Varier Actulum Home Office Chair: 30 Second Review
specification
Frame material and quality: Made from high quality beech wood with a natural lacquer finish.
Dimensions: Height: 87cm, Width: 51cm, Depth: 56cm
Weight: 8.5kg
Upholstery options and materials: Upholstery is available in a variety of fabric options, including Fame, Revive, Breeze Fusion and leather.
Maximum load: 110kg (approximately 17 stone)
Varier Actulum is an attractive, ergonomic piece of furniture that is simple in appearance, yet where form and function blend effortlessly, offering ample flexibility in how it can be used. Featuring a beautifully molded ash wood frame and a high-quality fabric seat, this chair's striking aesthetic sets it apart from traditional office and dining chairs. This Scandinavian-inspired design not only enhances the visual appeal of any space, but also serves an important functional purpose.
We've tested a lot of the best office chairs, but this one certainly stands out from the rest. Central to the Actulum's design is an active seating posture that encourages subtle but consistent movement. As you sit in the chair, a pendulum movement allows you to lean forwards and backwards, responding naturally to your body's movements. Back in Action, who supplied the chair, claim that this feature encourages an active posture, strengthening your core muscles and helping to reduce neck and back pain.
However, initially, users may find it difficult to get used to the rocking motion and hard padding, especially if they are used to soft, rigid office chairs. However, these design choices are intentional and are intended to provide long-term comfort and health benefits. After just a short time in the chair, you will begin to feel supported and, most importantly, less stiff and uncomfortable from prolonged sitting, which we all experience when working at a computer.
Another big plus is Actulum's versatility. Designed for both office and dining use, it has the flexibility to fit seamlessly into a variety of environments. Whether you're working at your desk or enjoying a meal, the chair provides consistent support and comfort. The natural movements encouraged by the chair not only help you stay focused, but also reduce the physical strain of sitting for long periods of time.
Made from high-quality beech plywood, worked through an iterative moulding process and finished with an ash veneer, this chair feels like it was built to last, with a water-based lacquer ensuring it will stand the test of time.
Despite its high price tag, the Varier Actulum is a worthwhile investment. The high-quality materials, innovative ergonomic design, and range of customizable upholstery options justify the cost when ordering. This chair's features that improve posture, reduce discomfort, and support overall wellness make it an excellent choice.
Varier Actulum Home Office Chair: Price and Availability
(Image courtesy of Alastair Jennings)
The Varier Actulum is priced at £899 and can be purchased in the UK from the official Back in Action website by clicking here , for stockists outside the UK please visit the official Varier website by clicking here
Varier Actulum Home Office Chair Review: Design and Construction
(Image courtesy of Alastair Jennings)
The chair reflects a contemporary Scandinavian aesthetic, featuring clean lines and bold colors where wood and fabric blend seamlessly. Available in a natural or black finish, the ash wood frame is molded with ergonomic curves that enhance both the chair's functionality and tactile feel. Large flat bolts contrast with the light ash wood of our review sample, highlighting the chair's quality construction while enhancing its visual appeal. Our review unit features a striking yellow fabric that gives a vibrant touch to the sleek design.
The chair frame is made from high-quality beech plywood that is treated with an iterative molding process, which combines multiple plywood layers and glues them together to achieve the chair's curvaceous shape. The plywood is covered in an ash veneer, which is hand sanded and coated with a water-based lacquer for a durable finish. This finish is available in natural or black ash, depending on the desired aesthetic.
A notable design feature is the lack of traditional full armrests: instead, the ash frame curves slightly backwards to assist in rising and moving in the chair and support freedom of movement while seated. While this design choice may seem unconventional at first, the lack of armrests quickly becomes a non-issue, as the chair's ergonomic benefits are enhanced by its absence.
Actulum has a wide range of fabric options. Our review model came with bright yellow Revive fabric. This is the standard material for these chairs, and it's available in a wide range of colors. Revive is 100% recycled polyester that's durable and soft to the touch. There are also fabric options available to suit a variety of environments and workspaces, including wool blends and eco-friendly polyester blends. These alternative materials are available in a variety of colors, but typically cost extra.
Despite its relatively lightweight design, the Varier Actulum is extremely sturdy: the chair can comfortably support a weight of 13 stone (approx. 83 kg) and has a maximum load capacity of 110 kg (approx. 17 stone). The high-quality fabrics used are durable and you can choose and tailor these materials to suit your specific needs when ordering your chair.
