Short answer
Neither is better in general: oak is warmer and more classic, steel slimmer and more graphic, and both are strong enough for daily use.
Choose by the room. Oak suits rooms with wooden floors, plants and warm textiles; black steel suits rooms that are pared back, or that already have a lot of wood and need a line to sharpen them.
The chart below compares our two armchairs, which differ only in the frame.
| Einar, solid oak | Kent, black steel | |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Warm, grain visible, classic | Slim, graphic, modern |
| Finishes | Oak, Dark Oak, Black Oak | Black; Beige, White or Taupe to order |
| Footprint | 71 x 81 cm | 67 x 82 cm |
| Maximum load | 200 kg | 200 kg |
| Frame care | Damp cloth, no oiling | Damp cloth |
Yes: a welded steel frame is very strong for its size, which is why a steel armchair can be so slim; solid hardwood can be just as strong in a thicker section.
What matters is the construction. Welded steel has no screws or bolts to loosen; solid oak needs well-made joints, which is where cheap wooden chairs usually fail.
Kent's frame is fully welded from raw Swedish steel and tested by RISE, Sweden, to EN 16139 Level 2, the heavy-use level of the European strength and durability standard for non-domestic seating. Einar is built from solid A-grade FSC-certified German oak. Both carry 200 kg per seat.
Black steel usually looks lighter: a thin frame reads as a line, so the floor and the room show through the chair.
That makes a steel armchair the easier choice for a small room or a busy one. Oak has more visual weight, which is exactly what makes it feel warm and grounded in a larger room.
A light oak frame with light cushions is the middle ground: soft, but still airy. Our guide to armchairs for small living rooms shows how frames change the feel of a room.
Natural oak for a light, Scandinavian room, dark oak for warmth and depth, and black oak for a graphic look with the grain still visible.
Match the finish to the other wood in the room exactly, or contrast it clearly; a near-match tends to look accidental.
Einar comes in Oak, Dark Oak and Black Oak, the same finishes as our oak dining chairs and tables, all in solid A-grade oak under a matte lacquer. Order wood samples to compare them in your own light.
Yes: black steel goes with almost any wood, because it reads as an outline rather than a competing tone.
A black frame beside an oak table or floor sharpens the wood and makes its grain stand out. It also ties in with black details elsewhere, such as lamps, picture frames and handles.
Kent comes on a black frame as standard, and in Beige, White or Taupe through Design Your Own. Our guide to matching an armchair to the sofa covers colours and combinations.
Kent ArmchairBeige, White or Taupe frame · from £705View Kent
Wipe both with a damp cloth; the lacquered oak also takes a little mild soap, and neither needs polish or oil.
Our oak is sealed with a natural matte lacquer, so it never needs oiling. Keep it away from radiators and strong direct sun, which change the colour of wood over time. Our powder-coated steel needs nothing more than a damp cloth.
Our guide to cleaning an armchair covers the cushions as well. See all our armchairs, and our oak furniture collection for pieces in the same wood.
Einar ArmchairFrom £900Dark oak · ivory bouclé
Kent ArmchairFrom £699Black steel · black bouclé
Einar ArmchairFrom £900Black oak · black bouclé
Kent ArmchairFrom £699Black steel · greige bouclé
