We Tested (and Rated!) All the Accent Chairs at Blu Dot — Here Are the Best to Suit Your Style and Space

An accent chair may be, well, an accent, but that doesn’t mean it can’t steal the show in any room. Few do eye-catching furniture quite like Blu Dot, so as part of our Personal Shopper series, we stopped by its brick-and-mortar store to try its accent chairs. The retailer has a mix of modern, mid-century, contemporary, and even some Scandi pieces, with various types of upholstery. We’ve already covered Blu Dot’s sofas, coffee tables, beds, and desks and sideboards. Now, check out our favorite Blu Dot accent chairs below.

Blu Dot’s furniture is beautiful, yes, but we also appreciate the brand’s dedication to thoughtful design. In fact, the company was founded by designers, and every piece is sketched in the team’s Minneapolis studio before being brought to life. Blu Dot also prioritizes sustainability by both using high-quality materials and rigorously testing furniture to prevent damage and, in turn, waste. Should you invest in a piece, like an accent chair, from the brand, you’ll find that it evolves with your lifestyle, regardless of what’s on trend. As a result, when you shop Blu Dot, you can rest assured that you’ll own and love your new piece for many years to come.

We judged every Blu Dot chair in-store based on the following five criteria:

• Seat firmness: How soft or firm are the seat cushions? How do they contribute to overall posture and comfort?
• Seat depth: How far do you have to scoot to meet the backrest? And when you do, are you in an upright or reclined position?
• Loungability: Can you spend hours on this chair? And would you want to?
• Durability: Is the fabric easy to care for and able to withstand daily use? Does it require frequent upkeep or spot cleaning?
• Appearance: What style does it suit best? Does it lean more traditional (i.e., rounded lines, tufted cushions, classic silhouettes) or more contemporary (i.e., clean lines, swivel bases, simple silhouettes)?

Every Blu Dot accent chair was tested by former shopping writer, Nikol Slatinska. Nikol has written for Apartment Therapy since 2022. She has tested and reviewed furniture for the Personal Shopper series to help readers find the best pieces for their homes, especially small spaces. From bed frames and sofas to dining tables and accent chairs, she’s covered it all — making her a furniture expert. 

Nikol spent the day at a Blu Dot store in NYC to evaluate the brand’s chairs on their firmness, loungability, and appearance.

What impressed us: The Council chair has everything you want in a lounge chair: a plush but mid-firm seat, a normal depth that allows you to recline just the right amount, and a curved silhouette that hugs you without making you feel claustrophobic. We did find the swivel base to be a bit difficult to maneuver, but it doesn’t make the chair any less cozy. It also doesn’t hurt that the Council is pleasing to look at, especially in the bouclé fabric we saw. We could just as easily picture it in the bedroom as we could see it styled in the living room. Any spot that could use some comfy extra seating is fair game for this homey pick.

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 39” long, 30” wide, 28” high
• Upholstery: 6 options

What impressed us: Impossible to ignore, the Toro chair instantly wowed us with its all-black design and artfully reclined silhouette. The leather adorning its wooden frame is better described as a sling than a seat, and to be totally honest, it wasn’t the most comfortable thing to sit in. It dips into a “U” shape when you sit, which isn’t ideal for those after a chair with a lot of support. As a result, we would recommend pairing the Toro chair with one of Blu Dot’s equally stylish ottomans for people who appreciate furniture that doubles as art and are perhaps looking for something beautiful to adorn an empty corner as opposed to something that can serve as a primary lounging spot. Indeed, this model would look right at home amid a fireplace and white shag rug. It’s nothing if not aspirational.

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 26” long, 32” wide, 33” high
• Upholstery: 3 options

What impressed us: The Buttercup chair also sports an unconventional seat, though this one was surprisingly comfortable. Although the top portion of the chair is made of plywood, it’s contoured in a way that cradles the body, and you get a smooth recline. We also had fun swiveling; it’s not hard to get a good momentum going because of the chair’s compact size and lightweight material. The silver base pops against the wood, giving the Buttercup a modish appearance. What’s more, the chair has a lower profile than a lot of the other models we viewed, which only makes it that much cuter. Again, we wouldn’t recommend this piece for those after a lounger. Instead, it would serve well in a pair for the living room or as an extra seat in the home office. It’s certainly more of an accent than an essential, and that’s what makes it so fun.

