No piece of furniture says “me time” quite like a chaise longue. With its reclined back and elevated feet, it offers the promise of serenity in a package designed for just one person.
“It’s great for creating a secondary space that’s tucked away and a little more private” than a home’s social spaces, said Corie Sharples, a founding partner of New York-based SHoP Architects, where she leads the interiors group.
A chaise longue is ideal in a library, a corner of the master bedroom or an alcove off the living room. And because it usually sits by itself, it can be more sculptural than other pieces of furniture.
“A chaise is always a statement piece,” Ms. Sharples said.
Of course, because it’s so comfortable, it also runs the risk of being monopolized by unintended users.
The chaise longue in Ms. Sharples’s home, for instance, has been claimed by the dogs: “It’s where they like to play king of the hill.”
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Does a chaise longue need to have an eye-catching shape? Not necessarily, Ms. Sharples said, but “definitely look for something with some personality, whether it’s the material, the stitching, a little added detail or the bolster.”
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How much floor space do you need? A lot. Consider not only the footprint of the piece, but also room for climbing in and out.
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Can they be used in pairs? It’s possible, but a chaise longue usually looks best alone. “It’s that extra, additional piece,” Ms. Sharples said. “It doesn’t take the place of the sofa or lounge chairs.”
Deep Thoughts Leather Chaise
Chaise longue with blackened-steel base and lumbar pillow
$1,899 at Blu Dot: 844-425-8368 or bludot.com
Bird Chaise
Rocking chaise longue with sculptural shape
$4,000 at Tom Dixon: 212-228-7674 or tomdixon.net
Copine Peacock Velvet Curved Chaise Lounge
Chaise longue inspired by a 19th-century fainting sofa by Julia von Werz
$1,299 at CB2: 800-606-6252 or cb2.com
Magis Traffic Chaise Lounge
Chaise longue with steel rod base, cushions and acrylic stone tablet by Konstantin Grcic for Magis
From $3,931 at Hive: 866-663-4483 or hivemodern.com
GMG Chaise Lounge
Chaise longue designed by Greta Magnusson Grossman for Gubi
From $2,679 at Danish Design Store: 844-290-5331 or danishdesignstore.com
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