Walk into almost any living room in Birmingham or beyond and you're bound to spot at least one arm chair. They look inviting—plump seats, high backs, arms just waiting to hug you after a long day. But sit down for a few hours, and problems start cropping up. Ever wondered if your favourite arm chair is actually doing more harm than good? Sometimes what’s comfortable for a quick break doesn’t work out so well in the long run.
First thing you’ll notice about arm chairs? They love taking up space. Unlike slim stools or those neat little stackable chairs, arm chairs sprawl. The arms stick out, the back is broad, and let’s not even talk about the wide seat. In the UK, the average lounge is shrinking; new builds in Birmingham average less than 18 square metres for a living room. Drop in just one bulky arm chair and suddenly, the room gets tight. Try adding a second arm chair and you might start feeling like you’re living in a furniture showroom.
These monsters aren’t easy to move, either. Want to rearrange? Arm chairs can weigh upwards of 25 kilograms, especially the old-fashioned wooden ones with thick upholstery. And they don’t squeeze through tight doors without a bit of elbow grease (and maybe a scratch or two on the wall). This is a nightmare for renters or anyone who likes to mix up their floorplan once in a while.
Space is precious, especially in cities. Let’s compare arm chairs to some space-saving alternatives in a quick table:
| Furniture Type | Average Width | Average Weight | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arm Chair | 90cm | 25 kg | 1 |
| Accent Chair (No Arms) | 60cm | 14 kg | 1 |
| Two-Seater Sofa | 150cm | 35 kg | 2 |
| Stackable Plastic Chair | 50cm | 2 kg | 1 |
Can you see the difference? Even a small change, like switching to armless chairs, frees up a lot of room. Families with kids or folks who love hosting need to pick wisely. If you’re in a one-bed flat, a couple of these arm chairs is practically a luxury that consumes your whole living space.
Arm chairs look posh in magazines. In reality, they aren’t always as flexible as you’d hope. Got friends over for dinner? Only one person gets to enjoy that plush arm chair, while everyone else perches on dining chairs or, worse, the floor. No quick fixes here. Try dragging the arm chair to the kitchen table—it just doesn’t work.
Arm chairs have a knack for dominating any spot they occupy, which can limit your layout options. Want to use your living room for a workout, or clear the floor for a kid’s sleepover? Good luck shifting heavy chairs out of the way. And most arm chairs just aren’t built for stackability or quick storage, so you end up stuck working around them.
Their bulk makes them poor fits for shared spaces, too. In co-living schemes taking off in the UK, designers favor flexible furniture—pieces you can move, fold, and repurpose. Arm chairs dig in their heels and refuse to play along. You can’t use most arm chairs outside because they’ll fade, rot, or get ruined in the rain. Even inside, those thick, padded arms can trap crumbs, lost keys, or even charging cables that vanish forever.
And get this—studies from furniture ergonomics researchers point out that arm chairs don’t always suit different body shapes. While one person relaxes, the next is left feeling awkward, arms stuck out too far or elbows hovering. There’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all seat, no matter how much the catalog photos promise.
So before you get carried away by a velvet-clad swivel chair, ask yourself: will this seat work for every guest, every purpose? Or will it spend its life in the corner, looking good but not really being much use?
People rave about how comfortable their arm chairs are. Sink in, put your feet up, maybe fall asleep watching match highlights. But if you use arm chairs for long stretches—say, as your main reading spot—tiny aches start creeping in. Why? Those signature arms and deep seats can force you into odd postures. If the armrests are too high, your shoulders lift up and tense without you noticing. Too low or wide, and you end up slouching sideways.
Believe it or not, poor posture in soft furniture like arm chairs can lead to back and neck pain, headaches, and numb legs. Back in 2022, a study out of Loughborough University found that people who sat in deep, plush chairs for more than 30 minutes at a stretch were more likely to experience lower back stiffness than those who sat on firmer, ergonomic task chairs. You might think you're comfy now, but your spine could beg to differ later.
