Bedroom Lounge Seating
Bedroom lounge seating brings together low, comfortable chairs and day beds designed for private quarters, offering a quiet spot to rest outside the main reception rooms.
Bedroom Lounge Seating
Bedroom lounge seating encompasses a variety of low chairs and day beds created for private rooms, ranging from compact nursing and slipper chairs to larger armchairs and chaise longues. These pieces serve as intimate furniture for dressing areas and private chambers.
Makers and regional styles vary considerably across the selection, featuring French Napoleon III and Louis XV style pieces alongside English country house and Victorian designs. Low profiles and comfortable upholstered seats unite these diverse forms under the category of bedroom lounge seating.
Materials and Construction
Frames rely upon traditional hardwoods such as mahogany, walnut, rosewood, satinwood, and timber, carved or polished to shape the structural supports. Cabinetmakers employed solid woods to build durable frameworks capable of sustaining deep padding and frequent use.
Upholstery techniques involve heavy fabric coverings like velvet, calico, and leather, often secured with traditional button-back methods and decorative fringing. Wood frames are occasionally paired with gilt decoration, original paint finishes, or brass castors.
Some nineteenth-century chairs sit so close to the floor that the floorboards practically serve as a footrest.
Distinctions in Quality
The refinement of the woodwork dictates much of the distinction, separating simple vernacular items from finely carved rosewood and walnut frames. Superior pieces display crisp detailing in the timber and sophisticated proportions in the curves of the back and arms.
The integrity of the upholstery and the retention of original surface treatments also define the tier of a piece. Original paint, untouched fabric, and well-executed buttoning distinguish the more accomplished examples from later alterations.
Howard and Sons
The Bedroom Lounge Seating Glossary
- Slipper Chair
- A low-set upholstered chair traditionally used in bedrooms for dressing. These seats sit close to the floor and typically lack arms to accommodate voluminous nineteenth-century garments.
- Nursing Chair
- A low chair designed to assist mothers with infant care. They share the low stature of slipper chairs but often feature a supportive back for extended periods of sitting.
- Chaise Longue
- An elongated chair or day bed allowing the user to recline fully. Examples range from French Louis XV style duchesse brisée forms to simple day beds.
- Button Back
- An upholstery technique where indentations are formed by pulling stitches tightly through the padding and securing them with buttons. This method creates a distinctive diamond pattern on the backrest.
- Prie Dieu Chair
- A devotional chair designed for kneeling and prayer. They feature a low seat and an elevated, narrow upper rail often used to rest arms or books during private worship.
Bedroom Lounge Seating: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a slipper chair used for?
Slipper chairs were originally designed for ladies' bedrooms to sit upon while putting on shoes and garments. Their low profile made dressing more convenient in private quarters.
Over time, these compact seats transitioned into general bedroom lounge seating because they occupy little space while offering comfortable padding.
How do I identify a nursing chair?
Nursing chairs are distinguished by their notably low seats and supportive, often high backrests. They were built to provide comfort during childcare and infant feeding.
Victorian examples frequently pair these low proportions with rosewood or walnut frames and traditional button-back upholstery.
What distinguishes a chaise longue from a settee?
A chaise longue is an elongated seat designed for a single person to recline with their legs supported. It combines the functions of a chair and a day bed.
A settee, by contrast, is built with a backrest and arms to accommodate multiple people sitting upright together.
Are these chairs suitable for modern living rooms?
Bedroom lounge seating adapts readily to modern living rooms, studies, and dressing spaces. Their compact dimensions allow them to fit into tighter corners where standard armchairs prove too bulky.
Low seating heights also create a relaxed, informal arrangement when paired with contemporary sofas and tables.