Club Chair :

While this chair’s name (and often, its look—think nail-head trim and leather upholstery) conjures swank gentleman’s clubs of yore, it in fact derives from the French fauteuil confortable, or “comfy chair.”

Chair-and-a-Half :

As its name indicates, the chair-and-a-half falls somewhere between an armchair and a settee. No matter the style, this piece’s extra-wide frame allows for maximum coziness.While you’d need a good deal of space to place of pair of these in a living room, this style is ideal as the anchor of a solo lounge spot. Place one in the master bedroom to create a relaxing place to surf the web on your tablet, or add it to a study or a library for evening reading sessions. These chairs also make lovely additions to kids’ spaces and nurseries, offering just the right amount of room for snugging up with a little one.

Corner Chair :

The corner chair’s name refers not to its purpose but its shape. Featuring a square or rectangular seat, the corner chair has an upright back on two adjacent sides—meaning when seated, one’s legs straddle a corner of the base. Made for perching rather than lounging, these pieces are handy for cocktail parties: Style a pair against the wall flanking a console or a fireplace, then pull them out into the room to help seat extra guests.By some accounts, the corner chair was designed to accommodate a man wearing a sword. If the chair itself isn’t enough of a conversation starter, that ought to be!

Porter’s Chair :

Think of the porter’s chair as a wingback plus. Instead of wings, a full balloonlike canopy arches up from the sides and back, giving the chair a cozy, enveloping feel. A true statement-maker in any space, this style is often best in a corner or against a wall so as not to block sight lines. As well as an upholstered seat, it typically features upholstered arms and sides, though some boast full or partial caning.The porter’s chair may look whimsical, but its dramatic shape is rooted in pure practicality. Fixtures of medieval English and French manor homes, these chairs were designed for household porters—servants in charge of screening and attending to visitors—who often spent long hours stationed in chilly entrance halls. The canopy protected the chair’s occupant from drafts (and must have made a grand first impression).

Roll-Arm Chair :

Like its relative the roll-arm sofa, this style features compact, curved arms that are padded for comfort, a plump seat cushion, and often, short turned legs on casters.This style may be the ultimate decor chameleon. Pair it with a nubby throw and a plaid pillow and it’s pure English country charm. Team it with a sleek brass coffee table and a modernist lamp and it projects full-on glamour.

Slipper Chair :

What the slipper chair lacks in size it makes up for in sophistication. Featuring a clean-lined, armless silhouette and a lower-than-average seat, this slender perch dates to the early 18th century, when it enabled women clad in tight corsets and layers of petticoats to more easily put on and remove shoes and stockings.Today the slipper chair has moved out of the boudoir and into the rest of the home—thanks in large part to legendary 20th-century decorator Billy Baldwin, whose brilliantly reimagined version has become a modern classic.

Wingback Chair :

Defined by the large wings that extend up from its armrests, the wingback is sought after for its stately air and often-impressive stature. You’ll find these in living rooms, libraries, and even dining rooms—the thronelike shape is especially striking at each end of a long table.

Barrel Chair :

This style of chair features a high, rounded back and sloping arms—a shape that resembles a section of a barrel. Though the name may conjure visions of Wild West saloons, today the look typically veers much more luxe. In jewel-tone velvet, it evokes Art Deco glamour; in smooth linen with tapered legs, it has a sleek midcentury vibe.