Wingback chairs may sport a classic shape, but they can certainly be upholstered in the wildest of contemporary fabrics, which may be why a 400-year-old design remains as popular today as it ever was.

A wingback chair adds gravitas. In The Matrix (1999), when Morpheus and Neo sit down to discuss the nature of the matrix itself, they sit in red leather wingback chairs.

Nailheads: This detail was once synonymous with Grandpa's wingback chair. Now nailheads are glam, stylishly studding upholstered furniture, even creating patterns on the backs and edges.