Varier Actulum home office chair review

Varier Actulum home office chair: 30-second review

The Varier Actulum is a stunning, seemingly simple piece of ergonomic furniture that  combines form and function and offers plenty of flexibility over its use. The chair's striking aesthetic, which has been designed with a moulded ash frame and high-quality fabric seats, immediately highlights that this is something different from your normal office or dining chair. This Scandinavian influence to the design is obvious, matching the form and function that will suit a modern, stylish home, office, or studio.

We've tested out plenty of the best office chairs, but this one is certainly very different. Central to the Actulum's design is the active sitting position, which promotes subtle yet constant movement even when you're seated. Once you're sat in the chair, the pendulum that's comes through the moulding of that frame enables motion so you can tilt forward and backwards, responding naturally to your body's movements. Back in Action, who supplied the chair, highlights that this feature helps to build core muscles and reduces neck and back pain by encouraging this active posture. 

However, initially, users may find the rocking motion and the firmer pads a little disconcerting, especially if you're used to softer, static office chairs. However, the rocking and firm pads are considered design choices and are aimed at providing long-term comfort and health benefits to whoever happens to be using the chair. After just a short time with the chair, you can start to feel the support and, most importantly, a reduction in stiffness and discomfort associated with prolonged sitting.

The Actulum's versatility over where and how it can be used is another advantage, as it has been designed for both office and dining use. 

The frame of the chair is constructed from high-quality beech plywood, treated through an iterative moulding process, and finished with ash veneer; this gives the chair a high quality feel, and there's no doubt that it has been built to last. The use of water-based lacquers should also ensure that the chair stands up to a good amount of wear and tear.

Despite its premium price, the Varier Actulum is a worthwhile investment. The high-quality materials, innovative ergonomic design, and customisable upholstery options do justify the cost when ordering. The chair's ability to offer you better posture, reduce discomfort, and support overall health makes it a great choice.

Varier Actulum home office chair: Price & availability

The Varier Actulum costs £899 and can be purchased in the UK from the Back in Action official website by clicking here. For retailers outside the UK, see the official Varier official site by clicking here. 

• Score: 4/5

Varier Actulum home office chair review: Design & build

There is no denying that the chair reflects a modern Scandinavian aesthetic thanks to its simple lines, bold colour choices, and combination of wood and fabric. The ash wooden frame is available in either natural or black finishes and is moulded to create ergonomic curves that both enhance both the chair's functionality and its tactile appeal. Large, flush bolts contrast against the light ash wood of our review sample, adding to the visual appeal while highlighting the chair's high-quality construction and the fact that the design is serviceable and designed for many years of use. Our review unit featured a striking yellow fabric, offering a vibrant touch to its sophisticated design.

The chair's frame is constructed from high-quality beech plywood treated through an iterative moulding process. This involves combining several layers of plywood, which are then glued together to achieve the chair's sweeping shapes. The plywood is covered with an ash veneer, which is manually sanded and coated with water-based lacquers to give it a durable finish, which is available in either natural ash or black ash.

One notable design feature that you would usually expect on an office chair is the absence of armrests. Instead, the ash frame sweeps back slightly, which is designed to aid both standing and moving the chair while seated. This design choice may initially seem unconventional, but actually the absence of armrests quickly becomes a non-issue.

One of the big features of the chair and something that is generally only possible with items of furniture in this price range is the huge range of fabric options. Our review model came with the bright yellow Revive fabric, which is the standard material for these chairs and is available in a range of colours. The Revive fabric is 100% recycled polyester and is both hard-wearing as well as being soft on the skin. Other fabric options are available, such as wool blends and eco-friendly polyester blends, which can be better suited for different environments and workspaces; they also come at an additional cost.

Despite its lightweight design, the Varier Actulum is exceptionally sturdy. The chair easily supports the weight of a 13-stone (approximately 83 kg) individual, with a maximum payload of 110 kg (about 17 stone). The high-quality fabrics used on the chair are also extremely durable, and you can choose and adapt these materials to better suit your specific needs when ordering the chair; essentially, this chair is an investment and designed to last for years.

