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Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman UK The Complete Set Guide
Buying an Eames lounge chair and ottoman UK-wide? Here’s the first thing to know: the ottoman isn’t an optional extra — Charles Eames designed the chair and ottoman as one piece of thinking, because he believed real rest needs your feet up. The set is why this chair feels like a genuine armchair-and-a-half rather than just a good-looking seat. Here’s the UK guide to buying the full combo.
Why the Ottoman Matters
The chair reclines at a fixed, relaxed angle — and that angle only fully works with your feet elevated. Without the ottoman you get a lovely chair; with it, you get the “settle in for the evening” experience the design was built for. It’s the difference between sitting and lounging. When Vitra and the licensed makers sell the original, chair and ottoman come as a pair for exactly this reason.
Sizing the Full Set for a UK Room
The set needs planning space:
- Chair: roughly 84cm wide × 85–90cm deep × 84cm tall
- Ottoman: roughly 66cm × 54cm × 42cm
- Together, in use: allow a 1.2m × 1.6m footprint including sitting-down room
Tape that rectangle on your floor before buying — the single best test for any UK room. Full measurements are on every listing in our Eames lounge chair collection.
Choosing Your Finish
Chair and ottoman should always match exactly — mismatched pieces look like a replacement part. Popular UK combinations:
- Classic: the chocolate brown leather with walnut wood — the timeless mid-century set
- Light and airy: the white leather with ash wood and chrome base — perfect for brighter or smaller rooms
- Vintage character: a rosewood and black leather chair and ottoman — the deep, dramatic original look
What to Check Before Buying the Set
- Confirm the ottoman is included — some listings price the chair alone and add the ottoman separately. Check what’s in the box before comparing prices
- Matching materials — same leather colour, same veneer, same base finish across both pieces
- Combined weight 30kg+ — the honest signal of real plywood, aluminium and fill
- Top-grain leather on contact surfaces — on both the chair and the ottoman top
Placing the Set
The classic arrangement: chair angled 45° into a corner, ottoman in front, floor lamp behind the outer shoulder — the reading nook the design was born for. Keep 10–15cm between chair and ottoman (touching looks staged and blocks your feet sliding under). Beside a bay window, the full set is a genuine “why didn’t we do this sooner” arrangement.
The Ottoman’s Bonus Uses
- Extra seat — pulls away as a perch when guests visit
- Coffee-table stand-in — a tray on top makes it a surface
- The kids’ spot — low and stable, it becomes the favourite seat in the house (you’ve been warned)
Buying in the UK (and From Europe)
UK buyers get free UK shipping over £150 on the full set and a UK warranty. Ordering from Ireland or mainland Europe? Our dedicated store houseoffurnishes.com ships worldwide with pricing built for your address.
FAQs
Do I need the ottoman, or just the chair?
The ottoman completes the design — the fixed recline is built to work with your feet up. You can buy the chair alone, but you’ll miss the full “settle in” comfort the set was designed for.
Should the chair and ottoman match exactly?
Yes — same leather, veneer and base finish. The set reads as one object, so mismatched pieces look like a replacement rather than a pair.
How much space does the full set need?
About 1.2m × 1.6m including sitting-down room. Tape the rectangle on your floor before buying to be sure it fits your room.
Final Thoughts
An Eames lounge chair and ottoman UK buyers choose as a set get the full experience Charles Eames intended — a chair for genuine, feet-up relaxation, not just a handsome seat. Confirm the ottoman’s included, match the finishes, check the weight, and tape the footprint first. Browse complete sets with UK delivery in our Eames lounge chair collection.