Dear Danica, Are Wicker Chairs In A Living Room Appropriate? A Case For The Unconventional

Dear Danica

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April 30, 2025

Are wicker chairs appropriate for a living room? Design by Hageman Homes

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Dear danica,

Is a wicker chair acceptable in a traditional/casual style living room? I would like to include a colored wicker rocker in my mostly neutral living room to add some color.
– Sylvia

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First and foremost, I love that you’re thinking outside the box. Unconventional choices lead to captivating spaces, and your head is in the right place to achieve that! Is a wicker chair acceptable in a living room? Yes, but…

Yes, wicker chairs can look lovely in a living room if the setting and style are appropriate. Yes, wicker chairs can provide a layer of texture and color, but there are best practices that set this unconventional choice up for success.

When Wicker Chairs Look Appropriate Inside

Wicker chairs inherently have a more casual country feel to them. If your home leans casual, country, or even coastal, you’ll have a much easier time making a wicker chair blend in than, say, a modern or formal Victorian home.

The living area above by Hageman Homes is a beautiful example of traditional architecture with casual wicker chairs. The abundance of windows and the relaxed aesthetic is an excellent setting for wicker chairs. If your living room lacks windows or leans formal, I would opt for an upholstered armchair instead.

My personal preference for an indoor wicker chair is a tighter weave that extends to the floor. Open legs and open weaves can look more like outdoor furniture. I’m also partial to thicker cushions that let you sink into the chair.

Wicker chairs in a living room. Design by @dylanbsamide — Design: @dylanbsamide

Incorporate Color Cafefully

You mentioned that you want to incorporate a colored wicker chair to add some color to your otherwise neutral living room. While I’m not against a colored wicker chair, I do believe that natural wicker is more timeless. If you’re itching for more color, let’s study the examples above for inspiration.

Notice the bones of both rooms are neutral, yet the rooms are full of color. The wicker chairs are natural, but colorful cushions and blue paisley pillows add color. Artwork and vases feature blues and greens. Flowers bring a pop of red. And even fruit is a source of color in both spaces.

Instead of colored wicker chairs, I recommend adding 2 colors to 2-3 different zones of your living room for a well-balanced, fully dispersed color palette. Blue artwork on the wall, blue vase on the coffee table, and a rug with shades of blue. Red floral lampshade, red throw pillow, and apples in a bowl. If the colors tend to stand out rather than blend in, that’s your sign to add MORE color to the room…not to take it away.

So in short, yes, wicker chairs can look appropriate in a living room if the style of the home is casual & country, there are plenty of windows, and the cushions are full.

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