- Design Inspo
Top Ten Dorm Chairs to Invest in this Fall
The thrill of living on their own is a perk to look forward to for any college-bound student. The dorm room itself? Not so much. While current global health concerns may postpone some of those dorm room living plans, it’s never too early to imagine transforming those traditionally drab spaces into an inviting space that earns ‘WOW”-factor status.
The most important aspects of a typically spatially-challenged dorm room are the bed and the desk. Having a comfortable and stylish chair to accompany your college desk can make hitting the books a task to look forward to while adding a touch of high-design to help elevate and add a sense of personal style to the space. Here are our editors’ top picks of the best new dorm room chairs on the market to fit every design taste and budget.
For The Future C-Suite Student
To aim big, you need to live big. These desk chairs will prep any dorm room for a future in the boardroom. But buying into these three handsome and comfortable chairs from Design Within Reach takes commitment. Think ‘invest in your future’ as these chairs are built to last but not for the most budget-conscious.
Legendary designers Charles and Ray Eames left behind a design legacy still relevant today. In 1969, they created a collection of soft padded chairs that evolved from their iconic aluminum styles. Today, Design Within Reach offers the styles with an additional 2-inch thick plush leather padding to tap the look with ultimate comfort. An added bonus for today’s eco-conscious student, these chairs are made from 67 percent recyclable materials.
It’s hard to believe this modern beauty is over 25 years old. The gold standard of the ergonomic revolution in the office, these chairs’ DNA were updated to incorporate materials newly-informed by up-to-date science of designs that support sitting postures. It’s fresh, comfortable mesh fabrics and adjustable tilt-seat angle support both leaning forward and reclining. Made in the U.S.A. and with over 7 million chairs sold thus far, the Aeron’s chair usability is a time-tested winner.
Spanish designer Jesús Gasca created the Gas Tank chair in 2012, playing on his last name and referencing light, fluid, and curved lines typically found on a gas tank. This timeless style cradles the body and is void of hard angles or sharp corners to create a smooth and comfortable sitting experience.
Head Spinners
Some of the best chairs out there have a built-in fun factor; they spin. Sometimes a much-needed work break comes in the form of a twirl around the room to give the mind (and body) a quick break. The Rhys Task chair has a playful retro appeal and features a molded bucket seat covered in leather with built-in armrests. The adjustable base makes it easy to adjust the height for optimal sitting, and spinning.
The Alessa Sherpa desk chair from Restoration Hardware Teen imparts a warm and fuzzy feel, literally. Covered in thick plush Sherpa fleece, it’s easy to sink in the comfort of this work-time chair that feels like a dream.
Pottery Barn’s Colusa chair is to chairs what the classic trench coat is to clothing. With a soft oatmeal poly-felt fabric seat mixed with sleekly smooth wood-covered base legs, this chair does business with a soft touch.
Sure And Steady
Not everyone enjoys the potential instability associated with wheelie-chairs. A fixed leg chair can also amp-up the dorm room style with options beyond the standard-issue university furniture fare. The Cato desk chair from Restoration Hardware Teen is a slim yet sturdy option. This chair, made from bent metal tubing, has a seat made from a suspended durable military-style canvas attached with riveted suede-leather braces for a look that is equal parts high utility and high style.
Intended as a dining chair, the Larkin chair from Pottery Barn pulls double-duty as a handsome devil of a desk chair. Covered in a continuous curve of tan leather in the front, and black leather artfully-encasing the chair’s steel frame in the back, this chair imparts a serious sophistication to any dorm room space.
Sometimes minimalism delivers the most significant statement. Meet Williams-Sonoma’s side chair, the Lancaster, whose steely sculpted base paired with tan leather seat, possesses rare distinction as a desk chair. And, in a pinch, this chair offers a storage nook underneath to keep critical books within arms reach.
Body Positivity
Ergonomic seating has become more and more popular since the age of computing became a daily requisite. Sitting for long hours in front of the screen can have adverse effects on our eyes and body. The Gaiam Ultimate Balance Ball chair will be your back’s new best friend. Pulling double duty as both chair and exercise ball, this ergonomic ball chair ups the ante with its wheeled chair base allowing for a healthy dose of mobility. The lockable wheels keep this comfortable chair, steady in place when gliding across your dorm room isn’t an option.
Perhaps the coolest chair to decorate your dorm with is the ErgoStool. This barbell-shaped stool boosts your circulation while strengthening your core and improving posture. While not on wheels, this chair is anything but stationary allowing the user to move around and shift positions thanks to its unique base. Available on Autonomous.com, the ErgoStool may have onlookers wondering, “What is that?” only soon to wonder, “Where can I get that?” And doing good for your body is also painless with these chairs, which each retail for around approximately 100 dollars.
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