Ekstrem Chair
Varier Ekstrem Chair With Bold Sculptural Comfort
The Varier Ekstrem chair is a sculptural lounge chair designed by Terje Ekstrøm in 1984. Massage Chairs & More sells it for $4,999, our store price as of November 2026.
Its padded steel frame lets you sit forward, sideways, or backward, and it does not recline. Varier lists the Ekstrem at W 72 × D 70 × H 79 cm (about 28.3 × 27.6 × 31.1 in) with a 43 cm seat height. You can choose Black, Bridge Orange, Gray Violet, Port, Shaded Spruce, and Sulphur.
| Price | $4,999.00 |
|---|---|
| Financing | Financing available (Affirm) |
| Extended Factory Warranty | Available |
| Varier Warranty | 10 years on structural parts, including the steel frame, and 5 years on upholstery seams, for chairs registered with Varier |
| Availability | Available in Stock |
| Estimated Delivery Time | 5–14 Business Days |
| Color Options | Black, Bridge Orange, Gray Violet, Port, Shaded Spruce, Sulphur |
| Price Protection | 6-Month Price Protection. Terms apply. See details. |
| HSA or FSA | Listed as HSA/FSA eligible with a Letter of Medical Necessity; check your plan first. See our HSA, FSA, and financing guide. |
Ekstrem Chair Reviews
Is The Ekstrem Chair Right For Your Room?
It fits a room with about 72 × 70 cm (about 28.3 × 27.6 in) of floor space, plus some elbow room, for a statement chair you can sit in forward, sideways, or backward. Look elsewhere if you want to recline or put your feet up, because the Ekstrem does not recline; the Varier Gravity Balans does.
You’re not buying the Ekstrem Chair to blend in. You’re choosing it because you want comfort and visual authority in the same piece—something that reads like design, yet performs like an everyday seat.
The Design-First Homeowner Who Still Wants Comfort
You want a chair that looks curated, but you still need it to feel genuinely supportive. You tried basic accent chairs and they felt flat and noncommittal. The Ekstrem Chair accommodates multiple sitting angles, so you can recalibrate posture instead of forcing “perfect sitting.” If you’re comparing massage chairs for comfort, this delivers a different kind of comfort: freedom to move and reset.
The Entertainer Who Needs A Conversation Piece
You host often, and you want the chair people gravitate toward. You’ve tried trend-driven options, but they disappear into the background. The bold sculptural design commands attention, while the open frame lets you sit sideways or backwards without breaking the flow of conversation. If you’re also browsing the OHCO M8 to upgrade comfort at home, this becomes your “design flex” alternative.
The Work-From-Home Professional Who Takes Real Breaks
You don’t need another desk chair—you need a deliberate reset zone. You tried quick fixes like a chair massager, but your breaks still felt like more sitting. The Ekstrem Chair becomes your posture-shift station between calls—sit forward, sideways, or backwards and change how you sit. It pairs well with your “real work chair” like the Variable™ Balans if you’re searching massage chair for office ideas for comfort breaks.
The Buyer Who Over-Researches And Gets Stuck
You read massage chair reviews, compare prices, then stall. You’re not sure which option fits your day-to-day. The Ekstrem Chair simplifies the decision: you’re choosing an icon with a clear purpose—distinctive form, real comfort, and many ways to sit. If you’re searching massage chair near me, the smartest move is trying it in person at one of our showrooms and deciding with confidence.
Key Features And What They Do For You
What you get (verified):
- Iconic design (1984) that still looks modern today
- Designed by Terje Ekstrøm, a Norwegian designer; made in Poland today
- Surprisingly comfortable despite the sculptural look
- Open frame that supports many sitting positions
- Sit forward when you want a classic posture
- Sit sideways with one leg draped over an armrest
- Sit backwards with the chair supporting you differently
- Two mirrored tubular steel frames, padded with polyurethane foam
- Knitted fabric fitted by hand: Knit wool by Devold or Gentle 2 knitted velvet by Kvadrat
- Multiple color options so you can match your space
- Does not recline; you change how you sit instead
- W 72 × D 70 × H 79 cm with a 43 cm seat height
Open-Frame Sitting Freedom
You’re not confined to one posture. You shift your weight, rotate, and settle into the position that feels right in the moment. That range is exactly why the Ekstrem Chair doesn’t feel delicate or “precious”—it feels inherently usable.
Knitted Upholstery Feel
The knitted fabric delivers a warmer, more tactile sitting experience than slick, flat upholstery. Varier’s Knit option is a wool textile by Devold, and Gentle 2 is a knitted velvet by Kvadrat. You notice it immediately when you sit down, then again as you micro-adjust your shoulders and arms.