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 31” long, 23” wide, 28” high
• Upholstery: 2 options

What impressed us: We viewed the About Face chair in a velvety, suede-like leather that also covered a number of other seats in the store. The material’s rich color not only makes the chair pop, but its softness also encourages you to stay in your seat. The leather does scratch easily, but we found that it gives the About Face a lived-in look. As for the chair’s shape, it has a delightfully small footprint and normal depth, though we do think it could benefit from a lumbar pillow. The small size is perfect if you’re tight on living room space but still want seating other than your sofa. The chair’s tall, skinny arms are more for beauty than function, but they make you feel enveloped, which is nice.

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 28” long, 32” wide, 31” high
• Upholstery: 8 options

What impressed us: Sometimes, the chairs with sink-in softness that we test in stores are overstuffed, making us feel more like we’re drowning as opposed to just sinking. The Field lounge chair is incredibly plush and pillowy, but we appreciate that its cushions are not too voluminous. In fact, you might find yourself having to re-fluff them every week or so. The matching ottoman was much firmer, but this is okay considering you’ll only be resting your legs on it. Up top, you get a wide and very nappable surface, complete with neck support and an included pillow for your lower back. If there was one seat we had the best time lounging in at Blu Dot, it was this one. The chair was upholstered in Blu Dot’s same signature inky leather, and we found that its black steel base lends a slight industrial vibe.

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 36” long, 38” wide, 36” high
• Upholstery: 12 options

What impressed us: If you happen to have an unused corner in your bedroom that you’re not sure what to do with, consider the Nonesuch chair. Not only would it make a great seat for midday idling, but we could also imagine draping clothes over its almost flat silhouette when choosing what to wear for the day. Of course, the coolest part about the Nonesuch is the way its leather upholstery is laid over the wooden frame. It provides just enough padding to make the seat inviting without compromising its minimalist appeal. Yet another contrasting swivel base adds a contemporary edge that’s so common among Blu Dot’s offerings. If you ever need an extra seat for guests, the rotating base also makes this chair great for gatherings.

Specifications:

• Styles: Also available as a stationary, non-swivel lounge chair style
• Dimensions: 29” long, 28” wide, 26” high
• Upholstery: 4 options

What impressed us: The Method chair was another model we were skeptical about regarding comfort. In looking at its no-frills design and tube frame, we were unprepared for how nice it actually felt to sit in! The seat and back panels are quite cushy, albeit firm. The small wooden armrests are a charming touch even if they’re not the most practical. And at just over 30 inches in length and width, the Method is yet another pick that’s suitable for small spaces.

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 31” long, 33” wide, 28” high
• Upholstery: 1 option

What impressed us: If you’re going to get the Clutch chair for your living room, you might as well get two. This model is one of the smallest we looked at, so it’s better styled as a couple as opposed to a lone accent piece. Although its design isn’t definitively inspired by Scandinavian design, we couldn’t help but think of that when observing its minimalist wooden frame and angular silhouette. In fact, the seat angle’s “V” shape practically forces you to slide all the way back in a recline. Although we found the upholstered back to be comfortable, the wooden seat feels unsurprisingly firm, so you might consider buying a cushion for it. Besides that one unsavory detail, the Clutch is an eye-catching piece that’ll never go out of style and one you’ll never want to leave behind, no matter how many times you move.

Specifications:

• Styles: Also available in a dining chair style
• Dimensions: 22” long, 27” wide, 25” high
• Upholstery: 6 options

What impressed us: After looking at all of the chairs on Blu Dot’s first floor, we climbed the stairs to the next level and, at the top, were met with none other than the Hedge high-back chair. It was an unexpected sight in the best way possible and strategically placed for maximum shock and delight. You can achieve the same effect in your home by placing the Hedge in a tucked-away reading nook or around the corner of a hallway. Make no mistake, though — its looks aren’t all that make this chair impressive. The tall back makes you feel like you’re in a cocoon; if you’re looking for a chair that’ll help you escape the noise of your day-to-day, look no further. The included back cushion is a nice addition to the otherwise thinly padded chair, and the mustard upholstery only makes the piece that much more striking.

