As the winter solstice approaches and the global design community pauses to reflect on a year of innovation, Dezeen Showroom has curated its definitive “12 Chairs of Christmas” for 2025. This annual roundup is more than a festive list; it is a strategic survey of the materials, silhouettes, and philosophies that defined seating over the past twelve months. From the revival of 1930s Argentinian icons to the futuristic gleam of mirror-polished stainless steel, the collection highlights a diverse spectrum of craft. Whether it is the soft, “draped” eccentricity of the Bollo chair or the statuesque, rock-solid presence of the Tulip chair, these twelve pieces represent the pinnacle of 2025’s furniture design. As we prepare for a new year of interior evolution, these chairs serve as a reminder that the most fundamental object in our homes remains a fertile ground for artistic and structural revolution.
Heritage Reimagined: The BKF Revival
Leading the list is a return to a 20th-century legend: the BKF chair, colloquially known as the “butterfly chair.” Originally designed in 1938 by architects Antoni Bonet, Juan Kurchan, and Jorge Ferrari Hardoy, the iconic piece is being rereleased for the contemporary market by Spanish manufacturer Isist Atelier. The chair’s symmetrical, lobed leather seat remains a masterclass in structural minimalism, offering a “wing-like” silhouette that has transcended decades of changing tastes.
The 2025 reissue focuses on the “poetic materiality” of the original design, utilizing high-grade leather and a slender metal frame that feels as relevant in a modern penthouse as it did in a mid-century studio. Its inclusion in the 12 Chairs of Christmas highlights a broader trend in 2025: the “archival pull,” where designers look back at the radical simplicity of the past to solve the cluttered aesthetic of the present.
The Future of Polish: Mati Sipiora and Matias Black
Contrasting the organic leather of the past is the high-shine futurism of Mati Sipiora and Tom Black. Sipiora’s Spektra armchair is a standout for its round-edged, polished steel frame, giving the piece a “space-age” aesthetic that borders on collectible art. The chair challenges the traditional softness of an armchair, replacing plushness with a mirror-finished surface that reflects its environment, making the chair almost disappear and reappear depending on the lighting.
Australian designer Tom Black contributed the Tulip chair, a statuesque accent piece that marries brushed stainless steel with rock-solid marble. The Tulip chair is praised for its “rock-solid” materials that contrast with softened, rounded edges, creating a piece that feels both indestructible and inviting. These designs mark a 2025 shift toward “hard-luxury” in seating, where the durability of metal and stone is favored for its longevity and dramatic visual impact.
Eccentric Comfort: The Engesvik and E-ggs Perspective
Comfort in 2025 was redefined by “eccentric softness,” epitomized by Andreas Engesvik’s Bollo dining chair for Fogia. The design features bulbous back, seat, and arm cushions that appear “draped” and propped up on a slender metal frame. This visual tension between the heavy, cloud-like upholstery and the thin support structure brings a sense of lightness and humor to the dining room—a space typically defined by more rigid seating.
Similarly, the Amia chair by E-ggs for Miniforms was “conceived like a sofa,” emphasizing a level of padding and upholstery usually reserved for lounge furniture. This “sofa-fication” of the standard chair reflects a post-pandemic desire for multi-functional spaces where the dining chair must double as a comfortable workstation or a place for long-form conversation. By prioritizing “cradle-like” support, these designers are turning the chair into a sanctuary within the home.
The Art of the Curve: Steam-Bending and Struts
Technical virtuosity is at the heart of the Miko (C) armchair, a collaboration between Thai brand Bendi-Bangkok and designer Tsuguji Sasaki. Made using traditional steam-bending techniques, the wooden chair highlights the natural grain of oak, ash, or beech timbers. The result is a fluid, continuous curve that feels organic and handcrafted—a stark contrast to the industrial stamping and metal-working seen elsewhere on the list.
Architectural influence is evident in the Strut chair by Yağmur Köylü for Yet Design Studio. Utilizing a frame that mimics the support struts of modern skyscrapers, the chair is a study in structural transparency. This architectural approach ensures that the chair is visually “light,” allowing light and air to pass through its frame, making it an ideal choice for compact urban interiors where heavy, opaque furniture can feel overwhelming.
Nostalgia and Stripes: The Silla Conduit
Rounding out the festive twelve is the Conduit chair by Silla, which leans into a “nostalgic deck-chair” aesthetic. Available in vivid green or lilac frames with stripy upholstery, the chair evokes the sun-drenched memories of 20th-century holidays. Its presence on the list serves as a reminder that design can be a tool for emotional transport, using familiar patterns and colors to bring a sense of summer warmth into the winter months.
As Dezeen Showroom concludes its 2025 roundup, these twelve chairs stand as the “bones” of the modern interior. They represent a year where the industry balanced a reverence for heritage with a bold, almost aggressive pursuit of new materials. Whether through the gleam of steel or the bend of wood, the “12 Chairs of Christmas” prove that after centuries of evolution, the art of sitting is still being perfected.
