: Serena & Lily Miramar Chair
• A Midcentury Classic: Knoll Womb Chair
• A Cocoon-Like Chair: Knoll Willo Perron Bun Chair
• Best Patterned Option: Pierce & Ward Curved Slipper Chair
• Best Oversized Reading Chair: Sabai Eclipse Chair

Best Classic Reading Chair: Serena & Lily Miramar Chair

Read the full review here

Contributor Lila Allen really put the Serena & Lily performance fabrics through the wringer when it came to her Miramar Chair. “This chair was my first foray into performance fabric at home, which I was excited to try out,” Allen says. “Serena & Lily carries a wide range of Perennials fabrics—there are dozens to choose from, with options ranging from shirting-stripe chambray to tweed, palm prints, and polka dots. Mine came upholstered in a Perennials Basketweave textile in Chalk. These fabrics are made from solution-dyed acrylic, making them impervious to blights like mold, mildew, staining, and UV damage and definitely resilient for everyday living.” To test its stain-resistant claims, she boldly poured a full mug of coffee on the Miramar and watched it simply…disappear. (Okay, more accurately, it beaded and rolled off with the assistance of a paper towel.) Performance aside, the Miramar’s spacious seat was Allen’s favorite part of the experience, allowing her to sit in all of her “crisscross applesauce” glory. She also praised its firm and supportive construction, though she warned it might be better suited for large spaces.

A Midcentury Classic: Knoll Womb Chair

Read the full review here

If the name hasn’t already given away the draw of this iconic chair, Knoll’s Womb Chair feels safe, supportive, and oh-so-comfortable. Eero Saarinen designed it for Knoll in the late 1940s, and its slightly angled back, upholstered, built-in armrests, and additional seat cushion have become a signature for the brand. It’s generously sized but still compact enough to tuck into a reading nook, and has the right style to command focus in a vast living room. Contributor Collier Sutter notes in her review that it’s like the adult version of a baby bassinet, in a cool and modern way. “It was not designed to be stuffed to the brim with cushions, but still has a comfortable frame: The organic shapes stem from the designer’s belief that a chair should be flexible to accommodate any type of sitting posture,” she says. “I was also surprised at the extra elbow room on the indented armrests, which offer enough free space to lay my book down (or live on the edge and rest my cocktail there).”

How We’d Style It:

If there’s one chair the entire Shop AD team can stand behind, it’s the Willo Perron Bun Chair. We tested this pick during our 2025 Seat Week, keeping it in a corner of our offices for all to enjoy, and the seat was never empty. It’s dumpling-shaped and can cozily fit two; this chair wraps you in plush upholstery and curved sides. As contributor Lori Keong puts it, the chair “draws you into its center like a puffy donut, cradles you like a baby, and sits on even-keeled legs that make the whole thing feel like a cloud floating on air.” Sure, it looks more like somewhere you’d take an afternoon nap, but Keong can attest to its reading chair abilities. “Everyone who came by to sit on it remarked on just how cushy and comfy it was, with some of our team spending hours working there,” she says. It’s definitely larger than the online photos suggest, so be sure to double-check your measurements, especially for those who live in an apartment or are trying to outfit a tight reading nook.

How We’d Style It:

Best Patterned Option: Pierce & Ward Curved Slipper Chair

Read the full review here

Contributor Kate McGregor has had this chair for nearly a year, and she loves it more with time. The chair has an upright quality that makes it better for reading than for watching movies or lounging around. It’s just as good for nights spent conversing with friends and family. McGregor’s friends can attest: They appreciate the “anti-sink-down quality and grown-up aesthetic” whenever they sit in this seat during parties. McGregor’s one qualm, as someone who never sits in one position for longer than a few minutes, is that the arms aren’t tall enough to lean on. They are ideal for supporting her elbows as she knits for hours on end, though. Though her tan and black pinstripe chair is covered in a 100% cotton weave instead of a traditional performance fabric, she says it feels durable unlike linen- and suede-coated seats she’s had in the past.

Best Oversized Reading Chair: Sabai Eclipse Chair

Roomy enough for you and a small reader to share, Sabai’s Eclipse chair is the perfect oversized reading chair to bring into your space. Sabai prides itself on its sustainability efforts, so if your chair is ever damaged or broken, the brand offers replacement parts (like cushions, legs, and slipcovers) that mean you won’t have to send anything to the curb. Shopping producer Lauren Arzbaecher tested and reviewed the brand’s Essential Corner Sectional and praised the ease of assembly and cozy yet supportive cushion fill.

“The upholstery feels durable and tightly sewn into the seams, so that the fabric won’t bubble or pull away from the cushions easily. For the first week or so, the seat cushions did feel a bit firm, though they’ve softened as time has gone by,” Arzbaecher says. Padded arms make this seat ultrasuitable for reading, while a myriad of colorways and piping options give you a custom furniture feel at a fraction of the cost. We’re particularly partial to a contrasting piping color to level up the chair’s simple design—just look at the bright red against the baby blue upholstery. As a bonus, this chair doubles as a sleeper—the cushions fold out to create a twin-size bed.

