Best Chairs for Indian Living Rooms – Top 10 Types – HOKIPO

Chairs are ubiquitous in every sense of the world. We can find them everywhere, on streets, at ATM kiosks and security posts, outside newspaper stands and with food hawkers, at shops and showrooms, boutiques and diner, all types of hotels and accommodations, clubs, halls and other venues, aircraft and airports and practically everywhere. The chair is also found in our living room. In fact, chairs often form a part of furniture and home décor in every Indian living room. That’s because chairs have been associated with comfortable seating in India right since 300BCE circa. The first recorded use of a chair and not a royal throne can be found in the legend of Emperor Chandragupta Maurya who ruled from Pataliputra or modern-day Patna and is the father of the iconic ruler Ashoka. We can also find various types of chairs being mentioned in Indian history and folklore. In India, chairs are associated with comfortable seating, religion, culture, trade, prestige, social status and also afterlife. Certain communities in India place the mortal remains on a chair or at least, an L-shaped chair like contraption for performing last rites. Types of Chairs Therefore, when buying chairs for living room, you’re actually spoilt for choice. There’re many different kinds of chairs that finding the best one for an Indian living room can prove to be a very tough choice. Plastic Chairs/ Molded Chairs: Functional made of plastic, these chairs are most common and also reasonably priced. These are usually beginner-level chairs for new couples or for a period when you haven’t yet decided on the types of chairs to buy. Metal Chairs: Foldable and strong, mainly used for homes where space is a constraint. These are made of iron, stainless steel or aluminum. Rattan Chairs: Primarily used in coastal areas where reeds for rattan are abundantly available, such furniture and chairs are popular across India as a ‘green’ option. They don’t require paints or styling. Rattan chairs are crafted by hand by artisans. Canvas Chairs: These are popular at homes where space is limited and also among Gen-Z who want fun décor. Canvas chairs are used by campers and outdoor life aficionados. Using them at homes indicates you’ve a sporty and fun lifestyle. Orthopedic Chair: If you have a person suffering from severe arthritis or bone related ailments that limits the way they can sit, these are useful but quite pricey. Low-back Chair: They’re still popular in parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan and depict the ancient furniture culture of that region where traders and merchants flourished. Thrones: The royals may have gone from India but cheap wooden clones that look like a real throne with tufting and padding as well as golden paint and upholstery remain available. Bar Stool/Bar Chairs: If your house has own small and private bar, consider these chairs. However, they’re not for casual sitting. The have longer legs and elevated seats. Baby Chair/ Training Chair: Used for toilet training for babies and teaching babies how to sit erect. In most cases, this is the first chair anyone uses. Lounge Chair: Are extremely luxurious and used at large homes or luxury hotels. They can be adjusted for recline. Usually, a lounge chair serves as a personal throne too and is very popular among younger folk. Rocking Chair: This ancient favorite has a curved base on both legs. The curve allows the user to rock. A rocking chair has featured in English literature. Deck Chair: Originally crafted for use on ships and cruises. This chair consists of a foldable wooden frame and canvas. It can be “rolled” open and folded when needed. I could continue listing all these chairs. However, these kinds of chairs I mention are either specialized or functional. Meaning, they’re not really useful for daily use or to decorate a home. Plastic chairs or molded chairs are fine but don’t have decorative value, nor do metal chairs. Best Chairs for Indian Homes Therefore, if you wish to buy chairs for your home, here’re some of the best options. These chairs offer superb comfort and are commonly used. This means, you can find these easily and not worry about maintenance or repairs. Furthermore, these chairs are very versatile. In the sense, you can easily buy various kinds of chair covers such as those made of polyester-Spandex, velvet, jacquard, waterproof, water resistant, faux rabbit hair or wool or fluff and other material to give them a décor of your choice. Such chairs with proper chair covers can also blend seamlessly into the overall home décor or help create a luxurious seating ambience at home. 1. Tub Chair Tub chair, also known as bucket chair literally allow you to “sink in” and cover you with luxury. They get this name from a small tub (not bath tub) or bucket. These chairs are rounded and have fused backrest and armrest, which covers you from three sides, providing superior comfort. The rounded sides and front add a superb décor to any living room. 2. Traditional Dining Chair In India, the concept of dining chairs isn’t that pronounced for several reasons. A dining table with chairs is often a luxury for those with bigger houses. In small, modern-day cubbyhole studios and apartments, there’s barely any space for a dining table. Regardless, traditional dining chairs are L-shaped wooden frames with cushion and mid-length backrests. 3. Long Back Dining Chair For a more conservative and luxurious dining experience, I would suggest buying long-back dining chairs. These are similar to traditional dining chairs in every feature, except the backrest, which is more pronounced and longer. Ideal for dining rooms where meals are leisurely. 4. Swivel Dining Chair Swivel dining chairs first made their appearance in the Middle East where menus are extensive and all food is served at the same time, instead of in layered courses. Swivel dining chairs emerged from the need for people in the Middle East region to access various dishes spread across the table with better ease, as compared to those with fixed seats. 5. Single Seater Sofa In many places, this chair is also categorized as a single seater sofa. However, it differs from a traditional sofa in the sense that it’s designed to seat only one person. In stark contrast, the very word sofa and its Arabian variant means ‘community seat’ or ‘common seat’ or even ‘clean seat’ and is shared. By that definition, you can choose a single seater sofa as chairs too. 6. Wingback Chair Wingback chairs are a legacy of 18th Century circa England and are also categorized as Chippendales or a Chippendale chair, depending upon the styling. A wingback chair is generally used as insulation for seating. The high tufted backrest and raised and tufted armrests as well as padded thick seats lock in heat while protecting the user against cold, especially at hearths. Now, they’re used as a luxury statement. 7. Task Chair Surely, you’ve seen a task chair. These are seen at offices and even stores or businesses. These are a type of office chair but have a lower backrest. Also known as team chairs, they have swivel seat and castor legs for movement. Their designs are ergonomic because these are used for longer sitting time, hunched on computers or engaged in a seminar, among others. If you’re working from home or even a student, having one at home could help a lot. 8. Boss Chair A boss chair can be seen at offices and generally used as a statement of authority and power. They may or may not have a headrest. However, they come with a padded seat and backrest as well as armrests. Though used primarily at offices and business premises, you can use one for working from home. 9. Gaming Chair The favorite of teenagers and adults alike, a gaming chair is ergonomically designed for online gamers. It has a long backrest, a comfortable seat and a fused headrest. The design is suited for sitting long hours in front of a computer screen or TV with a gaming console. It can also double up as a chair for work-from-home setups. 10. Recliner Sofa Don’t get confused between a lounge chair and a recliner sofa or recliner chair. That’s because a lounge chair is ergonomically designed and can easily adjust with your body contours. You can change the recline or incline as needed. Lounger chairs are used at resorts and hotels. A recliner sofa / chair is commonly used at home because only the backrest can be tilted to allow reclining or even resting. Since recliners are harder to clean, you can use Elastic recliner chair covers to keep them fresh, long-lasting and give them a new look. Conclusion The reason I have shortlisted only 10 chairs out of so many is simple. These chairs are best for homes since you can get them across India and at affordable rates too. However, one main consideration is also protection and maintenance. By using chair covers, you can protect the original upholstery of these chairs against stains, gnawing, scratches and spills, painting or drawing by toddlers and even weather or regular wear and tear. Also chair covers can help craft an ambience of your choice for routine days and special occasions.