Green Willow Boughs William Morris Patterned Occasional Armchair | Mango Wood Frame

William Morris drew Willow Boughs in 1887, and in green it becomes the version he arguably intended — soft olive and sage leaves trailing across a cream cotton ground, the pattern that has hung in English homes for well over a century now upholstering a properly proportioned occasional armchair. It is a piece that looks inherited rather than ordered, which is exactly the point.

Key features

• Authentic Willow Boughs design in a natural green palette that works with warm neutrals, terracotta and bare wood
• Durable cotton upholstery with a soft, natural handle
• Solid mango wood frame and legs, built for genuine longevity rather than a season
• Deep 84cm seat depth with a supportive, upright back — comfortable for a long read, not just for looking at
• Arrives fully assembled: no flat-pack, no tools, no missing allen key

Dimensions

Materials and construction

The frame and legs are cut from solid mango wood — a dense, close-grained hardwood that takes a warm finish and resists the wobble that creeps into softwood frames after a few years of use. Mango is also a genuinely sustainable choice: the trees are harvested at the end of their fruiting life, so the timber is a by-product of orchard farming rather than a reason to clear forest.

The upholstery is a woven cotton, chosen because it holds the fine linework of the Willow Boughs print without the flattening you get on cheaper synthetic weaves. The pattern is placed so the design reads cleanly across the back and seat rather than being cut awkwardly at the seams.

How to style it

Green Willow Boughs is the more forgiving of the two colourways — the sage tones read almost as a neutral from across a room, which means it can sit closer to other patterns than the blue can. It looks particularly good against clay, oatmeal and off-white walls, and picks up beautifully on brass or aged bronze fittings.

Practical placements: a conservatory or garden room where the leaf pattern echoes what is outside the window, a snug beside a woodburner, the corner of a bedroom, or a wide hallway that needs a landing spot. At 81cm wide it slots into spaces a full armchair would overwhelm.

Delivery and care

Dispatched fully assembled and boxed. Spot-clean with a damp cloth and a mild upholstery cleaner; test on a hidden section first. Avoid prolonged direct sunlight, which will fade any natural-fibre upholstery over time. Vacuum on a low setting with a brush attachment to keep the weave lifted.