Best Armchairs Australia: Comfort Buyer Guide

A great armchair has a quiet kind of usefulness. It can turn an empty corner into a reading spot, give a living room an extra seat without adding another sofa, soften a bedroom or create a more social layout when guests arrive.

While searching for the best armchairs in Australia, it helps to think beyond the first impression. The right chair should feel supportive, sit at the right height, suit the room’s scale and work with the fabric demands of daily life.

At MOMU, armchairs are made in Melbourne with custom upholstery, tailored comfort and guidance across fabrics, leathers and room planning. Whether you need an occasional chair, a swivel armchair, a compact bedroom chair or a generous lounge chair, the best choice begins with how the chair will be used.

What Makes an Armchair Worth Choosing?

A good armchair should have a clear purpose. It may be the seat used for reading every night, the chair that completes a sofa setting, the extra place guests sit during conversation or the quiet chair in a bedroom where the room needs softness without a large footprint.

The best armchair should feel comfortable beyond the first sit. The seat should support the body without sinking too far. The back should suit the way you sit. The arms should feel natural for resting. The height should allow easy sitting and standing.

What should you check first?

• Does the chair support your lower back?
• Can you sit and stand with ease?
• Do the arms sit at a natural height?
• Does the seat depth suit reading, relaxing or conversation?
• Will the chair work with the sofa, rug and side table?

This is why comparing armchairs online can only take you so far. Measurements, photos and fabric names are helpful, but comfort needs to be tested where possible.

How Do You Choose an Armchair That Feels Comfortable?

Comfort comes from several details working together. Seat height, seat depth, back support, arm position, cushion feel and fabric texture all change how the chair feels in daily use.

Why does seat height matter?

Seat height affects how easy the chair is to use. A low armchair can feel relaxed, but it may not suit everyone. A higher seat can feel more supportive and easier to stand from, especially in a chair used every day.

What seat depth is best?

A deeper chair can suit lounging, but it may not be ideal for reading or conversation. A more measured depth can support upright sitting. The right depth depends on whether the chair is for relaxing, reading, occasional seating or daily use.

How much back support do you need?

The back of the chair should support the body naturally. A lower back may suit an occasional chair, while a taller back can feel better for longer sitting. If the chair is for reading, check whether your shoulders and lower back feel supported.

Which Armchair Works Best in Each Room?

The same chair can feel very different depending on where it sits. A bedroom chair may need softness and a smaller footprint. A living-room chair may need to hold its own beside a sofa. A reading chair needs support, light and somewhere to place a book or drink.

What works in a living room?

A living-room armchair should work with the sofa, rug, coffee table and movement through the room. Compare the chair’s seat height, depth and scale with the sofa before choosing.

What makes a good reading chair?

A reading chair needs good back support, comfortable arms and space for a side table or lamp. A swivel base can be useful if the chair needs to face a window, bookshelf, fireplace or conversation area at different times.

What suits a bedroom?

A bedroom armchair should feel comfortable without taking over the room. Compact designs work well near a window, beside a wardrobe or in a quiet corner. Make sure the chair does not block drawers, robe doors or walking space.

What works in open-plan living?

In an open-plan room, an armchair can help define the living area without adding another sofa. A swivel chair can be useful because it can turn towards the kitchen, dining area, television or conversation space.

How Should You Measure for an Armchair?

Before ordering an armchair, measure the room properly. It is easy to assume a single chair will fit, but the surrounding space matters. A chair needs room for sitting, standing, side tables, lamps and movement.

What should you measure?

• The width and depth of the available floor space.
• The walking path around the chair.
• The space needed for a side table or lamp.
• The relationship between the chair and sofa.
• Doorways, stairs, lifts and hallway turns for delivery.

If choosing a swivel armchair, allow room for the chair to turn without hitting a table, wall, curtain or sofa. This is especially important in compact rooms.

What Armchair Mistakes Should You Avoid?

The first mistake is choosing a chair that looks good but does not suit how it will be used. A reading chair needs different support from an occasional chair. A living-room chair used every day needs more comfort than a chair used only for guests.

The second mistake is ignoring scale. A chair that is too wide can crowd the room. A chair that is too small can look weak beside a large sofa or modular setting.

The third mistake is choosing fabric too quickly. A light fabric may look beautiful, but a high-use family room may need a more durable texture. A chair in a sunny window may need a different fabric from a chair in a bedroom corner.

• Too deep: the chair can feel awkward for reading.
• Too low: standing up can feel harder than it should.
• Too wide: the chair can crowd the room.
• Too small: it may look disconnected beside a generous sofa.
• Poor fabric choice: the chair may not suit everyday contact.

Which MOMU Armchairs Are Worth Comparing?

Once the room, comfort needs and scale are clear, it becomes easier to compare designs. These MOMU armchairs suit different uses, from compact occasional seating to generous lounge chairs and swivel options.

