Tub chairs are hugely popular for restaurants, hotels and waiting rooms – anywhere where guests need to sit in comfort. With their low seat, soft cushioning and high, supportive arms and back, they can add a touch of relaxed luxury to any environment. In this article we delve deeper into the history and the enduring appeal of the tub chair.
The history of the tub chair
It’s widely believed that tub chairs originated more than 250 years ago, in 18th Century France. Apparently, King Louis XV was one of the first to use an expensively upholstered tub chair to hold court, whilst his subjects sat on more standard, far less comfortable chairs.
The superiority of tub chairs spread to Victorian England, where they became a popular fixture in gentleman’s clubs.
Meanwhile, in the USA, it was apparently an American designer called Charles F Montgomery who coined the name ‘tub chair’ because the chair somewhat resembled a bath tub.
Tub chairs for use at home
Tub chairs are used in a number of environments today. People use them at home, to add a different level of seating and often a feature piece of furniture to seating or eating areas. Something like a Portobello Cappuccino Tub Chair from Trent Furniture is a good example of how a standout piece of seating can complement an existing plain colour scheme or bring out different hues of colour in a multi-tonal room.
Tub chairs for hotels and restaurants
Tub chairs are also commonly used in hotels and restaurants for a similar reason. Adding a couple of tub chairs can often break up the use of lots of the same type of chair, for a more modern, stylish look and feel. Some establishments choose to use tub chairs as their main form of seating, for an ultra-modern contemporary look.
Tub chairs for conferences, seminars, and weddings
The level of comfort provided in a tub chair in comparison to a standard chair can often be far superior, so the types of places that have predominantly tub chairs, will often anticipate that guests will be seated in comfort, for a relatively long period of time. This makes them a great option for seminars or business conferences, in addition to events that last longer than a couple of hours, such as wedding receptions.
Where to buy tub chairs in the UK
Trent Furniture has a great range of seating for all occasions and environments, including several different styles of tub chairs. For more information, click to see our full range of tub chairs or call us on 0116 2988 583 to see how we can help with your seating requirements.