One last and interesting highlight of the design is the hard rubber damper placed between the backrest and frame; this is designed to absorb impact when you sit down. This small detail enhances the overall comfort and durability of the chair, and shows just how much engineering as well as asthetic design has gone into the creation of the design.

• Design & build: 5/5

Varier Actulum home office chair: Features

A pendulum movement is at the heart of the Actulum's design, and this enables the chair to tilt forward and backward, essentially responding naturally to your body movements. This dynamic sitting position, rather than the more conventional static, helps to promote continuous micro-movements, which are supposed to be beneficial for building core muscles and reducing neck and back pain. Unlike traditional chairs, the Actulum encourages this active sitting or kneeling posture, which the manufacturer highlights can lead to significant health benefits over time.

The Actulum's flexible backrest is one of its distinctive features. A thin, flexible joint between the backrest and the frame enables the backrest to adapt to various sitting positions as it flexes, enabling the build of the chair to have some flexibility and adapt to you as your body shifts throughout the day. 

There's no doubt that the price of the chair is expensive, which considering the high-quality materials and manufacturing process of the beech plywood frame is no surprise, and this furniture is far from mass produced. This beech plywood material undergoes an iterative moulding process involving heat and pressure, which ensures durability and flexibility a process that takes time. The plywood is then finished with a cover of ash veneer, which is then manually sanded and coated with water-based lacquers, providing a durable finish.

When it comes to ordering, the chair is available in a variety of upholstery options, with the standard option being the Revive fabric, which is a 100% recycled polyester that is hard-wearing. Our review sample arrived in a stunning bright yellow. If you do want something different from the texture and finish of the fabric, then you can select a variety of alternative materials when ordering, such as wool blends and eco-friendly polyester blends.

• Features 5/5

Varier Actulum home office chair: Performance

Sitting on the Varier Actulum for the first time immediately highlights the difference between this chair and a standard office chair. The pendulum motion works with you, allowing the chair to move and tilt in response to your body. This dynamic interaction initially feels a bit disconcerting but is expected, given the chair's unique design. As you lean back, the chair tilts with you, and when you lean forward, it moves to support your new position. This takes a few moments to get used to, but it quickly becomes second nature.

As you continue using the chair, you'll notice the absence of rotation—unlike traditional office chairs. However, the armrests are set back, providing ample space to manoeuvre. The way you twist and move in the chair adapts naturally due to its design, allowing for fluid transitions between different sitting positions. 

During the first few days, you will need to adapt to the Actulum's unique sitting position, and it is an experience. However, once you become accustomed to the chair's dynamics, it will feel natural and far more comfortable than standard office chairs. 

Over a week, the initial awareness of the chair's distinct characteristics fades, and it just becomes a part of everyday working life, essentially somewhere to sit. Unlike traditional office chairs that require constant adjustments for height, tilt, and armrests, the Actulum adapts to your body's natural movements. 

Most office chairs have plenty of adjustment; however, the chair needs more manual adjustments since it's designed to support natural body movements without the need for mechanical alterations. You adjust your seating position through your body's motions, making the chair intuitively comfortable.

This absence of adjustable parts might 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 static position. After a week of working hard, the chair blended into the office environment. As somewhere to sit when working, it was exceptionally comfortable to the point of not really being noticed. The style and design also gave the studio a touch of contemporary style amongst the lighting and backdrops. Still, most noticeably, even without wheels, the design and weight made it easy to manoeuvre.

• Performance: 5/5

Should you buy the Varier Actulum?

The Varier Actulum is ideal if you are a professional or work from a home office and want a chair that helps prioritise ergonomic health and active sitting. It's a perfect choice as a chair that promotes movement and reduces tension during long hours of sitting, and that was certainly apparent through testing this chair over a period of time. 

The chair's flexibility and high-quality build make it suitable for both office and dining use, and the choice of materials means that you can adapt it to use and personalise it to your style. If you value comfort, design, and posture support, this chair is an excellent choice.

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