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 39” long, 22” wide, 50” high
• Upholstery: 1 option

What impressed us: If you read our shopping guide for Blu Dot sofas, you’ll know we viewed the Puff Puff in couch form. Although it’s a perfectly good sofa for small apartments, we much prefer its design as chair. The rounded curves and voluminous arms and cushions look better on a more compact frame, especially when it’s upholstered in a dapper tomato-colored velvet. The tall arms make the chair feel snuggly, and although it’s a tad firmer than we were expecting, it’s still comfortable enough to keep you seated for a long time. Like the Hedge chair and other models at Blu Dot, this one also has a powder-coated steel base that matches the red upholstery, which is a thoughtful touch that sets the retailer’s pieces apart from others.

Specifications:

• Styles: Also available in loveseat, large sofa, and bench styles
• Dimensions: 37” long, 33” wide, 31” high
• Upholstery: 5 options

What impressed us: Most of the Blu Dot’s furniture is expensive, but the Double Down lounge chair is arguably the piece that most looks it. Its svelte gold velvet upholstery is luxe in both appearance and feel, and the high back and arms add a sophisticated quality, reminding us of a chair we might see in an upscale hotel lobby. The Double Down looks satisfyingly smooth from behind, which is owed in large part to the square shape of its three sides. We also appreciate that its mid-firm seat cushion is removable for easy cleaning. You’ll be happy to learn that this model ships fully assembled, so it’s also luxurious in that it’ll save you the time and trouble of having to put it together. For those after a chair with a unique silhouette that still has all of the best qualities of a traditional lounger, this is it.

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 33” long, 33” wide, 28” high
• Upholstery: 3 options

What impressed us: Many of the chairs we saw would make fabulous picks for a reading corner, but perhaps none more so than the Bloke model. Its mid-deep seat suits a variety of positions, whether you want to sit upright or lean back with your legs on an ottoman. We also like that the arms don’t extend outward very far, so you can sit cross-legged without bumping up against the frame. A nice big lumbar pillow supports your back, ensuring that you’ll want to stay a while, even if your book isn’t particularly enthralling. The Bloke is undeniably current, but it still boasts a vintage flair that’s only emphasized by its ochre-hued upholstery. And if you don’t happen to have a designated reading nook, this model would look equally appealing in the front entryway next to a side table.

Specifications:

• Styles: Also available in loveseat and sofa styles
• Dimensions: 29” long, 31” wide, 34” high
• Upholstery: 4 options

What impressed us: The Acre chair was designed as a smaller, more upright version of the Field chair, so it makes sense that it would be perfect for social gatherings. You could easily fit two around your coffee table, and we have a hunch guests will naturally gravitate toward the duo. Even though the Acre chair isn’t the softest model we sat in, it offers optimal lower back support and makes you feel safe in its inward-curving silhouette. We also had to admire its copper velvet fabric and silver stainless steel legs, which make it look at once retro and current. The chair is wonderful for those who frequently entertain guests in their homes or who are looking for an accent piece that’s comfortable enough without being too loungey.

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 29” long, 30” wide, 38” high
• Upholstery: 6 options

What impressed us: If you’ve experienced back problems and require an ergonomic desk chair for your home office, the Close Encounter chair might not be for you. But if you prefer something that allows you to switch up positions during your 9-to-5 and swivel as you work, you’ll love this pick. It has a firm but wide seat, allowing you to sit crisscross. Even if you don’t have a desk, you could comfortably work with your computer in your lap, reclining against the curved back. We viewed the Close Encounter in ultrasmooth black leather upholstery, complete with prominent matching stitching. It can be hard to sit completely still during a remote office job, so this model helps you get your work and your fidgeting out, all while looking great, to boot.

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 33” long, 30” wide, 30” high
• Upholstery: 4 options