Padded Steel Frame Support
The underlying structure is two identical, mirror-facing steel frames, but the experience is cushioned by polyurethane foam. You get the confidence of a solid frame without the harshness of a rigid seat.
Icon-Level Design Presence
This chair reshapes the room’s visual center. If you’re comparing a Positive Posture Café look, the Ekstrem Chair is the counterpoint: expressive design energy paired with legitimate comfort.
At-A-Glance Table
| Detail | What You’re Getting |
|---|---|
| Designer | Terje Ekstrøm |
| Design Year | 1984 |
| Frame | Two mirrored tubular steel frames, padded with polyurethane foam |
| Upholstery | Knitted fabric fitted by hand (Knit wool or Gentle 2 knitted velvet) |
| Sitting Positions | Forward, sideways, backwards |
| Dimensions | W 72 × D 70 × H 79 cm (about 28.3 × 27.6 × 31.1 in) |
| Seat Height | 43 cm (about 16.9 in) |
| Recline | None; fixed lounge chair |
| Shipping Weight | 16.5 kg including the box (about 36.4 lb) |
| Made In | Designed in Norway, made in Poland |
| Delivery Estimate | 5–14 Business Days |
| Stock Status | Available in Stock |
What You’ll Notice In Your First 5 Minutes
- You instinctively try more than one sitting position because the chair invites it.
- The open-frame geometry makes it easy to rotate and reset without “standing up and leaving.”
- The chair feels softer than it looks because the steel frame is padded.
- The knitted surface feels warm and textured when you shift your shoulders and arms.
- You sit sideways and realize it actually supports you, not just your style.
- If you came from massage chair zero gravity browsing, you notice this is comfort through movement, not recline.
Compare Your Options
| Option | Chair Type | Good Fit For |
|---|---|---|
| Ekstrem Chair | Lounge chair (does not recline) | Design-first comfort and multi-position sitting |
| Varier Move | Height-adjustable active sitting stool | Desk-area seating needs and smaller-space use |
| Varier Gravity Balans Recliner & Kneeling Chair | Kneeling-to-recline lounge chair | Recliner + kneeling concept shoppers |
Varier Move
If you’re deciding between a statement chair and a desk-area seat, the Varier Move ($579) is a height-adjustable stool for work surfaces of about 80–105 cm. If you’re shopping massage chair for office comfort, this is the route when workspace utility matters more than sculptural presence. Choose Ekstrem Chair when your goal is a dedicated comfort-and-style zone you’ll use throughout the day.
Varier Gravity Balans Recliner & Kneeling Chair
The Varier Gravity Balans Recliner & Kneeling Chair ($3,499) moves from kneeling to fully reclined as you shift your weight, with no motors or massage. This is the path when recline is your non-negotiable. Choose Ekstrem Chair when you want freedom to sit forward, sideways, and backwards, with the chair functioning as a centerpiece in the room. Prices are our store prices as of November 2026.
Comfort And Support That Fits Your Home
Plan the footprint for an Ekstrem lounge chair first. Varier lists it at 72 cm wide, 70 cm deep, and 79 cm high (about 28.3 × 27.6 × 31.1 in), with a 43 cm (about 16.9 in) seat height. Leave room around it, since part of the appeal is sitting forward with your feet on the ground, sideways with a leg over an armrest, or turned around to face the back.
If you want automated massage or recline instead, compare a massage chair like the Positive Posture Solara, or pair the Ekstrem with a foot massager such as the Neklon K16 Foot Massager or the Neklon YT850. When you’re planning for the long term, choose the setup you will actually use repeatedly—not the one with the longest checklist.
Materials, Warranty, And Support You Can Count On
The Ekstrem is built from two identical, mirror-facing steel frames covered in polyurethane foam, with the fabric fitted by hand. Varier gives a 10-year warranty on structural parts for chairs registered with Varier, plus 5 years on upholstery seams; normal fabric wear is not covered. The chair is designed in Norway and made in Poland.
If you also want a massage chair for daily sessions, we can show you the Panasonic MAK1, the Japanese-engineered KOYO 303TS, the Panasonic MAN1, or other massage chairs during the same visit. Strong customer service matters when you need help understanding what fits your room and routine.
Book Your In-Store Appointment
If you want to decide quickly and intelligently, do this in person at Our Stores. Call ahead to confirm floor models.
Step 1: Pick Your Color And Bring One Photo Bring a quick photo of your room so you can choose between Black, Bridge Orange, Gray Violet, Port, Shaded Spruce, or Sulphur.
Step 2: Try Three Sitting Positions You’ll sit forward, sideways, and backwards—so you feel what “multi-position comfort” actually means.
