Short answer
Yes, for two people: two Kent armchairs take 134 cm side by side and two Einar take 142 cm, compared with around 200 to 230 cm for a typical three-seat sofa, and a pair is more flexible, though you cannot lie down on it.
Two armchairs give each person their own seat and arms, which many people find more comfortable than sharing a sofa. They also split into two places, for example a reading chair and a guest chair, when the room is used differently.
The chart below compares a pair of our armchairs with a typical sofa.
| Two Kent armchairs | Two Einar armchairs | Typical 3-seat sofa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Width, side by side | 144 to 164 cm | 152 to 172 cm | Around 200 to 230 cm |
| Seats | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Lie down | No | No | Yes |
| Rearrange | Easy, one chair at a time | Easy, one chair at a time | One large piece |
When you want to stretch out or nap, when three or more people often sit together, or when the room is built around watching television.
A sofa is also the natural anchor of a large living room; the armchairs then gather around it. Many rooms end up with both: a sofa for everyday life and a pair of armchairs for conversation.
If you already have a sofa, our guide to where to put an armchair shows how to add one or two chairs around it.
Face them towards each other across a small table, angle them together in a corner, or place them side by side facing a sofa or a fireplace.
Facing each other is usually the most sociable layout and suits conversation. Angled together, about 45 degrees, is the classic corner arrangement. Side by side suits a pair opposite a sofa.
As a guide, leave 10 to 30 cm between the arms, or room for a small side table. Keep about 90 cm of walkway around the pair.
A matching pair looks calm and formal; two different chairs look relaxed; either works if the chairs share their shape or their colour.
Two identical armchairs are an easier choice and suit symmetrical rooms. A mixed pair, the same model in two fabrics, or two models in one fabric, looks more personal.
Kent and Einar share the same seat and proportions, so one of each in the same Greige bouclé makes a natural mixed pair: one in black steel, one in oak. Our guide to matching an armchair to the sofa covers colours.
As a guide, allow about 160 to 180 cm of width for two lounge armchairs with a small table between them, plus about 90 cm of walkway.
Two Kent armchairs are 134 cm wide side by side with no gap, and two Einar 142 cm. Add the gap or table you want between them.
Depth matters too: each chair is 81 to 82 cm deep. Our armchair dimensions guide has every measurement.
A small side table level with the arms, or a low coffee table in front of the pair, sized so that both people can reach it.
With arms at 49 cm, a side table of 45 to 55 cm suits our armchairs. As a guide, a coffee table in front should sit 40 to 45 cm from the front edge of the seats.
A set of nesting coffee tables, like our Leo, is useful here, as the smaller table can slide out beside a chair. See all our coffee tables and armchairs.
Anton Coffee TableA coffee table for a pair · from ¥749,100View Anton
Kent ArmchairFrom ¥310,500Black steel · greige bouclé
Kent ArmchairFrom ¥310,500Solid oak · greige bouclé
