The formula for a great reading corner is straightforward: a comfortable lounge chair with an ottoman, positioned near a natural light source but out of direct sun, with a small side table within arm’s reach, a floor lamp for evening sessions, and a rug and throw to define and soften the space. Get those five elements right and the corner almost styles itself. The rest of this guide walks through each one in detail — including how to make it work in a smaller room.
Why Does a Lounge Chair with an Ottoman Work So Well for Reading?
Most chairs are designed for upright sitting — dining, working, waiting. A dedicated reading chair does something different: it lets your body settle into a slight recline while keeping your neck and back supported. Add an ottoman and you lift your legs to roughly hip height, which takes pressure off your lower back and makes long reading sessions genuinely comfortable rather than something you have to push through.
El Sillón y otomana Eames became the benchmark for this kind of seating for a reason. The shell is moulded plywood, shaped to follow the natural curve of the spine, and the cushions sit in that shell rather than fighting it. The recline is built into the structure — there is no lever to pull, no mechanism to fidget with. You sit down and the chair positions you correctly. The ottoman at 64 × 54 × 44 cm pairs precisely with the chair’s seat height of 42 cm, so your legs rest level rather than dropping away or angling up. The overall footprint of the chair is 87 × 85 × 84 cm (W×D×H) — compact enough for most living rooms, substantial enough to feel anchored.
The material choice matters too. Genuine Italian leather breathes better than bonded alternatives, ages well, and wipes clean — practical considerations when you are spending real time in a chair. The die-cast aluminium base keeps the chair stable without adding visual weight, which helps in smaller rooms.
For full measurements and size comparisons, the Eames Lounge Chair dimensions guide covers every variant in detail.
Where Should You Position a Reading Chair?
Natural light is the priority, but position matters more than proximity to a window. Direct sunlight falling on the page causes glare and eye strain within minutes; it also fades leather upholstery over time. The ideal spot is beside a window rather than facing it — light coming in from the side is softer and more consistent throughout the day.
North-facing light (in the Northern Hemisphere) is the most stable: cool, even, and present all day without the shifting glare of east or west exposures. South-facing rooms get strong afternoon sun; if that is what you have, a light sheer curtain behind the chair solves the problem without blocking the view.
Leave at least 60 cm of clear floor in front of the ottoman — enough to walk around comfortably — and keep the chair slightly away from the wall rather than pushed flush against it. A gap of 20–30 cm behind the chair lets it feel placed rather than wedged, and gives you room to get in and out cleanly.
What Side Table and Lamp Should You Add?
The side table serves one function: hold the things you reach for without looking — a cup, a phone, a bookmark, reading glasses. Height matters more than footprint. Aim for a surface level with the chair arm or just below it, so your arm does not have to travel far. A diameter of around 35–45 cm is generous enough for practical use without dominating the space. Marble, solid wood, or powder-coated steel all work well alongside a leather chair; avoid glass at floor level if you move in the dark.
For evening reading, a floor lamp positioned just behind and to the side of the chair — slightly above head height — gives directional light without creating a shadow across the page. An arc lamp that extends over the chair works in the same way and keeps the floor beside the table clear. Avoid placing a lamp directly in front of you; the contrast between the lit page and the dark room behind the lamp accelerates eye fatigue. A dimmer switch is worth the small extra cost: bright for reading, low for when you are just listening to something with your feet up.
How Do a Rug and Throw Define the Space?
A reading corner works best when it reads as a zone rather than a chair floating in a room. A rug does that job. Size it so that the front legs of the chair and the ottoman both sit on it — typically a 160 × 230 cm rug in a standard living room. A natural fibre like wool or jute adds texture without competing with the chair’s materials; a low pile is easier to maintain than a deep shag under furniture legs.
The throw is functional as much as decorative. Chunky knit or merino wool over the arm of the chair signals that the corner is for settling into, and it is there when the temperature drops in the evening. Keep it in one colour that picks up something already in the room — the cushion on a nearby sofa, the binding of a book on the shelf — and it reads as deliberate rather than accidental.
How Do You Style a Reading Corner in a Small Space?
The lounge chair plus ottoman combination works in rooms that might surprise you. The Eames Lounge’s footprint — 87 cm wide — is similar to a compact two-seater sofa, and because it has no arms extending wide or back extending high, it does not block sightlines the way bulkier chairs do.
