We often underestimate the importance of a great chair. When in reality we really shouldn’t. We spend the majority of our day sitting on chairs, whether we’re working in our home office, enjoying a meal, or simply sitting and reading a book for leisure! Hence, this piece of furniture needs to be not only comfortable but ergonomic, and aesthetic as well. And we’ve curated a collection of chair designs that meet all these criteria! From a minimalist wooden armchair that doubles up as a desk to an armchair inspired by the huge mooring ropes used for ships – these innovative chair designs are not only a boon to your back, and help you maintain a healthy posture, but are also super comfy to sink into, and will perfectly match the interiors of your modern homes.
1. The Flow Single Sofa
SUNRUI designed this rather minimal and chic-looking armchair as a part of the FLOW Collection. As the name of the collection hints, the armchair is called the Flow Single Sofa. If you look closely at the chair, it quite literally looks like a Queen’s Chair.
Why is it noteworthy?
The sofa has a rather bulky and space-consuming form, although its structure has been designed quite elegantly and smartly, which somehow downplays the stoicness of the sofa. What also imparts the single sofa with sophisticated air are its spiral armrests. The spiral armrests add an interesting and artistic element to the sofa, and also quite amusingly resemble the Ionic Order. The Ionic Order is one of the orders of classic architecture. It is defined by twin volutes or spiral scrolls, such as the ones we can see in the Flow Sofa.
What we like
- Meets the needs of humans and pets alike
- Creates a shared space, where the owner and cat, can spend some quality time together
What we dislike
- It’s still a concept!
- If your pet pees or poops inside the armrests, it could be difficult to clean up
2. The Knitty Chair
Designed by Slovenian designer Nika Zupanc, the Knitty Chair is a bulky and chonky armchair that takes inspiration from the large mooring ropes for ships.
Why is it noteworthy?
The huge armchair features a chunky basket-weave design that mimics a knotted rope. The chair has been upholstered in a knitted fabric that features a quilted diamond pattern and is available in 15 different colors.
What we like
- A visually interesting armchair that has been layered with depths of personality and character
What we dislike
- The Knitty Chair’s aesthetics aren’t for everyone, they’re quite bold, and won’t work for those who prefer a more simpler and minimal style
3. Sharing Joy
Rather aptly titled ‘Sharing Joy’, this award-winning chair comes with a side table for humans to place their books and cups of tea/coffee on, and a crawl space for cats to casually lounge in (complete with a suspended toy for them to play with).
Why is it noteworthy?
What I personally love about Sharing Joy is that it subscribes to a broader vision of what lounging is and who can ‘lounge’. Designed for humans and cats to cozy up in, the chair comes with a hollow, oblong backrest that’s perfectly sized for an adult cat (or a tiny dog) to crawl into and laze around in. Moreover, the idea of having the human and pet lounging together against each other sounds like absolute perfection. 10/10 will give you the happiness hormones.
What we like
- The chair sports a minimalist aesthetic that fits in most contemporary homes
What we dislike
- The little space reserved for your pet doesn’t look too comfy
4. Tailor Armchair
Designed by SUNRIU Design, what makes the Tailor armchair super interesting, and a rather unique design is that it can be used as an armchair and a desk.
Why is it noteworthy?
If you want to use it as an armchair, you can simply rest and place your back on the raised panel or plank of plywood that is placed at the center of the chair. The raised panel is further supported by a vertical curved panel. These panels function as the back support, allowing you to comfortably sit back against the armchair. If you wish to use it as a desk, you can instead use the raised panel as a tabletop, and fit your legs into the blank spaces created by the intersection of the raised panel with the vertical curved panel. So the same panels of plywood that characterize the design as an armchair, also allow it to convert into a desk!
What we like
- Doubles up as an armchair and a desk
- Equipped with storage space
What we dislike
- It’s not a real product yet, still a concept!
5. The Nodding Chair
As someone who loves to read, and read for long periods of time, I know that wooden chairs are the least comfortable ones to sit on while finishing a good book. And I’ve also tried to read while on a regular rocking chair and that made me dizzy since the constant big movements are a bit too much for my poor eyes. But staying put in a chair can still be uncomfortable and you need some type of motion while you’re reading. This product concept seems to be the perfect one for bookworms like me.
Why is it noteworthy?
While rocking chairs are good for relaxation, they’re not always good for floors and if you’re like me, for our eyes and peace of mind. The designer thought of a new way to have a chair that can be comfortable and still let your body have its range of natural motion while reading, resting, or even writing (if you’re used to that). The Nodding Chair can be tilted forward and backward, letting you make smaller movements that won’t make you too nauseous.
What we like
- Creates less pressure on the floor so you won’t get marks and scratches
- Allows the chair to move with you as you occasionally change positions while reading
What we dislike
- The seat itself doesn’t seem to be that comfortable as it’s just plain wood and there’s no cushion
