How to Style an Eames Lounge Chair
Despite having one of the most recognizable silhouettes in modern furniture history, the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman is a versatile piece that can fit in – or stand out – in any space, from classic mid-century modern to colorfully contemporary.
With ELO’s variety of wood finishes and upholstery materials available in dozens of colors, textures, and patterns, you can take home an iconic furniture piece that still feels unique to you.
Here are 9 Eames Lounge Chair styling ideas to help get you started.
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1. Classic Icon
The Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman debuted in 1956 with black Scottish leather upholstery and a Brazilian rosewood veneer. In the more than 70 years since, ELO has undergone some material updates to improve its sustainability, most notably the retiring of the classic Brazilian rosewood. But you can still honor ELO’s classic mid-century modern look by configuring yours with a gorgeous Santos Palisander shell and a luxurious black leather from Italy. Position it in a home office as a place of respite that will take you all the way back to the mid century.
2. Brilliant Blue
The best part of customizing a new Eames Lounge Chair is getting to choose from new upholstery materials that give the chair contemporary flair. Break away from neutral tones with vibrant blue upholstery in Checker, a rich, patterned fabric designed by textile master Alexander Girard. This playful, high-contrast styling highlights the rich wood grain of the chair’s shell and would be right at home in a more colorful living room or office.
3. Mono Black
Put the Eames Lounge Chair’s iconic silhouette on display by styling yours with black leather upholstery and an ebony ash veneer. Against a light backdrop, this all-black configuration is completely breathtaking. It’s a bold, minimalist take on the classic mid-century modern silhouette.
4. By a Bookshelf
An Eames Lounge Chair is an invitation to relax and disconnect, making it the perfect partner for a modern bookshelf, like the Story Bookcase. With books within arm’s reach, a seat on your ELO is an opportunity to unplug and dive into a story. Create the quintessential reading nook by tucking your chair into a corner with a bookshelf nearby, and consider adding a side table with a desk lamp as a reading light.
5. Pretty Pastels
Soften the Eames Lounge Chair’s commanding aura with dusty light blue upholstery in Maharam’s brand new wool-blend material, Luce. This unique upholstery color and material pairs perfectly with an old-new interior design aesthetic that borrows items from eras all throughout history, and can be complemented by both dark and light accent pieces.
6. Mono White
If you’re concerned a lounge chair might feel heavy in your space, opt for a light upholstery material. It will not only lighten the chair’s feel in your space, but it will also give the chair a more contemporary look that will easily blend into of-the-moment interior design styles less suited to the classic mid-century lounge chair. It’s also undeniably elegant.
7. Earth Tones
The warm, natural feel of ELO’s oiled Santos Palisander and Walnut upholstery options pairs beautifully with earth-toned upholstery like the dark green leather in this image. A dark green ELO would be right at home in a space with lots of potted plants, or one with windows facing a wooded area. An earthy lounge chair invites the serenity of nature indoors.
8. Patterns on Patterns
If you want to configure a truly unique Eames Lounge Chair, pair a punchy patterned upholstery material, like Checker, with the ELO’s beautiful Santos Palisander veneer, whose rich and colorful grain looks almost like stripes. This eclectic, contrasting look gives a classic mid-century lounge chair a fresh and exciting makeover. You can go a step further and pair it with a patterned rug or brightly colored accent pieces, or you could keep it in a more neutral space to make a statement on its own.
9. Everything Eames
The best way to style an Eames Lounge Chair is alongside other iconic pieces by its designer duo Charles and Ray Eames. Give it a side table in the Eames Walnut Stool, or create a media corner with an Eames Storage Unit piled high with books. Hang an Eames Hang-It-All nearby and you’ve got yourself your very own Eames gallery showcasing your appreciation for the pioneering design couple.
