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Ask Flipped: What kind of weird chair is this?

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I found this crazy chair, and it’s super long and soft

Photo via Shutterstock

Welcome back to Ask Flipped, where we answer very real questions from readers who are having problems with home decor, design, or anything else. Do you have a question? Write it on a post-it note and throw it into a strong gust of wind. If it was meant to be, we will find the post-it and answer the question.

Dear Flipped,

I have a question I was hoping you could help me out with. My neighbor moved out recently and was throwing away a lot of his furniture, and I snagged a few pieces for my (currently under-furnished) apartment. One of the things is this weird-ass chair, pictured above. Have you ever seen a chair like this? What the heck is up with it? It’s so long. It’s so long that last night my wife and I sat in it at the same time, without even touching. Two people in the same chair! I don’t know what this world is coming to.

Thanks for your help,

New Chair Owner



You’re in luck, because it just so happens to be Furniture Week here at Curbed, and we just so happen to have one of the world’s foremost chair experts, Dr. Benjamin L. Chairington XII, here with us in our offices. Here’s what Dr. Chairington has to say about your very unique chair:

Hello, NCO! What you have found here is actually called a "couch." Couches are sub genre of chairs that became popular around the turn of the twelfth century in the Scandinavian countries and have since spread all over the world. Interestingly, many historic figures have owned couches. Did you know that Amelia Earhart had a couch? So did Elvis! So you’re in good company here.

You have already identified several of the advantages that couches have over chairs. For one, they are indeed longer. Also, their relatively greater length allows for multiple people to sit on them at one time. You should also be aware of the drawbacks, however, which include the fact that they take up more space and the danger of losing your keys between their cushions. Don’t let that discourage you, however. Many couch enthusiasts enjoy owning a couch every bit as much as they enjoy owning a chair, and some even more!

Hope that helps,


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