The Thrill of the Chaise

Being comfortable never looked so good | Is there a chaise lounge in your future?

You might have noticed that my business name is resting happily in a velvet chaise. And besides the fact that I like naps, there are other good reasons a chaise is my stock-in-trade.

As the author of the She Sheds books, I discovered over and over again just how perfect a chaise is for small spaces. While running She Shed Living, I recommended them to shed and design clients. Once I even re-covered a large 1930s chaise, put it in our shed “showroom”, and sold it a few months later. Many, many chaise encounters.

My goal with Velvet Chaise is to pursue a study of elements that help create an intimate space for quiet thought, working, reading, painting, or I’ll admit it, napping and occasional joyscrolling. Everyone needs a place like that. To get it, you sometimes have to pretend that your place of residence has more room than it really does. In essence, you need to create a room within a room.

(Photo: The Domestic Curator)

The chaise is a singular piece that easily defines a wall or a corner with the invitation to sit and relax. Notice how the chaise above (I love the organic welting) is wedged in between a door and a side table. I assume those pretty mirrored doors swing backwards (but maybe not since the hinges are not positioned for that) or aren’t used regularly. But the coziness is palpable. You want to jump right on that down cushion and sprawl.

(Photo: shoppeamberinteriors/Instagram)

Because it’s smaller than a couch, the chaise isn’t designed to support the full length of a tall body, or even a medium one. The style above indicates a cross between a chair and a long ottoman — looks like it extends out maybe 65” or so. Sitting upright would mean that the average leg length of 36” on a 5’7” woman (I just measured and included my feet) would fit with many inches to spare.

(Photo: Home Depot)

I was scanning the comments left on this really cute chaise from (of all places) Home Depot and most of the complaints were based on its size: too small. The cushion measures 54.5”, just about the size of a typical ottoman. “It’s really only good for small kids,” one reviewer wrote.

If you think of a chaise as closer to a chair than a couch, then you might be surprised at the comfort it provides, even a very small one. Try bending your knees and playing around with large extra-soft pillows that you can sink into but will still provide back and head support. Time to launch Operation Goldilocks and start testing the chaises at the furniture store. If you live in a furniture store desert, then try simulating the chaise of choice while browsing on Facebook Marketplace. Use the measurements provided to see if it works with your body size.

My chaise is 54” long and 24” wide. Even so it barely fit into my 6’ x 6’ shed. And yes, this is a styled shot but I actually fit into it quite comfortably. My shed belongs to someone else now but my chaise went with me to a new home.

I miss my shed but I still get the thrill of the chaise.