The complete guide to choosing materials in armchairs

When is leather the best choice for an armchair?

A leather armchair provides a special experience that many associate with both comfort and exclusivity. When you sit down, the material feels smooth and slightly cooler than fabric, but after a few minutes it becomes body-warm and comfortable. Many also find that leather chairs provide a firmer and more supportive sitting experience, which can be an advantage in ergonomic chairs where stability and proper support are essential.

One of leather's strongest points is its resistance to stains and its ease of cleaning. Spills can often be removed with a damp cloth, and with the right care products, applied a few times a year, you can significantly extend the life of the chair. At the same time, genuine leather develops a natural patina over the years, where small scratches and signs of wear become part of its charm. It is precisely this ability to age gracefully that makes many people choose leather, because the chair only gains more character and authenticity with time.

When it comes to style, leather opens up many possibilities. A classic armchair in black leather suits the minimalist home, while brown shades provide warmth and depth. A white leather armchair can create an elegant and bright expression, and red leather can act as a striking statement piece in the interior. The choice of color changes the entire atmosphere around the furniture.

For homes with children or pets, leather can also be practical. Claws can leave marks, but darker colors hide them better. In addition, leather collects far less dust and particles than fabric, which can be an advantage for allergy sufferers or families with dust sensitivities.

At Farstrup we use leather from Sørensen Leather , which is known for its high quality and natural processing. If you want to see how the expression of the leather combines with the structure of the wood in practice, you can explore the collection of wooden armchairs with leather upholstery , where both classic and modern models can be customized in many different leather types and colors.

When is fabric the best choice for armchairs?

A fabric armchair is often experienced as warm and welcoming from the moment you sit down. Where leather can feel cool at first, fabric has a more constant and soft temperature, making the chair comfortable to use all year round. At the same time, there is a great variation in the tactility of the textiles. Some are smooth and soft, while others have a more structured weave that adds character and personality to the chair.

One of the biggest advantages of fabric is the huge range of colours and textures. From calm, neutral tones in grey and beige to bold statement colours that can act as eye-catchers in a room, fabric is an obvious choice if you want to add your own personal touch to your interior design or create a clear contrast with other furniture.

Fabric also has a positive impact on the acoustics of your home. Upholstery with textiles absorbs sound and creates a calmer atmosphere, which is especially beneficial in open-plan living rooms where hard surfaces can make the room more resonant.

When it comes to cleaning and care, fabric requires a little more attention than leather. It is more susceptible to spills, but with impregnation you can extend the time you have to react. Should an accident occur, it is important to dab stains gently rather than rub, and always act quickly.

If you have pets, fabric can still be a good option if you choose tightly woven qualities that are less likely to pull threads. However, very coarse weaves are more vulnerable if claws hit the surface.

If you want to experience the difference in practice, you can explore the selection of fabric armchairs with high backs and adjustable comfort , where the aesthetics of textiles are combined with functional seating comfort and classic Danish furniture craftsmanship.

Fabric, on the other hand, is more temperature neutral and is less affected by the sun and heating sources. A fabric armchair will therefore feel more consistent all year round, regardless of whether it is a hot summer day or a cold winter morning. This makes textile a safe choice for those who want a stable level of comfort without major fluctuations.

In Danish homes, where we often combine underfloor heating, radiators and large windows, it can therefore be a good idea to consider the placement of the chair when making your decision. A leather armchair is well suited to a quieter zone away from direct sun or heat sources, while fabric can be more easily integrated into areas with changing temperatures and light.

A brief overview of cleaning and caring for armchairs

The choice between fabric and leather is not only about comfort and appearance, but also about how much time and energy you want to spend on cleaning and maintenance. Leather is relatively easy to keep clean in everyday life, as the surface only requires dusting and wiping with a slightly damp cloth. However, to maintain its suppleness and prevent drying out, it is recommended to use suitable leather care products a few times a year. It is important to avoid strong cleaning agents, as they can damage the surface and make the leather dull.

Fabric requires a slightly different approach. Here it is a good idea to vacuum the chair regularly with a textile nozzle, so that dust and small particles do not work their way into the upholstery. Spills and stains should be removed immediately, and many choose to impregnate the fabric to make it more resistant. If the chair has removable cushions, it is an advantage to turn and rotate them regularly, so that wear is distributed more evenly over time.

To create a quick overview of the differences, it can be helpful to compare fabric and leather based on a number of practical parameters:

Appearance and vein structure

Oak is characterised by its distinctive grain pattern, which creates a vibrant and natural structure. The colour range ranges from bright golden to a more subdued, Nordic expression, depending on the chosen surface treatment. The result is a piece of furniture that adds character and warmth to the room and often becomes an eye-catcher in its own right.

Beech, on the other hand, has a more uniform and calm structure. The color is typically in a slightly reddish base tone, which with the right treatments can be transformed from light and neutral to deep and classic. Where oak emphasizes the play of the grains, beech exudes a discreet elegance that makes it particularly suitable for interiors where the furniture should be harmonious without dominating.

Perceived strength and weight

Both oak and beech are durable and suitable choices for the frame of an armchair, but they are experienced differently in terms of expression. In practice, the difference in weight is minimal, but the experience of the material plays a major role in how the chair looks in the room. It is worth mentioning here that many of Farstrup's chairs are constructed with molded parts, for example in the armrests or backrests.

Form tensioning not only makes the construction stable and resistant to daily use, but also contributes to comfortable ergonomics, as the wood adapts to the body in soft curves. In this way, strength and comfort are combined in both oak and beech, resulting in furniture that will last for generations without compromising on the aesthetic expression.