In a small space, the practical adjustments are: use a wall-mounted swing-arm lamp instead of a floor lamp to free up floor area beside the chair; swap the full side table for a C-shaped table that slides under the ottoman rather than sitting beside it; and choose a smaller rug (120 × 170 cm) that anchors just the chair without claiming the whole corner. Keep the wall behind the chair light and relatively clear — one framed print or a small floating shelf with a plant is enough; a full gallery wall behind a chair that already has visual weight reads as cluttered.
What Finishing Touches Complete a Reading Nook?
Three things reliably make a reading corner feel finished rather than assembled:
A plant. Something at mid-height — a fiddle leaf fig, a monstera, or a tall snake plant — next to or slightly behind the chair adds a vertical element and some organic contrast to the leather and metal. It also signals that the corner is looked after.
A small bookshelf or stack. Books near the chair make the space legible — this is clearly where reading happens. A low open shelf beside the chair, a stack of two or three on the side table, or a wall-mounted ledge above and to the side all work. The books do not need to be displayed decoratively; a working pile is honest and unpretentious.
Consistency of material palette. The Eames Lounge in black leather with a walnut shell sits naturally alongside warm wood tones, dark metals, and earth-toned textiles. A cognac leather version opens up to terracotta, natural linen, and brass. Picking one metal finish and repeating it across the lamp, side table base, and any hardware in the room ties the corner to the rest of the space without needing to match furniture exactly.
Preguntas frecuentes
What is the best chair for a reading nook?
A reclining lounge chair with an ottoman is the most practical choice for extended reading sessions. The recline takes pressure off the lower back, and the ottoman lets you raise your legs to a comfortable height. An upright dining or accent chair works for shorter reading but becomes uncomfortable over time. If you want a single piece that covers both comfort and longevity, a moulded-shell lounge chair with cushioned seating and a matching ottoman is the standard answer.
Do I really need an ottoman?
For occasional ten-minute reading sessions, no. For longer reading — an hour or more — yes. Raising your legs to seat height reduces lower-back strain significantly. It also gives you a surface to rest a book while you take a break. If space is tight, a small footstool at 35–40 cm height covers most of the ergonomic benefit in a smaller footprint than a full ottoman.
How much space does a reading corner need?
Plan for roughly 120 × 120 cm minimum for the chair and ottoman together, plus walking access. A comfortable setup — chair, ottoman, small side table, and floor lamp — typically occupies a zone of about 150 × 180 cm. That fits in most living room corners, a larger bedroom, or a dedicated study. The Eames Lounge Chair measures 87 × 85 cm (W×D); the ottoman adds approximately 64 × 54 cm in front of or beside it.
What lighting works best for a reading nook?
Directional light from the side or slightly above and behind the chair is best — it illuminates the page without shining directly in your eyes or creating shadows across the text. A floor lamp with an adjustable head, positioned just behind and to the side of the chair, is the most flexible option. An arc lamp that reaches over the chair keeps the floor clear. Avoid overhead-only lighting for reading; it creates too much contrast between the lit page and the darker surroundings.
How do you style a reading corner in a small room?
Use a wall-mounted swing-arm lamp instead of a floor lamp; swap a large side table for a C-shaped table that slides under the ottoman; choose a smaller rug (120 × 170 cm) to anchor the chair without claiming too much floor. Keep the wall behind the chair relatively clear to avoid visual clutter. A compact lounge chair — around 87 cm wide — has a smaller footprint than most sofas and works better in tight corners than bulkier armchairs with wide arms.
Which way should a reading chair face?
Face the chair toward the room rather than toward a wall — it feels more open and lets you glance up without staring at a surface. If you have a view, angle the chair so the window is to one side rather than directly in front; this avoids screen glare on pages and backlit contrast when you look up. Facing slightly away from the main TV or traffic path in a shared living room helps signal that the corner is for quieter use.
What colour leather works best for a reading chair?
Black leather is the most versatile — it works with cool and warm palettes and stays looking tidy over time. Cognac or tan leather adds warmth and pairs well with natural wood tones, linen, and earth colours, but shows wear and oils more visibly than black. White or cream leather is striking but high-maintenance in a heavily used chair. For a reading corner used daily, black or a mid-dark brown gives the best balance of aesthetics and practicality.
Are Eames Lounge Chair sets available with free EU shipping?
Yes. Decomica ships Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman sets free across the EU (excluding Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus, and Malta), and also to the UK, Switzerland, and Norway. Orders are dispatched within 1–2 working days and typically arrive within 5–7 working days from dispatch. All sets come with a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty and a 14-day return window from delivery.