More AD-Approved Picks

A sophisticated place to peruse the morning paper, this reading chair features a high back and subtle wingback shape that lends itself to a more traditional design scheme. The velvet upholstery adds to its bookish appeal, while the slightly sloping arms and 23-inch seat depth make this an ideal place to spend a few hours, without the struggle to pull yourself back out of the plush cushions.

Enveloped by cushions on all three sides, the Alva chair from Ellison Studios has the look of an upright bed. The generously padded armrests make it easy to settle in and fully immerse yourself in your current book of choice. Despite the overstuffed look, a slim metal frame prevents this armchair from being too visually heavy, giving it a sense of structure among the copious amounts of feather fill.

A swivel base is an underrated feature in a reading chair. It lets you follow the light as it moves across the room or turn your back on whoever’s impeding your reading time with loud episodes of Jackass. Quince’s version rotates a full 360 degrees on an ash veneer base, and the seat is built with three layers of high-density foam over sinuous springs. In other words, it’s designed to stay supportive instead of slumping after a few months. The 23-inch seat depth is deep enough to pull your legs up under you, and at 36 inches wide there’s room to shift positions easily. The contract-grade velvet has a matte finish that comes across more tailored than plush, and the Java colorway, a dark espresso brown, will forgive a spilled cup of coffee better than the lighter taupe hue. It arrives fully assembled with free white glove delivery, which is no small thing for anyone hauling furniture up a walk-up.

In order to really get cozy with your book, you’ll want somewhere to kick your feet up. Castlery’s ultra-deep Mori armchair just so happens to have a matching ottoman. The perfect place to sprawl out, this reading chair has wide arms to lean against as well as a lumbar pillow for additional support. The Japandi-style platform keeps this piece from looking too heavy, even with the ottoman in tow.

The Danver easily slots into a living room without making you rearrange everything around it. West Elm offers it in a long list of upholstery options, but the performance marled basketweave in the camel is our favorite. We imagine the weave has enough texture to hide crumbs and the occasional coffee drip, and the performance finish means you don’t have to be precious about either. Pair it with the matching ottoman, sold as a set, and it becomes a full reading setup.

What to Look for in a Reading Chair

Like any furniture preferences, what makes a good reading chair comes down to support. In this case, comfort is king; across the category, you’ll find ultra-plush cushions, sloped and supportive backs, and seats wide enough to curl your entire body into.

For all-day readers, a slight recline and extra-wide seat can provide cushion chapter after chapter. For others, like me, who read in short bursts, a more upright seat might help prevent dozing off between plot points. Regardless of your reading chair needs, here are a few key points to consider when buying an accent chair worthy of tackling your TBR list.

Size: A standard accent chair width, anywhere from 24 inches to 36 inches, allows for all types of sitting, whether you prefer to be upright, criss-cross, or even lie across the armrests. Should you wish to curl up, an oversized chair option, or even a chair-and-a-half (nearly 55 inches wide in some cases, but most often around 50), can give you that extra wiggle room. This is especially handy if you have a clingy pet or little one that needs to squeeze in as well.

Materials: Solid wood, natural fibers, and a foam/down cushion fill are the highest-quality materials to look for. If you can, veer away from MDF or thinner plywood construction that may not last as long as durable hardwoods. Inside, metal springs or cushion supports can help prevent sagging or cushions from losing their shape over time, while performance upholstery can deter all sorts of spills, stains, and debris (a must-have for those with children or pets).

Structure: Often more plush and cushioned than traditional accent chairs or occasional seating, reading chairs are designed for long-term comfort. If you prefer a more cloud-like environment, look for overstuffed cushions and textured upholstery, like velvet or bouclé, that beckon you to sink in and stay awhile. The wide Sabai Eclipse armchair embodies that with its smooth hemp upholstery and thick arms (just wide enough for a coffee cup or, dare we say, second book). If productivity is more important, look for a firmer seat, like the Pierce & Ward slipper chair from West Elm, that stays comfortable without lulling you to sleep mid-chapter.

How We Chose These Reading Chairs

When putting these reading chairs to the test, my fellow testers and I prioritized the quality of the furniture above all. We considered the comfort levels, durability, assembly, and even the shipping and delivery options when choosing which models would make the cut and give our readers all the knowledge they need to make an informed purchase. Top picks on this list were tested by editors like myself, and contributors over the years (with over a month of testing completed before reviews were submitted). In addition to real-life reviews, we ensured these pieces were built with high-quality materials like solid wood frames and performance upholstery to serve as an indicator of how these products would hold up over time.