Pull Up a Peacock Chair
Perfect for a porch or a sun-drenched room, the airy wicker chair can be accessorized or stand on its own
Laura Gaskill
August 2, 2015
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance checklist. My favorite pieces to write center around the emotional aspects of home and savoring life's simple pleasures. Decluttering course + discount for Houzzers: https://www.lauragaskill.com/welcome-houzzers
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance... More
The showstopping wicker peacock chair, popular in the 1960s and ’70s (although it’s been around far longer), has enjoyed a renewed surge of interest among designers and homeowners of late. With its intricate woven details and unmistakeable fan-like shape, the peacock chair (like its namesake) is sure to draw attention.
Bring texture to a neutral scheme with a peacock chair. Keep a neutral-hued space from feeling too one-note by boosting interesting textures and shapes. The woven detail of a peacock chair works well with a soft and fluffy sheepskin (real or fake) for an appealingly touchable look.
Invite a peacock chair to brunch. Outdoors on a shaded veranda is perhaps where the peacock chair looks most at home. For an elegant alfresco brunch spot, pair a peacock chair with Chinese Chippendale-style side chairs and a round table.
Put a peacock chair in the sunroom. Surrounded by lush greenery in a sun-drenched space, a peacock chair provides both a focal point and an inviting seat. Just imagine taking your morning coffee here, or curling up with a good book among the twining leaves.
Finding the right peacock chair for you. Peacock chairs, new and vintage, can be found through designers and in some shops. If you’re willing to hunt a bit, you might find a bargain at yard sales, estate sales or through Craigslist. Before settling on a chair, be sure to know how much room you have, and measure the chair itself — peacock chairs can vary greatly in size, with some being fairly compact and others monstrously huge.
Draw the eye through a small space with a peacock chair. Using a focal point to draw the eye through two spaces that are visually linked is one way to make a compact home feel more spacious. In this petite dining room, a peacock chair and a globe in the home office on the other side of the glass-paned double doors extend the sense of space.
Enhance an airy bedroom with a peacock chair. Keep a sunny, light bedroom feeling open by choosing furniture with an airy design that lets light through. A peacock chair and woven pendant light work together to create a relaxed, upbeat mood in this bedroom.
Paint a peacock chair a bright hue. Whether you find a brightly colored peacock chair in a shop or put a coat of color on a vintage find yourself, going bright will make this seat the star of any room. Shown here, a vibrant turquoise peacock chair heads up an extra-long dining table in an eclectic space.
A note on vintage peacock chairs: Be sure to thoroughly inspect and sit in the chair before buying it. If the weaving feels loose or is coming apart in any place (but especially on the seat or back), it’s best to pass it up for a chair in better condition.
A note on vintage peacock chairs: Be sure to thoroughly inspect and sit in the chair before buying it. If the weaving feels loose or is coming apart in any place (but especially on the seat or back), it’s best to pass it up for a chair in better condition.
Try a pair of peacock chairs. For double the impact, put two peacock chairs side by side. Because of the grand proportion of the fan-shaped back, a pair of these chairs needs extra room — if your space is on the small side, stick with one.
Put a peacock chair against a dark backdrop. Thanks to the peacock chair’s airy, woven material and dramatic shape, it works well in front of a wall painted in a rich color or covered with a bold patterned wallpaper. A bit of the color or pattern peeking through the back of the chair creates a mysterious effect and plays up the texture of the chair.
Try a peacock bed. If you like the look of the peacock chair but don’t need another seat in the house, consider its design relative, the peacock bed, instead. The airy headboards look great in guest rooms and kids’ rooms, especially when painted a fresh, fun hue.
Tell us: Is the peacock chair (or bed) for you? If you have one of these design icons in your space, share a photo in the Comments!
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Tell us: Is the peacock chair (or bed) for you? If you have one of these design icons in your space, share a photo in the Comments!
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Looks nice! Hmm.. cats will love it too.. great for scratching ;-)
To me they all look awkward and self conscious. I would make myself sit there just to make them feel included but I would be perched on the edge and looking for an exit. Sorry Peacock Chair designers.