A statement chair deserves a room that has been planned around it, not one it has to fight. In this guide we walk through how to choose the walls, fabrics, rug and finishing touches that let a bold piece of furniture take centre stage, using pieces from our own shelves as examples.
Start with the chair and let it set the rules
Decide on your hero piece first and build outwards. The Gorilla Chair by Marcantonio is about as bold as seating gets: an ape-shaped lounge chair with a rich real leather covering. It comes from Marcantonio's "Vegetal Animal" concept, which uses nature to provoke strong emotions, and the result borders on caricature in the best possible way.
With a piece like this, everything else in the room has a supporting role. A few practical rules help:
- Give it space. Leave clear floor around the chair so its outline can be read from the doorway.
- Angle it towards the light. A sculptural shape looks its best when daylight or a lamp catches its curves.
- Pick one or two colours from it and repeat them elsewhere, rather than introducing a whole new palette.
Botanical fabrics that frame, not compete
Because the Gorilla Chair draws on nature, botanical prints make natural companions. The trick is to choose fabrics with rhythm and movement so they sit behind the chair visually rather than clamouring for attention.
Pimpernel Fabric by Morris & Co is a good example. William Morris designed Pimpernel in 1876, with curling stems circling wind-swept flowerheads in a symmetrical layout, and it was the design he chose for his own dining room. It is rated at 20,000 Martindale and suits curtains, blinds, cushions and upholstery, so you could use it at the window or on a pair of cushions nearby. Colourways include Ink/Sage, Linen/Coral, Cobalt/Mineral and Woad/Coral.
If you want something bolder and more exotic, King Protea Fabric from Sanderson was taken from a 1971 Sanderson archive document and repainted in watercolour. It is an all-over design celebrating the King Protea flower, also rated at 20,000 Martindale, in Rhodera or Orchid/Grey. Used as curtains, it makes a lush backdrop; used on a single footstool or cushion, it adds a flash of pattern without crowding the chair.
Browse the full fabric collection if you want to compare scales and colours side by side.
Ground the scheme with a rug
A rug anchors a statement chair and stops it looking as though it has simply been dropped into the room. The Blackthorn Tump Indoor & Outdoor Rug by Morris & Co takes its pattern from a popular Morris & Co wallpaper design. It is durable and weatherproof, suitable both indoors and out, which makes it a practical choice for a garden room, conservatory or a busy family space as well as a terrace.
Place the front legs of the chair on the rug, or the whole chair if the rug is large enough, so the two read as one group. Explore more from the Morris & Co brand if you want to tie rug, fabric and walls together.
Walls and shelving with a sense of humour
A characterful chair is happy alongside a characterful wall, as long as one of them is calmer. If your fabrics are busy, keep the wallpaper simple; if you want pattern on the walls, choose something with a clear, graphic layout.
Acquario Wallpaper by Cole & Son is a playful option. Fish were motifs in some of Piero Fornasetti's earliest work, and the whimsical composition and scale of Acquario make a striking wallcovering, while the colourways (Ink, Seafoam, Dark Viridian, Taupe and Charcoal) keep a classic feel. A deep Ink or Dark Viridian would make a rich backdrop for red or brown upholstery.
For storage that matches the mood, the Primitive Bookshelf by Qeeboo was designed by Studio Nucleo and is now produced in rotationally moulded polyethylene. It is modular, so you can add a second module to build a bigger, sculptural bookshelf. Keep what you display on it edited so the chair stays the star.
Finish with scent and small accents
The last layer is about how the room feels. A reed diffuser on a side table near the chair adds atmosphere without adding clutter: the Ortigia Diffuser 200ml releases a subtle, continuous fragrance through natural reeds, in a signature bottle that looks good on display.
If you want one more playful touch, a lamp from our mouse lamps range can echo the animal theme. Just resist adding too many characters to one corner; one star and one or two supporting acts is usually plenty.
Plan your room around your favourite piece
Start with the chair, pull your colours from it, then add fabric, rug and walls in layers. Browse our furniture collection to find your statement piece, or visit the shop in Somerset and our team will happily help you put a scheme together.
