Togo Chairs: What They Are and Why the Design Still Reigns
A Togo chair is a low, armless lounge chair made almost entirely of foam, covered in deep horizontal pleats, with no frame and no legs. It was designed by the French designer Michel Ducaroy and launched in 1973. More than 50 years later it is still in production, and its slouchy, sink-in shape remains one of the most recognisable silhouettes in modern furniture.
Key takeaways
- The Togo has no frame or legs: shaped foam and a pleated cover do all the work.
- It was designed by Michel Ducaroy in 1973 and is still made today.
- It is very comfortable for lounging, but the low seat is not for everyone.
- It is part of a modular family that includes sofas, corner pieces and an ottoman.
- Togo-style pieces recreate the look at a lower price, but they are not made by the original maker.
What is a Togo chair?
The Togo chair is the single-seat piece of the Togo family. It sits close to the floor, has no arms rising above the seat, and is covered in deep, rolling pleats. Some people call it the Togo fireside chair or Togo armchair, although it has no arms in the traditional sense.
What makes it unusual is what is missing. Most chairs are built around a wooden or metal frame with springs and cushions. The Togo is made from shaped foam, and the pleated cover is sewn to fit it closely. The result is a chair that feels soft and enveloping, and looks almost sculptural.
A short history of the Togo
The Togo was designed by Michel Ducaroy and launched in 1973. It came out of a decade that was moving away from formal, upright living rooms towards low, relaxed seating for lounging, talking and listening to music.
Ducaroy's design is often described as looking like a tube of toothpaste folded back on itself, which captures its rolled, crumpled shape. At the time, an all-foam seat with no structure and no legs was a radical idea. It caught on quickly, and the Togo has stayed in production ever since, becoming one of the best-known furniture designs of the 1970s.
What makes the Togo design so recognisable?
No frame and no legs
Everything you see is foam and fabric. There is no hidden frame, which is why the Togo sits so low and looks so soft. It is also why Togo-style pieces arrive in one piece, with nothing to assemble.
Deep, rolling pleats
The horizontal pleats are the signature of the design. They follow the curves of the foam and give the chair its crumpled, relaxed look. Well-made pleats are even and deep across the whole piece.
A low, laid-back seat
The seat sits close to the floor, and the back leans well back. That posture is what makes the Togo feel so relaxing to sink into.
A modular family
The chair is one piece of a wider range. Alongside the single seat there are sofas, a corner piece and an ottoman, designed to sit together or apart. This is why the Togo works in small flats as well as large, open-plan rooms.
Are Togo chairs comfortable?
Yes, for lounging. The foam moulds around you, and the low, reclined position is ideal for reading, watching TV or relaxing. Many people find it one of the most comfortable chairs they have sat in.
It is less suited to sitting upright for long periods, such as working at a desk or eating. The low seat can also be harder to get up from, which matters for older people or anyone with knee or back problems. If that applies to you, try sitting low (for example on floor cushions) for a few minutes before you buy.
Who a Togo chair suits, and who it doesn't
A good fit if you:
- Want a relaxed, low chair for reading, lounging or watching TV
- Like retro, mid-century, boho or relaxed modern interiors
- Need flexible seating that can grow from one chair to a full set
- Have a small room and want seating that keeps sightlines open
Think twice if you:
- Need a chair for upright sitting, such as working or dining
- Find low seats hard to get in and out of
- Prefer a firm, structured chair with arms and back support
If you want a lounge chair with more upright support and arms, compare it with another mid-century icon in our guide to the Togo chair vs the Womb chair.
Original Togo vs Togo-style chairs
An original Togo is made by the original maker and sold through its authorised retailers, usually with the maker's label and warranty. Togo-style chairs, also called dupes or replicas, recreate the look and the all-foam construction, made by other furniture makers at a lower price.
When comparing Togo-style pieces, look for an all-foam build with no frame, a low seat, and deep, evenly sewn pleats. Our guide to the best Togo chair and sofa dupes explains what to check.
Mobelaris makes Togo-style pieces under the name Comfort Style. They are made in the style of the original, and they are not made by, or affiliated with, the original designer or manufacturer. The single-seat Comfort Style Lounge Sofa measures 89 x 101 x 70 cm, with a seat height of about 38 cm.
How to style a Togo chair
- In a living room: pair one or two chairs with a low coffee table and a large textured rug.
- In a reading corner: add a floor lamp and a small side table beside a single chair.
- In a bedroom: place it by a window with a throw and a cushion.
- In open-plan spaces: use chairs and a sofa together to mark out a lounge zone.
Because the Togo sits so low, balance it with something tall nearby, such as a lamp, plant or artwork. For more ideas, read how to style a Togo-style sofa.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Togo chair made of?
A Togo chair is made almost entirely of shaped foam, covered in a closely fitted, pleated fabric. It has no wooden or metal frame, no springs and no legs. That all-foam construction is what makes it so soft and low, and why it arrives in one piece.
Who designed the Togo chair?
The Togo was designed by the French designer Michel Ducaroy and launched in 1973. It became one of the defining furniture designs of the 1970s and is still in production today, more than 50 years later.
Why are original Togo chairs so expensive?
Original Togo chairs carry the cost of the original maker's materials, craftsmanship, brand and warranty, and they are often sold through premium retailers. Togo-style chairs recreate the shape and all-foam build at a lower price, without the original name.
Is a Togo chair good for small spaces?
Yes. A single Togo-style chair takes up about as much floor as a large armchair, and its low profile keeps sightlines open, so a small room feels less crowded. The Mobelaris single-seat Lounge Sofa is 89 cm wide and about 101 cm deep.
How do you clean a Togo chair?
Vacuum regularly with a soft brush, paying attention to the pleats where dust collects. Blot spills straight away and spot-clean with a mild detergent and a damp cloth, testing a hidden area first. There are no loose cushions to turn, so cleaning is mostly about the cover.
Why the Togo still reigns
The Togo has lasted because it does one thing brilliantly: it makes sitting down feel like sinking in. With no frame, no legs and nothing to assemble, it is as simple as furniture gets, and it still looks fresh in modern, retro and relaxed interiors alike.
If you love the look, browse the Togo-style collection at Mobelaris, from the single-seat Lounge Sofa to sofas, corners and ottomans.