Surface treatments and how they affect the expression

When choosing wood for your chair, the decision doesn't stop at oak or beech. The surface treatment has a decisive impact on both the appearance and the atmosphere in your home. At Farstrup, we offer a number of different treatments, each of which highlights the character of the wood in its own way.

With beech you have the option of everything from light and airy to dark and classic. An untreated or natural-lacquered beech appears simple and Nordic, while lightened or white-oiled beech gives a light and airy look that fits well in modern homes. If you want a warmer glow, cherry, teak or mahogany stain can give the chair a more classic touch that brings warmth and depth into the room. The darkest option is black-stained beech, which gives a distinctive and graphic look.

Oak offers fewer, but very distinctive variations. Here you can choose untreated or natural if you want to preserve the golden grain structure in its purest form. Light or white oiled oak makes the wood more discreet and supports a bright, Scandinavian interior. Black stained oak, on the other hand, creates a dramatic contrast and emphasizes the lines of the chair in a graphic and modern way.

The choice of treatment is not just cosmetic. It also helps protect the wood and highlight its natural structure, so you can enjoy your chair for many years.

In our collections, moulded armrests have become a kind of signature. This is seen in several of the series, where the curved armrest gives the chair an elegant, sculptural expression, while providing comfortable support. It is a good example of how function and aesthetics go hand in hand in Danish furniture craftsmanship.

Comfort and ergonomics with materials and construction in interaction

When it comes to comfort in an armchair, it is the sum of many parts that create the whole. The cover determines not only the appearance, but also the feel against the skin. The foam under the fabric or leather is crucial for whether you experience the chair as firm or soft, while the geometry of the back and the height of the armrests determine how the body relaxes. A footrest or separate stool is another detail that makes the difference for the many who want full support for their legs and feet.

It is precisely this combination of materials and construction that determines whether the chair ends up feeling like the right choice in everyday life.

If you want to delve deeper into the differences between chair types, you can read more about the difference between an armchair and a recliner . If you are looking for models with maximum support, you will also find recliners with high backs and adjustable comfort that combine classic design with ergonomic functionality.

Armrests upholstered or wooden?

Armrests play a much bigger role in the seating experience than you might think. Padded armrests provide soft and relaxed support, especially if you sit in the chair for a long time to read or watch TV. They reduce pressure on the forearms and elbows and are therefore often the most comfortable choice for everyday use.

Wooden armrests, on the other hand, provide a more precise grip when getting up or sitting down – an important detail for many, where functionality and stability are in focus. At the same time, wooden armrests are a clear design marker, where oak or beech with different finishes give the chair a unique visual touch.

Upholstery and support in an armchair

Inside, it is the foam that determines how the chair feels over time. A high foam firmness provides a more upright sitting experience with good support, while softer padding invites you to sink further into the chair. Seat depth and seat height are at least as crucial, as they affect the pressure distribution in the back and legs – and thus how relaxed the body is after half an hour of use.

At Farstrup, both seat depth and seat height can be adjusted, so the chair is adapted to the individual user. This means that comfort is not standardized, but tailor-made. A crucial point if the chair is to be used daily for many years.

Armchairs with extra functions for when the need arises

For many, it is the extra features that complete the chair. A footrest or a matching stool relieves the legs and lower back and gives the body the opportunity to stretch out completely. That is why there are footstools that match your armchair , so that the whole works both ergonomically and aesthetically.

For others, it's about options that provide extra support in everyday life. A seat lift, motorized backrest or castors make the chair practical for those who need mobility assistance or want to be able to change positions with a light push. These solutions are especially found in retirement chairs with support functions , where design and functionality go hand in hand.

Your checklist before buying an armchair

When choosing your next armchair, it can be an advantage to ask yourself a number of very specific questions. They will help you make a choice that suits your everyday life, your home decor and your personal needs.

First, it's worth considering how much the chair will be used in everyday life. Is it your regular place for TV evenings and reading, or just an extra seat for shorter stays? The more hours you use the chair, the more important the choice of materials and ergonomic adjustments become.

Then the rhythm of the home comes into play. If you have children or pets, you may want leather that is easy to wipe clean, or a robust textile type that can withstand play and activity. If the chair is to be used for social evenings, a fabric cover can create a warmer atmosphere, while black or brown leather signals more classic elegance.

Also think about how the chair will interact with the room. If you want a piece of furniture that blends in calmly with the interior, neutral fabric shades or light beech may be obvious. On the other hand, if the chair is to make a strong statement, colors such as white or red leather or a black-stained oak frame can give a dramatic and graphic expression.

Comfort is not just about upholstery and wood. Back height, armrests and footrests are crucial to the sitting experience. A high back provides support for the neck and shoulders, padded armrests are nice for long sessions, while a separate stool can be the icing on the cake. Also consider whether you will benefit from a seat lift, electric backrest or wheels if the chair is to function as a practical support in everyday life.

When choosing a type of wood, Farstrup has a choice between oak and beech. Oak has a more pronounced grain structure and a golden look, while beech provides a calmer and more uniform surface. Surface treatments such as white oiled, black stained or classic mahogany can change the look significantly and ensure that the chair matches the rest of the interior.

Finally, it is worth remembering that a chair should be tried on and adjusted. At Farstrup, seat height, seat depth and upholstery can be adjusted to fit your body exactly. Therefore, we always recommend that you try different models before making a decision.