The Article Archie Bouclé Chair, Tested by a Lazy Reader

• Aesthetic: 20/20
• Comfort: 18/20
• Value: 18/20
• Quality: 17/20
• Shipping and Returns: 20/20

TOTAL: 93/100

True confession: The pandemic isolation ruined me for sitting upright. In the days of WFH, I developed the habit of laying down while working, tap-tap-tapping on my laptop from the couch, breakfast nook or yes okay I admit it, in bed under the warmest blankets. The resulting loss of most of my core muscles and personal ambition has been pretty fast, considering, so I made a vow to sit upright on the regular. But my too-deep couch isn’t supportive, and the dining room chairs feel punitive—what to do? I decided to pivot to an attractive, supportive and comfortable occasional chair and Voila, introduced into my home the Article Archie Bouclé chair ($599).

As pretty as a Pinterest picture and as trendy as Joanna Gaines’ plaster walls, the white bouclé chair is the sort of designer piece I’d never splurged on for my living room previously—I’d only reupholstered some midcentury modern pieces I’d owned for years and swapped out couches after a long while. (At $599, this chair costs somewhere between an expensive-looking Wayfair rug and a kitchen renovation)   But the reputation of Article (which, btw,  leads the PureWow list of most comfortable reading chairs) piqued my interest. Today the cool Art Deco lines of the chair and its notable bear hug of coziness are my new happy place. I might be diving into a book, settling in to a streaming session or yes, working on my laptop, and I’m getting back support, but comfortably. Here’s why this chair works for me—and might for you too.

I ordered the chair online and a week later, it was carried straight into my house by two people. The chair came boxed and wrapped in multiple layers, which ensured the snowy-white fabric didn’t become soiled in transit, and the stubby little legs were affixed by the delivery staff in 10 minutes. In a half-hour total, the delivery people had unpacked, assembled and moved the chair into the corner I requested, then left with all the packing materials. Easy-peasy.

I’ve lived with the chair for six weeks, and it hasn’t sustained any of the staining or greying I’d been expecting, what with a dirty-pawed cockapoo pouncing up for a nap continually and me cozying up in it wearing all manner of denim and dark-hued trousers. The slightly lifted edge of the chair makes it really comfortable to relax back into, and the height of the back is just right so I can lay my head back and have a nice shut-eye brainstorming sesh or micro-nap. The curve of the wings (aka the upper sides of the chair) are just curved enough to buffer the sounds of whoever’s chattering on the couch or what’s up in the kitchen, so it helps me focus. And honestly, the tight weave and treatment of the fabric repels moisture long enough for me to wipe away a water bottle splash. I’m not going to invite anyone to rink cabernet up in my Archie chair, but other than that, I’m stanning on this white piece of furniture to brighten up a shadowy corner. I’m all in—and eyeing a matching white bouclé ottoman to give my feet the a fuzzy resting spot, too.