Few pieces of furniture promise as much as a leather lounge chair and ottoman: the molded shell, the tufted cushions, the gentle recline that says sit down, stay a while. But a chair this sculptural needs the right room around it. Below are three ways we styled our mid-century lounge chair & ottoman in black genuine leather — each a complete living-room design board you can borrow, down to the wall colour and the lighting.
Look 1 — The Architect's Living Room
Set against a coffered walnut-beam ceiling and warm greige plaster, the black-leather-and-walnut chair reads architectural — a quiet sculpture beside a low linen sofa. This is the look for a grown-up, collected living room.
The design board
- Walls: a warm greige such as Benjamin Moore Pale Oak (OC-20) or Farrow & Ball Oxford Stone (No. 264) — enough warmth to flatter walnut.
- Ceiling: exposed or faux walnut beams echo the chair's veneer shell and pull the eye up.
- Sofa: a low, slubby oatmeal-linen sofa keeps the chair the hero.
- Art & floor: one large textured plaster-and-earth abstract canvas; a tonal low-pile rug over stone or pale oak.
- The chair: the lounge chair & ottoman in black leather + walnut, angled toward the sofa for conversation.
Style it: a single dried branch in a tall vase, a short stack of art books on the ottoman's edge — restraint is the whole point.
Look 2 — The Quiet Retreat
Pull the chair to the light. Against a floor-to-ceiling window with a hillside view, paired with a glowing washi-paper floor lamp, it becomes the best seat in the house — a place to read, not just to look at.
The design board
- Placement: angle the chair 30–45° toward the window so the recline frames the view, not the wall.
- Walls & floor: warm white walls (BM White Dove OC-17) and light, wide-plank oak keep all the drama on the view and the leather.
- Window: a single sheer linen curtain to soften afternoon light without blocking it.
- Light: a washi-paper floor lamp beside the chair for a soft evening glow — the Akari 10a floor lamp (or the slimmer Akari 7a) is the perfect companion.
- The chair: the lounge chair & ottoman with feet up on the ottoman.
Style it: a throw over one arm, a small side table for coffee, and nothing else — this corner is about the chair and the light.
Look 3 — The Rustic Atelier
In a bright, whitewashed room with rough plaster and reclaimed beams, the sleek black leather becomes a graphic counterpoint — modern against hand-made. This is wabi-sabi mid-century: warm, imperfect, calm.
The design board
- Walls & ceiling: soft sandy white (F&B School House White No. 291 or BM Swiss Coffee) over rough plaster; whitewashed timber beams overhead.
- Window: a paned window with greenery beyond, dressed in floor-length natural linen.
- Floor: pale microcement or limewashed boards to keep the room luminous.
- Light: a washi-paper Akari floor lamp beside the chair, glowing like a small moon.
- The chair: the lounge chair & ottoman as the room's one bold, dark gesture.
Style it: keep textures natural and tonal — linen, plaster, pale wood — and let the black leather do all the contrast.
Leather, and a shell you can customise
The chair is upholstered in black top-grain genuine leather over a molded plywood shell. The shell comes in a customisable wood veneer — walnut as standard, with natural and other wood finishes available on request. If you'd like a finish other than walnut, email us at support@breuerhome.com before ordering and we'll arrange it.
Get the free-with-purchase styling guide
We turned these three looks into a downloadable Lounge Chair & Ottoman Styling Guide — the full design boards, a living-room palette, the customisation notes, and a printable shopping list. Every copy includes a bonus code for 15% off our mid-century accent chairs (code LOUNGE15). Download the Lounge Chair Styling Guide →
Shop the look
- Mid-Century Lounge Chair & Ottoman — Black Genuine Leather
- Akari 10a Washi Paper Floor Lamp
- Akari 7a Floor Lamp
— BreuerHome Editorial
