The Appeal of the Parsons Chair

Sleek and elegant with a touch of comfort, the parsons chair fits in almost any setting.  It is fancy enough for a formal dining room table, in a room with large windows and draped curtains.  It is simple enough for a small wooden table, or the living room meets pub look.  You can even bring it into the living room to watch TV, when you’re having a party or entertaining guests.  If you purchase one with padding, it can appear to be regal and substantial—while feeling like a cozy stuffed chair.  You can relax and enjoy dinner—knowing that it’s soft to sit on.  While you dine in comfort, it can lend the aura of formality.

What is the appeal of the parsons chair?  Its linear lines are softened with padding.  It looks stylish; it can be dressed up, or dressed down—in bold colors, with minimal or maximized padding.  The simple design speaks of clean lines with enough cushion to keep you comfortable.  Its legs are thick and strong enough to provide a sturdy feel; you won’t sit on anything spindly.  You know that you are resting on support.  As it doesn’t have arm rests, it allows for more room on each side; this appeals to people who like freedom of arm movement, and don’t want to elbow their friends or family at dinner.  It could even work at a desk, in front of a computer!

Parsons chairs come in an array of styles and colors.  Some are wooden; others are covered with cloth.  A silk slip cover, or microfiber suede upholstery, gives the parsons chair a more elegant look.  It can appear sophisticated or casual.  It looks lovely around a wooden or glass table; and it’s portable enough that you can bring it next to a coffee table when the kids watch movies.  It is more substantial than the average portable chair.

It can please Mom, grandma, or the cooking savvy Dad who’s seeking the perfect setting for a Thanksgiving meal; the parsons chair is fancy enough for the fancy occasions, but casual enough for everyday use.  The child, sitting down to study after sports practice, can enjoy a comfortable setting while having enough space for notebooks, textbooks, a glass of juice and snacks.  The artist can sit in cozy ease while drafting her version of Picasso.  The writer who loves to sit with everyone at the kitchen table can bring a laptop.  The parsons chair is sturdy enough to keep him awake—so he doesn’t sink into the couch and fall asleep—but comfortable enough that he sits with ease.

How would you like to have one in your home?  Is it more comfortable than the chair you’re sitting on now, as you read this article?  Do you want to be comfortable, while being able to sit in a setting that is formal enough for the most discerning hostess?  Do you want furniture than can appear stately, but is simple enough for every day use?  Then consider the parsons chair.  The longer that you’ll be sitting on one, the more your body will thank you.