A Guide to Tartan Arm Chairs

Tartan patterns are synonymous with Scottish heritage, and this fabric has a rich history. Tartan has been used in Scotland since at least the third century AD, but not much is known about its early use. 

Since the 16th century, it’s been associated with Highland dress, and it was worn by both the high and low classes to identify which clan they belonged to. By the mid-18th century, tartan had become a symbol of support and allegiance to Charles Edward Stewart, better known as Bonnie Prince Charlie. He led an army known as the Jacobites, and after their defeat at Culloden in 1746, Highland dress – including tartan – was banned.

There was a tartan revival in the 19th century, kickstarted by King George IV, who was the first monarch of Great Britain to visit Scotland in almost two centuries. The visit was organised by novelist Sir Walter Scott, and it had a lasting impact on the popularity of tartan in both Scotland and beyond. The patterns have become something of a symbol of national pride, used not just for clothing but also for home furnishings. Today, tartans have been adapted for many different uses, from kilts to scarves, and from bags to furniture. They come in an array of different colours, from traditional clan tartans to modern versions with bright colours.

Tartan is more versatile than you might think. From muted tones to bold, bright shades, tartan can complement a wide range of different interior design schemes. Traditional tartans typically feature more muted colours, with greens, reds, blacks and blues featuring prominently. Newer designs have a wider range of colours, with some even including bright jewel tones and pastel shades. This variety means that tartan armchairs are sure to fit into your home, no matter whether you prefer a traditional or modern colour scheme.

Traditional tartans work particularly well with wood accents and leather furniture, while modern tartans can help to make your armchair a statement piece of furniture. Whichever interior style you prefer, there’s a tartan option for you.

We know how important it is to support your posture. That’s why all of our furniture is designed to support your neck, back and hips – and it’s also sized to fit. This can improve posture, help to alleviate pain and pressure points, and offer a range of other physiological benefits, as found by Dr Andrea Utley at the University of Leeds, that a chair that fits properly can have a big impact on your health. The study found that a well-fitting chair can lower heart rate, reduce blood pressure and increase oxygen flow.

That’s why we work with occupational therapists on all of our furniture, including  Independent Occupational Therapist Julie Jennings. She approves all of our furniture and is also key to training our Comfort Specialists. She makes sure that they understand good posture, the correct seating position and supportive transfer in and out of a chair – which means that whenever you buy a chair from HSL, you’re guaranteed to have feel-good furniture that properly fits your body.

All of our fireside chairs are made with your support in mind. That’s why they come with supportive ergonomic features like lumbar support and deep cushioning, to help support the natural curve of your spine and reduce pressure points.

Our fireside chairs have high seats and high backs, making them extremely supportive – as well as looking good in any home. The high back ensures that your head, neck and shoulders are fully supported, and the back cushioning supports the full length of your spine. The high seat means that your legs are in the right position, helping to reduce sore hips and lower back pain. You can also choose to add cascading back cushions if you need extra support.

Read A Guide to Fireside Chairs

It’s wise to consider the size of the chair and its placement in your home to make sure it complements your space without overwhelming it.

If you have a smaller space, you may want to choose a smaller armchair with a slimmer profile so it doesn’t swamp your room. For larger rooms, you can get away with a bigger chair that takes up more space. Of course, no matter what size your room is, it’s important to choose a chair that fits your body and gives you the right level of support. That’s why we offer all of our chairs in different sizes, to make sure your body is supported in all the places it needs it most.

Read Recliner Chair Sizes: Do I Need a Small, Regular, or Large Recliner?

We believe that furniture shouldn’t just look good, but it should make you feel good too. That’s why all of our furniture is designed around you, to make sure that key areas of your body are supported. But we don’t believe that anyone should compromise on style, either, so we work with designers and craftspeople to create beautiful, supportive furniture that looks good, is designed to fit, and is built to last.

We’ve been creating furniture for over 54 years, and our commitment to quality is unwavering. Since our company began, HSL has proudly made our furniture in Britain, using only the very best quality ingredients. That’s the HSL difference.

All of our fireside chairs come with a choice of different fabrics, including a variety of tartan designs so you can choose the one that best suits your home’s style. We also offer a range of other customisation options, including plain or button backs, sprung cushions, castor options and wood finishes for the legs (and arms, in some cases).

As a family business, we care about our customers. We’re committed to providing the highest levels of customer support and satisfaction, offering support throughout the entire purchasing process.

That’s why we offer free, exclusive Chair Fittings, to make sure that you get the right chair for your needs. Our Comfort Specialists will walk you through a personalised chair fitting guide, explaining the importance of each point of contact between the chair and your body, and asking you questions to make sure it fits you just right.

And if you can’t make it to a showroom, we also offer a free Home Demonstration service. We’ll bring our feel good furniture to you, so you can experience the HSL showroom from your living room.

Tartan is a beautiful fabric with a lot of historic significance – and it makes a great choice for your fireside armchair, whether you want to make a statement with a bold pattern, or keep it subtle. We have seven different fireside chairs to choose from, all with the option of tartan fabrics, so if you’re looking for quality, stylish seating solutions, HSL have got you covered.