Arkie Armchair and Capri Armchair by MOMU, two options for relaxed seating.

Who does Arkie suit?

The Arkie Armchair suits living rooms, bedrooms and reading corners where comfort and flexibility both matter. Its enclosed shape gives the chair a soft, settled feel, while the optional swivel base can make it useful in open-plan homes.

Who does Capri suit?

The Capri Armchair suits living rooms where the chair needs to feel generous without becoming visually heavy. It can work as a single feature chair, as a pair opposite a sofa or beside a larger modular setting.

Chelsea Armchair and Soho Armchair by MOMU, compact designs with flexible placement.

Who does Chelsea suit?

The Chelsea Armchair suits rooms where a chair needs to turn easily without taking up too much floor space. It works well in open-plan living rooms, bedrooms and smaller seating areas where flexibility matters.

Who does Soho suit?

The Soho Armchair suits living rooms and bedrooms where the chair needs to feel comfortable, compact and easy to use. It can turn towards conversation, television or an open-plan kitchen without needing to be moved across the floor.

Dali Armchair and Salona Armchair by MOMU, compact choices for smaller spaces.

Who does Dali suit?

The Dali Armchair suits apartments, bedrooms, secondary living areas and corners that need a practical upholstered chair without a large footprint. It can also work well in pairs.

Who does Salona suit?

The Salona Armchair suits open-plan rooms, bedrooms and sitting areas where the chair needs personality without using too much space. It can bring extra seating into the room while still leaving space for movement, side tables and lighting.

Tokyo Armchair by MOMU, a taller profile for rooms that need vertical balance.

Who does Tokyo suit?

The Tokyo Armchair suits living rooms, bedrooms and sitting areas that need a chair with more vertical presence. It can be useful where lower sofas or long horizontal lines need balance.

What Fabric Should You Choose for an Armchair?

The fabric you choose can change the whole feel of an armchair. A textured weave may suit a busy living room. Boucle can bring softness. Chenille can feel warm and tactile. Velvet can add depth. Leather offers a smoother surface feel and can suit homes looking for a more structured finish.

For high-use chairs, ask about fabric durability, cleaning needs and how the material will behave over time. For occasional chairs, you may have more flexibility with texture and colour. For sunny rooms, consider how the fabric will look in strong light throughout the day.

Before choosing fabric, compare:

• How often the chair will be used.
• Whether the fabric feels comfortable against the skin.
• How the colour changes in natural light.
• Whether the texture suits pets, children or guests.
• How the fabric works beside the sofa, rug and curtains.

How Does MOMU Make Armchairs for Long-Term Use?

An armchair should feel comfortable at first sit and continue to support everyday use. MOMU armchairs are made in Melbourne, with custom upholstery options and comfort details discussed before production across suitable designs.

MOMU uses sustainable materials, including sustainably sourced Australian kiln-dried hardwood frames, GECA-certified foams and Oeko-Tex certified Dacron fibre made from over 99% recycled bottles.

For homes planning a complete setting, armchairs can be paired with MOMU sofas, modular sofas and ottomans. This helps create a room that supports different ways to sit while keeping the overall layout balanced.

FAQs About Choosing Armchairs in Australia

What should I look for in a good armchair?

Look for suitable seat height, supportive depth, comfortable arms, good back support, durable upholstery and a size that works with the room.

Should an armchair match the sofa?

It does not need to match exactly. It should work with the sofa’s scale, height, colour direction and fabric texture. A related tone or complementary texture can often feel more considered than a perfect match.

Are swivel armchairs useful?

Yes. A swivel armchair can be useful in open-plan rooms because it can turn towards different parts of the space, including the sofa, television, kitchen or window view.

Can MOMU armchairs be customised?

Yes. MOMU armchairs can be customised with fabric or leather options, and comfort details can be discussed before production across suitable designs.

Where can I try MOMU armchairs?

You can visit the MOMU showroom in Bentleigh East to test armchairs, compare fabrics, review leather options and discuss comfort preferences with the team.

Are MOMU armchairs Australian Made?

Yes. MOMU armchairs are Australian Made in Melbourne, with the upholstery workshop located beside the Bentleigh East showroom.

Do MOMU armchairs include a warranty?

Yes. MOMU armchairs include a 10-year structural warranty.

The Right Armchair Should Feel Useful Every Day

The best armchair is the one that suits the way you sit, the room it belongs in and the fabric demands of your home. Size, comfort, back support, arm height and upholstery all deserve attention before ordering.

Rather than choosing by appearance alone, think about how the chair will be used. A well-planned armchair can support reading, conversation, quiet moments and extra seating without overcrowding the room.

Visit MOMU to test armchair designs, compare materials and discuss the best fit for your room with the team.