What are barrel chairs?
Barrel chairs are chairs which are designed with a shape which is suggestive of a barrel. They have a circular footprint, and a curved design which is meant to create the illusion that a large barrel was used as a frame for the chair. These chairs are most commonly seen in casual décor, and they may be accompanied with ottomans upholstered in matching material for increased comfort. The barrel chair design can be quite variable. Some barrel chairs are essentially columns with a notch cut out and padded for seating, while others have more abstract designs. The bottom of the chair may be entirely enclosed to make it look more like a barrel, or the chair may be given legs, depending on the taste of the designer. Classically, these chairs are upholstered, often all over, with no sign of the underlying wood, metal, or plastic framing material. Some barrel chairs are designed with seat cushions which lift out to allow people to access a storage area. The back and arms of the chair are typica
