A good sofa chair design gives one person full comfort using 30 to 36 inches of wall; it can stand alone or pair with a sofa set. Single sofas are the easiest way to add a seat, a colour or a reading corner without buying a new sofa set.
This gallery has 12 single sofa designs: living room armchairs, wing and accent chairs, wooden chairs and a pair set. Each lists the build and the spot it suits. To build a five seat layout, combine one with a three seater as shown on the 5 seater sofa set page.
Single Sofa Chair for Living Room
A single seater fills the gap beside a three seater, faces the TV from an angle, or turns a bare corner into a reading spot. These three are sized for Indian flats, between 30 and 36 inches wide.
- Seats
- 1 seater
- Build
- Hardwood, velvet
- Fits
- Living room corner
A tub back wraps around the shoulders, so it feels cosy without being big. It is only 30 inches wide and fits beside a door.
Maker's note: Ask for a swivel base only if the floor is tiled; on rugs it drags.
- Seats
- 1 seater
- Build
- Pine frame, polyester
- Fits
- Beside 3 seater
A track arm chair copies the lines of most modern three seaters. Choose the same fabric or one shade darker.
Maker's note: Match seat height to your main sofa within one inch.
- Seats
- 1 seater + ottoman
- Build
- Hardwood, suede
- Fits
- 12 x 14 ft hall
A deep seat and a footrest make this the chair dad will claim for the newspaper. The ottoman doubles as a spare seat.
Maker's note: Ask for 38 to 40 density foam in the seat; lounge chairs take long sitting.
Modern Sofa Chair Design and Wing Chairs
Accent chairs carry colour and shape that a big sofa cannot. Wing chairs add height and a classic profile. Use one of these to break up a plain 3 seater sofa.
- Seats
- 1 seater
- Build
- Teak legs, velvet
- Fits
- Study or hall
Tall wings block draughts from the AC and frame the face for conversation. Brass studs along the arms give a library feel.
Maker's note: Ask for a back height of about 40 inches so the head rests on the wings.
- Seats
- 1 seater
- Build
- Ply frame, boucle
- Fits
- Bedroom or hall
A rounded boucle chair softens a room full of straight lines. Cream boucle suits adult homes; it shows marks quickly.
Maker's note: Ask for a removable seat cover even on boucle.
- Seats
- 1 seater
- Build
- MS frame, cotton
- Fits
- Studio flat
A slim black metal frame keeps the chair visually light. Mustard fabric adds a strong accent next to a grey sofa.
Maker's note: Powder coating outlasts spray paint; add felt caps underneath.
Wooden Sofa Chair Design
A wooden sofa chair takes less space than a fully padded one because the arms are thin. It is also easy to move and to polish again later. More frames are on the wooden sofa set page.
- Seats
- 1 seater
- Build
- Teak, cane
- Fits
- Verandah or hall
Cane breathes, so this chair stays cool in a humid summer. The loose gaddi lifts out for sunning.
Maker's note: Ask for cane fixed with wooden beading, not staples, so it can be replaced.
- Seats
- 1 seater
- Build
- Sheesham, PU polish
- Fits
- Living room
Wide flat arms hold a cup of tea. Sheesham's dark grain pairs well with teal or rust cushions.
Maker's note: Ask for arms at least 5 inches wide and a matt PU so cups do not leave rings.
- Seats
- 1 seater, low
- Build
- Mango wood, linen
- Fits
- Reading nook
A low seat at about 15 inches suits a lounge corner and younger users. Mango wood brings the bill under a teak version.
Maker's note: Older users need 17 to 18 inches seat height; tell the carpenter before cutting legs.
Sofa Chair Set of 2 and Bedroom Single Sofa Design
Two matching chairs make a conversation corner. A single sofa in the bedroom gives a place to sit and dress. If you need a guest bed too, look at a sofa cum single bed.
- Seats
- 2 chairs
- Build
- Hardwood, cotton
- Fits
- Window corner
Two chairs and a little round table create a tea corner by the window. Navy hides wear in a busy home.
Maker's note: Space the chairs about 18 inches apart with a table no more than 20 inches wide.
- Seats
- 1 seater
- Build
- Pine frame, cotton
- Fits
- Bedroom
A skirted blush chair softens a bedroom and hides the legs. Keep it near the window for a reading spot.
Maker's note: Order the box pleats to stop a finger's width short of the tiles; touching hems drag dust.
- Seats
- 1 long seat
- Build
- Ply frame, fabric
- Fits
- Bedroom wall
A long single seat chaise lets you put your feet up after work. It is about 60 inches long, so it needs a free wall.
Maker's note: Measure the wall and allow 2 ft in front for walking.
Single Sofa Chair Sizes
| Type | Width | Depth | Seat height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slim armchair | 28 to 30 in | 30 to 32 in | 17 to 18 in |
| Standard sofa chair | 30 to 36 in | 32 to 36 in | 16 to 19 in |
| Wing chair | 30 to 34 in | 32 to 36 in | 17 to 18 in |
| Lounge chair | 34 to 40 in | 36 to 40 in | 15 to 17 in |
Allow about 18 inches of clear space in front of a chair for legs and a further 30 inches if people walk past.
Pairing a Sofa Chair with a 3 Seater
- Seat height: within one inch of the sofa, or the room looks uneven.
- Arm height: chair arms can be a little lower; never much higher than the sofa arms.
- Colour: match the sofa, or go one strong accent colour. Two chairs in a contrast shade read as a set.
- Placement: angle the chair toward the middle of the sofa, about 2 to 3 ft away.
- Foam: seat HR foam of 35 density or firmer for a chair that one heavy user sits in every day.
The 3 seater sofa size guide lists sofa heights to match.
Questions buyers ask
How wide is a normal single sofa chair?
Usually 30 to 40 inches across, front to back 32 to 38 inches, and the cushion top sits 16 to 19 inches up. Slim armchairs for small flats can be 28 to 30 inches wide.
Can a single sofa set or a chair sofa set work without a big sofa?
Yes. Two or four chairs around a round table work well in a small hall or a bedroom sitting area, and each single sofa for living room use can later move elsewhere. Chairs shift around far more easily than a three seater.
Which sofa chair set suits a small living room?
Two slim armless or track arm chairs, about 28 to 30 inches wide each, on raised legs. Avoid deep lounge chairs; they block walking space.
Is there a single 3 seater sofa that works as one long seat?
Yes, a bench seat three seater has one long cushion. It is good for lying down, but the cushion sags sooner, so ask for 40 density foam.
Which material is best for a sofa chair in Indian weather?
Wood or cane frames with loose cotton or linen cushions stay coolest. Velvet and leather feel warm in summer without air conditioning.
What is a sofa set single seater called?
It is called a single seater, armchair or one seater. In a 3+1+1 set, the two chairs are the single seaters.