"These pieces aren't passing trends. They're home icons, and the bergère chair has earned its place among them."
I like to think of the bergère chair as a great chameleon in the world of interior design. It's a piece that can effortlessly wear an array of wood finishes or fabrics, and it’s one that pairs well with any aesthetic in every room of the home. Read on for the history of the bergère chair and some of my favorite ways to style this silhouette!
Click the image to shop this green velvet bergère chair.
Shop the Juliette Bergère Chair
A Chair With Centuries of Presence
The bergère chair has its roots in 18th-century France, where it was designed as a more comfortable, enclosed alternative to the open-armed fauteuil. It’s a chair made for lingering, for warmth, for genuine repose. Where earlier formal seating demanded posture and propriety, the bergère chair invited you to settle in comfortably.
"What made the bergère chair revolutionary was its construction. A fully upholstered seat, back, and sides created a sense of enclosure that felt both luxurious and intimate."
The form was then elevated with gently curved cabriole legs and gracefully carved wood frames that we still associate with the silhouette today. As it grew in popularity throughout the 18th century, the bergère became synonymous with cultivated comfort—the chair of thinkers, readers, and those who appreciated the art of sitting beautifully.That combination of elegance and ease is exactly why it never went out of style. Click the image to shop this look!
How to Style a Bergère Chair in Your Home
As a Statement Piece in the Living Room
A bergère earns its place without trying too hard. Position one chair at an angle near the sofa and let it anchor a corner with personality. Or pair two chairs with a side table to ground one end of a seating area. Choose a fabric that holds its own, whether that's a deep jewel-toned velvet or a vintage-inspired pattern, and the chair becomes the most interesting thing in the room. In my Manhattan living room, I recently added a bergère chair upholstered in heirloom kilim weave fabric. Its rich, warm tones and intricate pattern bring such a gorgeous sense of presence and character to the room! Click the image to see more of Kathy Kuo's living room.
Paired with a Matching Ottoman to Create a Cozy Seating Area
This is one of my favorite configurations: a bergère chair with its companion ottoman creates a complete, self-contained moment of comfort. Add the ottoman, prop your feet up, and you have a proper reading chair, the kind you sink into for an hour and emerge from feeling restored. We offer matching ottomans designed specifically to complete this pairing. Together, they read as a comfortable yet polished vignette. Click the image to shop this bergère chair and ottoman!
Shop the Antoinette Bergère Chair
In the Dining Room as Hostess Chairs
The bergère translates beautifully to the dining room when used as hostess chairs at either end of the table. The enclosed silhouette and upholstered arms add extra comfort and coziness to these head seats. Upholster them in the same fabric as your dining side chairs for a collected look, or choose a complementary tone to let them stand apart with quiet intention. Click the image to shop this look.
As a Place for Study in a Home Office or Library
A bergère chair brings gravitas to a home office in the way that a standard desk chair simply cannot. It’s a comfortable perch on which to spend the entirety of a workday or an afternoon spent flipping through a favorite coffee table book. Upholstered in a rich leather or a classic stripe, it elevates the room from purely functional to truly considered. Click the image to shop this tapestry bergère chair!
Shop the Juliette Bergère Chair
The Perfect Fabric for Every Chair
One of the things I love most about the bergère chair is how well it wears different textiles. For a touch of old-world drama, velvet is unmatched; the way it catches light and deepens with use gives the chair exactly the sense of presence it deserves. For households with children or pets, or in any space that’s frequently used, our performance fabrics offer the same refined look with a practicality that never asks you to choose between beauty and real life. And then there are the patterns—tapestries, geometric prints, botanical weaves—that transform the bergère into something truly personal.
Ready to Make the Bergère Chair Yours?
The bergère chair is one of those rare pieces that improves every room it enters. Shop our custom bergère chairs and ottomans, and discover the perfect fabric and finish to complement your home!
Kathy Kuo Studio
Need design help? Kathy Kuo Studio is a full-service design firm working with clients in the United States and abroad. From warm, timeless interiors to serene outdoor retreats, our talented team of accredited designers creates spaces that feel like home, designed around how you live and what you love.
Click the image to shop this green velvet bergère chair.
Click the image to shop this look!
Click the image to see more of Kathy Kuo's living room.
Click the image to shop this bergère chair and ottoman!
Click the image to shop this look.
Click the image to shop this tapestry bergère chair!