One interesting feature is the hard rubber damper located between the backrest and frame, designed to absorb shocks when you sit down. This small but important detail improves the chair's overall comfort and durability, ensuring a smoother, more supportive seating experience.
Varier Actulum Home Office Chair: Features
The chair features a pendulum motion, which allows the chair to tilt back and forth and respond naturally to your body movements. This dynamic sitting position promotes continuous micro-movements, strengthens your core muscles and helps reduce neck and back pain. Unlike traditional chairs, Actulum encourages active sitting and kneeling positions, which the manufacturer claims will lead to significant health benefits in the long term.
One of the unique features of the Actulum design is the Flexible Backrest, made possible by a slim, flexible joint between the backrest and the frame, which allows the backrest to adapt to different sitting positions, providing consistent support and comfort as you move throughout the day.
Because the chair is priced high, you can rest assured it's made from high-quality materials, including a frame made from the highest quality beech plywood. This material goes through an iterative molding process with heat and pressure to ensure durability and flexibility. The plywood is then covered in an ash veneer, which is hand sanded and coated with a water-based lacquer for a durable and aesthetically pleasing finish.
This chair is available in a variety of upholstery options, including the standard Revive fabric, which is 100% recycled polyester that's durable and soft to the touch. My review sample arrived in a vibrant yellow color. If you're looking for something different in terms of fabric texture and finish, a variety of alternative materials are available to choose from when ordering, including wool blends and eco-friendly polyester blends.
Its ergonomic design supports a variety of sitting positions, strengthens core muscles and helps improve posture. With a weight capacity of up to 110 kg (approximately 17 stone), Actulum is sturdy, robust and elegant, making it suitable for a wide range of users.
Varier Actulum Home Office Chair: Performance
(Image courtesy of Alastair Jennings)
The first time you sit in the Varier Actulum, you'll immediately notice how different it is from a standard office chair. The pendulum motion engages you, allowing the chair to move and tilt with your body. This dynamic interaction may seem a little disconcerting at first, but it makes sense given the chair's unique design. Lean back and the chair tilts with you; lean forward and the chair moves to support your new posture. It takes some getting used to, but soon it becomes second nature.
As you continue to use the chair, you'll notice that unlike traditional office chairs, it doesn't swivel. However, the armrests are set back to give you plenty of room. The design naturally accommodates the way you twist and move in the chair, allowing for smooth transitions between different sitting positions.
It will take some time for the first few days to get used to the Actulum's unique seating feel, but once you get used to the chair's motion, it will feel natural and much more comfortable than a standard office chair.
After a week, your initial awareness of the chair's unique features will fade and the chair will seamlessly blend into your daily work life. Unlike traditional office chairs that require constant adjustments of height, tilt and armrests, Actulum adapts to your body's natural movements.
Most office chairs come with plenty of adjustments, but they require more manual adjustments because they are designed to support your natural body movements without the need for mechanical changes. By adjusting your seating position to match your body movements, you can intuitively achieve comfort.
The lack of adjustable parts may seem limiting at first, but it contributes to the chair's ergonomic benefits by encouraging continuous movement and reducing the tendency to remain in a stationary position. After a week of hard work, the chair blended in with the office environment. As a place to sit while working, it was surprisingly comfortable and barely noticeable. The style and design gave the studio a contemporary look amid the lighting and background. Yet, what was most noticeable was that even without wheels, the design and weight made it easy to maneuver.
Should I buy Varier Actulum?
The Varier Actulum is perfect for professionals and telecommuters looking for a chair that prioritizes ergonomic health and active seating. It's the perfect choice for a chair that encourages movement and reduces tension during long periods of sitting, and after testing this chair for a period of time, this was clearly evident.
This chair's flexibility and high-quality construction means it can be used in the office or dining room, and its materials options mean you can adapt it to suit your needs and customize it to suit your style. If comfort, design and posture support are important to you, this chair is the perfect choice.
Swipe to scroll horizontally. row 0 – cell 0 row 0 – cell 1 row 0 – cell 2 Value An ergonomic investment, worth the cost. 4Design Sleek, modern, flexible. 5Features Innovative, supportive, versatile. 5Performance Comfortable, dynamic, supportive. 5Total A great ergonomic desk investment 5
(Image courtesy of Alastair Jennings)
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Varier Actulum: Price comparison
