Types of Chairs & Stools

Wingback Chairs

Wingback chairs have a distinctive appearance thanks to their tall backs and the "wings" that flare up from the arms to connect the arms and back. Historically, the wings that curved around the body from the back were a design feature meant to protect against drafts. A wingback will have four short wooden legs and upholstery on the seat, back and arms. Arm height and style may vary, but the backs are universally tall in comparison to the height of other styles of chair backs.

Club Chair

A club chair is built very low to the ground, and is meant to be the sort of chair that you can sink into in order to relax. They are often quite plush with deep cushioning, although some styles may forgo this. A club chair has arms and a low back. The back on many club chairs is not much higher than the arms. Many kinds of upholstery are used on club chairs, but the original club chairs were always covered in leather.

Rocking Chairs

Rocking chairs have been a symbol of relaxation for more than 300 years now. Instead of a stiff and upright chair, the rocker is fluid. Instead of having four legs placed on the ground, a rocking chair sits on two slightly curved rockers. This style of chair has a high back and arms. The original rocking chairs were made with wooden seats and backs, but now you can also find many versions with sprung seats and upholstered backs.

Stools

You'll also find seating options that aren't chairs at all, but stools. Typically, a stool is defined as a seat with no arms and high legs. However, there are varieties of stools that fall outside these basic parameters. The primary characteristic of most stools is their tall legs, which place the seat higher than a normal chair, suitable for use at a counter or bar. Seats may be cushioned, wooden, round or square. A common type of stool is the bar stool -- of which there are hundreds of styles -- because it can be used to provide seating at a high bar in a kitchen where a chair would place the seated person too low.