Is there anything more glamorous than a chaise lounge (or longue)? Greek gods and goddesses were thought to recline in them, Egyptian royalty rested on ebony or ivory frames, and they were used to exhibit social status during the French Rococo period.
Chaise lounge chairs are meant for one thing: lounging—even if that means with laptop in hand (as we might be inclined to do here at Remodelista). Below are our ten favorite fainting couches; some are more modern daybeds, others a traditional méridienne style, and a few unconventional options.
Above: From Francesca: "I have this chaise in my bedroom covered in pale blue velvet. It's a reproduction that Lost City Arts makes. Perfectly proportioned; lean and sleek, and surprisingly comfortable. A great spot for kids that have wondered in in the middle of the night." The Mirror Image Sofa is $4,200 from Lost City Arts. See more of Francesca's Brooklyn Heights home, featured in this month's Elle Decor.
Above: Margot is coveting John Derian's Pond Chaise Lounge from Cisco Brothers, "I like that it's diminutive (so many chaises these days are outsized and overly padded) and looks ideal for reading a Barbara Pym novel." She currently owns a chaise from the late sculptor John Risely, who taught at Wesleyan University and specialized in making figural steel furniture in the 1960s and 70s: "John was the father of a friend, and I commissioned one of his nun chaises when I was earning my first paychecks and the chair was one of his vintage designs. It's lived with me ever since—currently perched outside under a shady elm. It's more art than chair, a model of inspiration if not comfort."
Above: Christine says, "When you live small, you are always looking for furniture with more than one use. This Day Bed by Another Country works perfectly for daytime lounging and as a guest bed at night." The Oak Day Bed with a Gray Mattress is $2,425 (or £2,150 in the UK) from Another Country. Photograph by Matthew Williams.
Above: From Janet: I like a chaise to envelope m, a spot to cozy up with a book at the end of a long day. I am coveting the traditional Sherlock Daybed from the venerable British furniture maker George Sherlock. The Sherlock daybed has a webbed and hand-stuffed back and hand-sprung seat with loose feather filled back and seat cushions. Available through Ruby Beets at a base price of $5,750.
Above: Julie admired Ochre's Eternal Dreamer Corner Ottoman chaise last week on a visit to New York. "I like the contrast between the minimalist steel frame and the almost absurdly overstuffed cushions covered in bright, ethnic-inspired wool."
Above: Sarah's pick: "It's not a traditional chaise lounge, but it's exactly what I would use to recline with a good book and plenty of pillows. This is one of those products that only when I saw it in person, at Heath Ceramics in San Francisco, did I really appreciate the design. It's on the 'will-buy-one-day' list." The Saddle Leather Cot is available in seven different finishes of steel legs; contact Garza Furniture for pricing and availability.
Above: In the right setting, Alexa's favorite chaise is Mies van der Rohe's Barcelona Couch for the hand tufted cowhide leather and mahogany hardware, but she likes it best in white. Available at Design Within Reach for $8,856.
Above: Meredith's pick is the e15 Theban Daybed for being, "so ahead of its time for having been designed in 1925. The chair is inspired by Egypt, hence the name; the sandy color and woven seat are fit for a pharoah." Available in waxed solid European oak with a gray textile or vegetable tanned woven leather surface, the daybed is £3,200 from Nest in the UK.
Above: From Justine: I'm longing to create a storied reading nook in a corner by a tall window in my historical home with an antique chaise like this one from Jayson Home. This piece has such history, it makes me feel like I myself am a character in a novel." The Antique Unupholstered Chaise Lounge is $3,495 from Jayson Home.
Above: From Michelle: "I like the business end of a sectional, the chaise part of it where you can put your feet up and settle in for a long evening of Foyle's War. Somehow the fact that other TV watchers in the room have their feet on the floor heightens it for me." A Gus Modern Jane Loft Bi-Sectional (in "husk" color) is $2,495 from ABC Home.
Looking for more living room seating? Explore 136 Sofas and 32 Side Chairs in our Shop section.