Interior Designers on the 7 Most Comfortable Chairs

WHILE WE anxiously wait to resume regular programming, comfort has become a high priority on the home front. With that in mind, we asked scores of interior designers to name the most sink-into-able chairs available today. Two respondents enthusiastically backed the Song Armchair from 3-year-old British company Maker&Son. New York designer Ghislaine Viñas called it “freakishly and deliciously comfortable…[it makes] you want to immediately curl up and snuggle.” Who among us wouldn’t welcome a hug from a chair these days? Here, six more designer-recommended seats waiting to embrace you.

Gerrit Rietveld’s 1935 Utrecht Chair

Greg Roth said his team at Home Front Build, in Los Angeles, is in love with Dutch modernist Gerrit Rietveld’s 1935 Utrecht Chair. “The incline of the seat and backrest are just so, with a very gentle and comforting slope that welcomes the body and encourages relaxation,” said the senior designer. Don’t let its angular lines spook you, he said. “This chair is firm, yes, but also cushy and soothingly comfy.” From approx. $6025 for standard size, cassina.com

RH’s Yeti Sheepskin Armchair

Miami designer Travis London chose RH’s Yeti Sheepskin Armchair, calling out its long-shorn fluffy pelt. “The fur is incredibly soft, warm and comfortable,” he said. The silhouette nods to midcentury French design, with upholstered elements filled with poly-fibre wrapped around a foam core. “The cushion feels like it’s a memory-foam mattress, and it’s the perfect height to sit just right.” approx. $3052, rh.com

a funky 1980s chair

Years ago, Jenny Dina Kirschner, founder of Brooklyn’s JDK Interiors, paid $150 for a funky 1980s chair she found online. When it arrived at her office, its filthy condition kept her from sitting on it, but a visiting client plopped into it. “I was preparing coffee for us, and she yelled to me, ‘Oh my gosh, Jenny. This is the most comfortable chair I’ve ever sat in!’” Ms. Kirschner impulsively offered the client the chair, which was then reupholstered. “It feels like a fluffy cloud hugging you,” said the designer, who sometimes wishes she had kept the chair for herself. The model can still be found online, “for a lot more money,” she said. 1980s Vintage Post Modern Curvy Accent Chair, approx. $4755, chairish.com

Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman

The Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman was the seat our respondents cited most frequently. “The bent plywood veneer and leather make it comfortable and durable,” said architect Grant C. Kirkpatrick of the midcentury modern classic. The partner at Los Angeles’s KAA Design Group added that the wide base and reclining angle make it “great for reading.” Tish Mills appreciates that it’s a good fit for both men and women, regardless of height. The Atlanta designer, who has included the pair in both contemporary and traditional homes, also values its timelessness. “It is like a chameleon and works in every space.” From approx. $7466, store.hermanmiller.com

Quiver Klismos Chair from Soane Britain

One of the few traditional chairs our designers singled out, the Quiver Klismos Chair from Soane Britain riffs on 18th-century revivals of the ancient Greek klismos design. Said Amanda Lindroth, an interior designer based in Nassau, Bahamas, “The scale is just right and it encompasses you.” Its classic shape, leather cladding, tufted cushion and brass socks and casters make a very posh and proper perch. From $14,266, available at retail in the U.K. and through the trade in the U.S., soane.com

the Pitu Chaise Lounge Chair

“The whole idea is to give the sensation of being suspended in a hammock,” said New Orleans designer Valerie Legras of the Pitu Chaise Lounge Chair from Brazilian design distributor Sossego. The seat comprises a Brazilian wood frame and a canvas sling “reminiscent of a suspension bridge over a waterway” that supports down/feather cushions. “Last time I sat in one, I was in the Sossego showroom in Chicago and wearing a noise cancellation headset. I felt so relaxed.” Chair, from approx. $6739, and Ottoman, from approx. $2241, Sossego

Klaus Busse would like you to close your eyes and imagine yourself behind the wheel of a Maserati. Picture the GranTurismo, which launched in Australia in 2024. Where do you see yourself? Chances are, Busse suggests, it’s not during the school pick-up or commuting to the office.

“You’re probably on a wonderful road in Tuscany, or Highway 1, or you’re going to a red carpet event,” says Busse, who holds the enviable title of Head of Design at Maserati, the iconic Italian car manufacturer. “Basically, it’s about emotion.”

At the luxury end of the market, the GranTurismo Coupe—priced between $375,000 and $450,000—is designed to transform the driving experience into something extraordinary. For Busse and his team, these “sculptures on wheels” are not just status symbols or exhilarating machines but expressions of pure joy. Their mission is to encapsulate that feeling and translate it into their cars.

“I really feel the responsibility to create emotion,” he says. “We have a wonderful word in Italy: allegria, which is best translated as ‘joyful.’ Our job as a brand is to lift you into this area of joy, perfectly positioned just short of ecstasy. It’s that tingling sensation you feel in your body when you drive the car.”

Even as 60 percent of the world’s population now lives in urban areas, Maserati’s design ethos captures the essence of “everyday exceptional.” Whether navigating city streets or open roads, a Maserati turns heads without being ostentatious or aggressive. “I’ve driven these cars all over the world, and no matter where I go, people smile at me and give a thumbs-up,” says Busse.

Since joining Maserati in 2015, Busse has reimagined and redefined the brand, steering his team through the reinvention of classic models and the transition to electric vehicles. Iconic designs like the Fiat 500, which entered the EV market in 2020, serve as a testament to Maserati’s ability to blend tradition with innovation.

Unlike other luxury car brands, Maserati embraces radical change with new designs every 10 to 15 years. Busse loves connecting with fans who follow the brand closely. He explains that each Maserati model reflects a specific era, from the elegant 35GT of the 1950s to the wedge-shaped designs of the 1970s and the bold aesthetics of the 1980s.

“I often ask fans, ‘What is Maserati for you?’ because their responses tell me so much about how they connect with the brand,” he shares.

Inspired by legendary Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, Busse balances tradition with modernity in his designs. As Giugiaro once told him, “We always do the best in the moment.” This philosophy resonates deeply with Busse, who believes in honouring the past while embracing future possibilities.

Through advances in technology, techniques, and societal trends, Busse ensures Maserati remains at the forefront of automotive design. For him, the creative process is more than just a job—it’s a way to create joy, connection, and timeless elegance.

Interior Designers on the 7 Most Comfortable Chairs

Seven seats, as recommended by design pros.

Ever wondered what it takes to create a car like the Maserati? Meet the German designer taking on an Italian icon.