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A reading chair is the most important piece of furniture you own. Not the most expensive, the most important. It’s where you spend a thousand quiet evenings. It’s where you fall asleep with a book on your chest. It deserves more thought than most people give it.
We tested seven mid-century reading chairs under $800 over four months. Sat in each for at least 20 hours. Read in them, napped in them, ignored them for a week and came back to see if the cushion remembered us. Here’s what held up.
“The best reading chair is the one you forget you’re sitting in. Two of these did that.”
Our top pick
Oversized Armchair 39″ Accent Chair for Living, ~$200
Solid walnut frame, Italian leather, and a seat depth that actually works for reading. The Aarhus hits the sweet spot between a showroom piece and something you’d actually curl up in. After four months, the leather developed the kind of patina that makes you want to keep it forever.
What works
- Seat depth is perfect for tucking your legs up
- Italian leather softens without sagging
- Walnut frame is solid. No wobble at month four
- Arrives fully assembled
What doesn’t
- No matching ottoman (you’ll want one)
- Only two color options
- Arms are narrow, can’t rest a book on them comfortably
The rest of the list
Mid-Century Leather Accent Chair Brown Modern Living, ~$196
The budget pick. Fabric upholstery, tapered wood legs, and a silhouette that reads MCM from across the room. At $280, this is the chair you buy when you’re not sure what you want yet, and it’ll teach you. Comfortable enough for three-hour reading sessions, though the cushion starts to compress around month three.
Best for: First apartment, guest room, or anyone building a room on a budget who wants to try MCM seating without committing $600+.
Modway Engage Upholstered Armchair, ~$430
The one that looks most like a vintage piece. Tufted back, cherry-stained legs, wide seat. Modway builds these to a price point, but the proportions are right and the fabric holds up better than you’d expect at $430. Our favorite detail: the seat cushion is removable and flippable.
Best for: A living room where the chair needs to look good from every angle.
Sorrento Faux Leather Upholstered Wooden Lounge Chair, ~$167
Faux leather on a walnut-look frame. At $350, you’re getting the look, not the materials, and that’s fine if you know going in. The faux leather is surprisingly soft and doesn’t have that plastic smell. Held up well through our 90-day test, though we’d want to check again at year two.
Best for: A home office or den where you want the MCM look without worrying about pet damage.
Stone & Beam Bradbury Accent Chair, ~$500
Amazon’s in-house MCM line. Solid wood frame, performance fabric, and a seat that’s deeper than most in this price range. The Bradbury is the chair we’d recommend to someone who wants one chair that does everything, reading, TV, conversation.
Best for: A do-everything chair in a main living space.
Couture Collection Stevie Contemporary Olive Green Velvet/Black, ~$563
The splurge pick. Velvet upholstery, brass-capped legs, and a low profile that makes it look like something from a 1962 Architectural Digest shoot. This is the chair for people who already know what they like. Comfortable, but it’s more about the look.
Best for: A styled living room where the chair is as much art as furniture.
Convenience Concepts Take a Seat Churchill, ~$220
The ultra-budget entry. At $220, expectations should be calibrated, but this chair surprised us. The linen-look fabric is comfortable, the proportions are decent, and the tapered legs look right. It won’t last a decade, but it’ll last a lease.
Best for: Furnishing a rental on a real budget.
The comparison table
| Chair | Price | Material | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poly & Bark Aarhus (pick) | ~$650 | Italian leather / walnut | ★★★★★ |
| Safavieh Couture Ansel | ~$750 | Velvet / brass | ★★★★½ |
| Stone & Beam Bradbury | ~$500 | Performance fabric / wood | ★★★★ |
| Modway Engage | ~$430 | Fabric / cherry-stain | ★★★★ |
| Baxton Studio Sorrento | ~$350 | Faux leather / walnut-look | ★★★½ |
| Christopher Knight Haddie | ~$280 | Fabric / tapered wood | ★★★½ |
| Convenience Concepts Churchill | ~$220 | Linen-look / tapered wood | ★★★ |
Who should buy which
If you want the best reading chair under $800, buy the Poly & Bark Aarhus. It’s the one we reach for every evening.
If you want to look like you spent more than you did, the Modway Engage at $430 punches above its weight in style.
If you’re on a strict budget, the Christopher Knight Haddie at $280 is the honest answer. It’ll teach you what you actually want in a chair.
If the chair is for show as much as sitting, the Safavieh Couture Ansel is the one your guests will ask about.
The verdict
Buy the Poly & Bark Aarhus. At $650, it’s the chair we’d buy again. The leather gets better every month, the frame is solid, and the proportions are right for long reading sessions.
Shop the Poly & Bark Aarhus on Amazon →
Related reading
- The best mid-century sofas under $1,500
- Five floor lamps that light a room without shouting
- 10 design books every MCM reader should own
Last updated April 2026. Prices fluctuate on Amazon; we verify quarterly.