These 12 West Elm Accent Chairs Would Transform Any Room Into a Designer Paradise — Wingback, Swivel, and More

West Elm accent chairs are the answer to our every styling prayer. Style Editor Brigid Kennedy has collated 12 of the very best here for you to peruse (and hopefully experiment with yourself!)

Accent chairs from west elm on a colorful background
(Image credit: West Elm)

Show me an interior design problem and I will show you a West Elm accent chair to solve it. I know that sounds hyperbolic, but for the most part, it's true — chances are you'll find something that fits what you need among the hundreds of product listings, varied and accessible but not overwhelming, as some online retailers tend to be. And an accent chair is, more often than not, the missing piece in a living room, particularly if that living room is quite large and under-decorated. An accent chair in the corner or offsetting the couch might be just what the doctor ordered.

Now that I've already professed my love for West Elm with a West Elm editor's choice round-up, it makes it much easier to gush over their accent chair selection, seeing as I just generally love accent chairs as an interior design tool. 'Extra seating is always needed, and accent chairs look great in pairs,' says Beth Martin, founder of Beth Martin Design. 'Complete the look by adding a little table for drinks, and your room will feel polished and thoughtfully designed.'

That sounds easy enough, right? If you agree, let's take a quick look at some of the best accent chairs West Elm has to offer. Who knows maybe an edit of coffee tables (perfect for your drinks!) will be coming down the pipeline soon ...

Best West Elm Stationary Accent Chairs

Best West Elm Armless Accent Chairs

Best West Elm Wingback Accent Chairs

Best West Elm Swivel Accent Chairs

Can't get enough West Elm? Lucky you. Check out (then bookmark) our round-up of the best of the West Elm sale section for easy access when inspiration strikes.

How should I style an accent chair?

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Well, that depends on the kind of accent chair you're working with! For a small accent chair, you should 'highlight only one bold design feature,' or 'you risk overpowering the petite size,' says Beth Martin. 'A typical upholstered chair can stand up to a daring fabric, or if your chair's overall structure is unusual, opt for a solid hue.'

If you're working with a modern accent chair, you could try a 'simple, natural approach' or a 'bold, eccentric approach,' adds Jamie Mitri, founder and CEO of Moss Pure. With the former, use 'solid or neutral colors such as white, black, or gray.' With the latter, go for 'bold colors' like blue, green, red, or even metallic gold.

With a minimalist accent chair, stick with neutrals or light-colored wood, and with a mid-century accent chair, go with 'neutral tones and natural materials,' Jamie continues.

Brigid Kennedy
Writer

Brigid Kennedy is a freelance writer and former style editor for Livingetc.com, where she scoured the internet for the best and most stylish deals on home decor and more. She also served as the website's in-house sofa expert, completely revamping and reworking Livingetc's expansive sofa buying guide by interviewing a total of 17 interior designers and sofa experts at top brands like Article and Benchmade Modern; sitting on upwards of 50 sofas across both Pittsburgh and New York City; extensively polling her friends and family for their own sofa-buying anecdotes and product recommendations; and traveling to Dallas, Texas, to tour the floor of a couch factory. In total, she estimates she has spent 40+ hours (and counting!) reading, writing, and talking about couches with accredited sofa connoisseurs o then pass that knowledge on to you. She describes her personal design style as colorful and clean, and in her free time enjoys reading, watching movies, and curating impossibly niche playlists on Spotify. She recently relocated from Manhattan to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she's decorating and DIYing a new home downtown.