Not all arm chairs are even comfortable for everyone. Kids might need a booster cushion just to rest their arms. Shorter adults can end up with their feet dangling. Tall folks might find the seat doesn’t support their thighs, leading to dead legs after an hour. And those arms, while great for a quick rest, get in the way if you want to curl up or stretch sideways.
Feeling snug is not the same as feeling supported. Good ergonomic seating has adjustable back support, proper height, and lets you plant your feet. Most arm chairs don’t come close. So while they tempt you with soft cushions and high backs, they may not be doing your body any favors.
If you work from home, definitely swap the arm chair for a real office chair during your 9-to-5. Your back will thank you by tea time, trust me.
Spills happen. Your cuppa goes flying, a plate of chips lands upside down, or the dog claims the chair and leaves muddy paw prints everywhere. Fabric or leather, arm chairs are magnets for stains and dust. And cleaning them can be a pain.
Many arm chairs have deep seams, padding, and tufted buttons that trap dirt where a simple wipe won’t reach. Some are upholstered in fancy fabrics that need special cleaning products—or worse, they don’t take kindly to water. Leather ones? You’ll spend more time buffing them than actually sitting. Removable covers are rare, and when you find them, getting the covers off and back on again is a workout in itself. Even then, they shrink, fade, or develop zips that get stuck. If you’ve got allergies, dust mites in those thick arm pads will never be your friends.
Let’s look at cleaning time for different chairs:
| Chair Type | Average Deep Clean Time | Stain Removal Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Arm Chair | 45 minutes | High |
| Dining Chair (wood/plastic) | 10 minutes | Low |
| Stackable Plastic Chair | 5 minutes | Very Low |
| Accent Chair (fabric, armless) | 20 minutes | Medium |
Point is, unless you sit in your arm chair wrapped in plastic (not recommended), you’ll spend a lot of time trying to keep it presentable. Steam cleaning costs add up if you don’t DIY, and using the wrong cleaner will ruin the fabric. As stylish as that patterned velvet looks online, it turns into a dust-and-hair magnet in the real world. Pet owners? Good luck picking fur out of every crevice.
Let’s get real about budgets. A nice arm chair isn’t cheap. On average, you’ll pay anywhere from £150 for a basic chair to over £800 for branded designer pieces. That’s a serious chunk of cash—and it doesn’t always buy you lasting quality. Modern mass-market chairs can start to sag, squeak, or fray within a year of daily use. Even the high-priced ones aren’t immune to spills and wear.
Compare this with other types of seating. A simple wooden bench costs less than half and stands up to a lot more rough use. Stackable chairs are cheap, tough, and you can swap them out in a pinch. With arm chairs, repairs aren’t easy. One broken arm or split seam, and you’re between pricey upholstery jobs or a trip to the tip. And if you plan to redecorate, getting a new slipcover to match your latest paint choice can run as much as a new chair.
Here’s something people don’t always realise: because arm chairs are so personal—everyone’s got their favorite “spot”—they get used the most and wear out the fastest. The foam loses bounce, or the springs give up. Some classic designs from the 60s still look fab because they were built to last ages. A lot of today’s budget arm chairs just aren’t made the same way.
So, when you’re weighing up price and durability, ask if your dream chair is really built for years or just looks good for a while. If money’s tight, spreading it across versatile seating might give you more bang for your quid. And if you must have that statement arm chair? Maybe keep the cat off it and save the red wine for the sofa.
Arm chairs might be the stars of the living room, but their weaknesses are pretty clear when you know what to look for. Space-greedy, tricky to match or move, not always comfy for everyone, tough to keep clean, and sometimes a wallet breaker. If you fancy a balance between looks and practicality, keep these details in mind before you buy your next arm chair. Might just save your back, your wallet, and plenty of space in your flat.
Write a comment