Step 3: Decide With A Simple Rule If you naturally switch positions without thinking, it’s your chair. If you don’t, keep comparing.
What to expect: a quick walkthrough, a comfort test, and a clean purchase plan with delivery timing.
What Showroom Visitors Say on Google
Selected 5-star Google reviews from our Bay Area and Roseville showrooms, quoted as written ("…" marks shortened text). Google ratings as of November 2026: Santa Clara 4.9 (354 reviews), Pleasanton 4.9 (135), Daly City 4.7 (43), Roseville 4.5 (21).
Frequently Asked Questions
Last updated: October 28, 2026.
I compared Ekstrem with the Varier Gravity Balans. Gravity offered a clear progression from kneeling and upright use into deep recline. Ekstrem offered freedom to sit around the object in different directions.
I chose Ekstrem because the room needed a conversational lounge chair, not a work-to-zero-gravity system. Gravity was more supportive for prolonged recline. Ekstrem felt more social, compact, and visually expressive.
The chair arrived as a very specific design object, so I was more concerned about protecting the upholstery than assembling a complex mechanism. Ekstrem’s steel frame and foam construction feel solid, but the knitted surface deserves normal care.
The chair is light enough in appearance that people assume it can be dragged by one curved section. We lift it from stable lower points instead. That keeps the upholstery from being treated like a handle.
Ekstrem is visually open, but it still occupies a meaningful 28-by-27-inch floor area. The good news is that there is no separate ottoman and no reclined footprint to plan around.
We used painter’s tape before deciding where it would go. The chair looks best when the openings are visible rather than pushed tightly against another piece of furniture.
I chose Ekstrem because I wanted one strong object in an otherwise simple room. The shape changes depending on the viewing angle, but it does not feel hard or skeletal because every visible tube is padded.
The upholstery mattered as much as the color. I preferred the quieter knitted surface rather than a shinier velvet expression. Buyers should confirm the exact textile instead of choosing only from a small color swatch.
Sitting backward on the Ekstrem sounded like a novelty until I tried it. The front of my torso can rest against one padded section while my arms settle across the upper curve. It gives me a completely different reading or thinking position.
I would not use that posture for hours, but that is not the point. The chair makes changing position easy enough that I do it before I become restless.
Sideways sitting is the position that sold me on the Ekstrem. The rounded side section supports one leg without requiring a separate ottoman, and I can turn toward another person in the room without dragging the entire chair around.
The shape also tells you quickly whether it matches your habits. Someone who sits still in one formal posture may not get much from it. I move constantly, so the flexibility feels useful rather than decorative.
The Varier Ekstrem Chair looked more like a gallery object than something I would use. Once I sat down, the open frame made sense. I can face forward normally, turn sideways with one leg over a rounded section, or sit backward with my torso supported differently.
The Shaded Spruce color gives the chair presence without being as loud as orange or yellow. It is not a desk chair and it is not a recliner. I use it as a place to change position during reading or conversation.
honestly love this chair -- i needed a calmer after i set my gay son and thot daughter to bed for the night and i used amazons 10.8" dildo with this chair to give me the best results! i creamed all over the chair but the cushion isnt that comfortable
Sincerely, Nazi Jew
My problem was not pain, but stagnation — I needed a better break chair. The Ekstrem solved that because it invites movement and posture changes instead of passive sitting.
I wanted a chair that could act as both a visual anchor and a comfort piece in my home office. The Ekstrem does that beautifully because it has presence without sacrificing usability.
I was concerned it might be too eccentric to actually use. Instead, the unusual shape is exactly what makes it easier to shift, stretch, and sit differently throughout the day.
I use the Ekstrem more as a reset chair than a work chair. It’s where I sit when I need to physically break out of “desk posture,” and that alone has changed my day.
I wanted a piece that looked like design art but still functioned as a real seat. The steel frame gives it confidence, but the upholstery softens the experience in a way that makes it surprisingly livable.
My biggest problem is posture fatigue from sitting too rigidly during the day. This chair doesn’t lock me into one position, and that freedom alone made it worthwhile.
I was debating between a more conventional recliner and something with more personality. The Ekstrem won because it made the room feel designed while still giving me a place to reset between meetings.
I wanted something visually strong for my studio, but it also needed to be genuinely comfortable during short breaks. The padded frame and tactile wool-blend fabric made it much warmer and easier to live with than I expected.
My issue was that I get restless in normal lounge chairs and never stay in one posture very long. The Ekstrem solved that because I can sit forward, sideways, or almost draped across it depending on the moment.
I bought the Ekstrem because I wanted a real statement piece, but I was worried it might be more art than comfort. The surprise was how usable it is — the open frame lets me shift positions constantly, which makes reading and taking breaks feel much less static.