What is a Corner Chair?

A corner chair has two sides and a diamond-shaped cushion. It forms a corner at its center back part. Many corner chairs are fully padded and upholstered in cloth or leather, but some are wood or wicker. The wood and wicker varieties of corner chairs have removable fabric cushions. Since corners have angled, straight lines, a corner chair is boxy in shape.

Some corner chairs are designed for outdoor living such as under a covered patio or deck. These are usually made of rattan or wicker and have water-resistant covers on the seat cushion. A coordinating footstool may be sold with this type of corner chair. The chair and footstool pieces are versatile, as they can be used together to create a lounge set; the stool can also be used as a table, such as to hold a tray of food and drinks. Wicker and rattan corner chairs may rest directly on the floor or they may have narrow rectangular feet.

Indoor corner chairs may have tall wood legs and be completely covered in upholstery. An upholstered corner chair is usually well padded. Corner upholstered chairs are available in many colors from white to black and red to blue. A leather corner chair is often black or a neutral color.

Corner chairs do fit well in corners of rooms. An upholstered corner chair may be part of a sectional modular sofa system. In modular sofa systems, corner chairs are options to place next to a love seat or a full-size sofa. Since their shapes are clean lined, corner chairs work well with modern furniture styles.

Although a corner chair does suit corner spaces, it doesn't necessarily have to be limited to them. For example, two corner chairs with a small table in between them can work almost anywhere. Since the seats are positioned in diamond rather than the usual square seats, corner chairs can add much interest to a room.

A corner desk chair may work well with larger styles of desks. Corner desk chairs should be ergonomic, or designed to support the body and back. If the chair will be used often at a desk, it may not be the best choice since corner chairs don’t lay flat against the back to support it, but rather form a pointed angle behind it.

Antique corner chairs are often all wood with a padded seat and arm rests. One regal example of an antique wood corner chair is the 1880 Gothic style created by American cabinetmakers Kimbel and Cabus. The chair is noted for being on display at the Brooklyn Museum in New York. Its dark wood alternates turned spindles and painted panels to form the corner back rest, while the padded seat is a beautiful floral fabric featuring light and dark shades of blue.