Varier Furniture

Varier Furniture is the Oslo company behind the Variable kneeling chair and a range of other chairs built around movement. Its own one-line description, repeated at the foot of every page, is that "Varier is a furniture company based in Oslo, Norway. We make out-of-the-ordinary furniture that balances form and function, inviting you to move while you sit." The homepage headline is "Rethink sitting," and the chair overview page opens with the brand's motto, "The next position is always the best."

The designer at the center of the brand is Peter Opsvik. The Why movement page says that throughout his career, Opsvik "has attempted to overcome our stereotypical sitting habits with his unconventional seating solutions," and that his work shows "how norms of sitting nicely and sitting still can be broken." Varier states that his philosophy "has been and will always remain at the core of our beliefs." For a buyer, that matters because nearly every chair in the range, from the kneeling models to the lounge pieces, is built around the same idea: the chair should move with the person rather than hold them still.

The argument for movement

Varier sets out its reasoning on the Why movement page, and the claims there are the company's own. It opens with "The human body is meant to move," and says the company believes "small steps can have a big impact on how healthy we feel." Under the heading "Made to move," it says muscles "are designed for dynamic use and are not well adapted to static strain," that keeping still soon brings discomfort, and that engaging the muscles "is actually less tiring and more natural for us." It goes on to say that discomfort is the body's signal that some basic needs are not being met, and names inadequate blood circulation as one possible reason.

From there Varier argues against the idea of a single correct posture. "Having held any posture for a while, the best posture is always the next one," the page says. "Even the most 'correct' way of sitting becomes uncomfortable after a while." Under "A passive present," it points to long seated stretches at work, on commutes and in front of the television, and proposes that "one solution, beyond reducing our sitting time, is to incorporate movement and vary our postures while seated." It is careful to add that "ergonomics is not a medical approach," and describes the aim instead as "placing the human body at the centre of design." The same page says the chairs are "made for the home, designed to enhance your sense of well-being and accommodate your body." These are brand statements; Varier does not cite a study for them on this page.

The page also describes how the chairs deliver that movement. "From subtle tilting to rocking," it says, "our chairs are designed to encourage a variety of positions, ensuring a sitting experience that is never static."

Kneeling chairs

The chair overview sorts the range by use: Sit-Stand, Kneeling, Dine and Lounge. The kneeling family has three models. The Variable is sold in upholstery such as Technicolour, Re-Wool and Tonal, and the Variable Plus in Hallingdal and Tonal. Both also come as Monochrome versions, listed in shades One 7026, One 4503, One 4028, One 7029 and One 6515, several of them marked in stock. The Thatsit is the third kneeling model, offered in Tonal and Ultra fabrics.

The homepage has a guide titled "Which kneeling chair is right for you?" It says the Variable, Variable Plus and Thatsit "are all supreme work chairs ideal for the home office," that all three "are intended for use by standard height tables," and that each allows the sitter "to vary between the kneeling position and more traditional postures." A second article notes that a kneeling chair is an eye-catching piece of furniture, asks "but is it actually good for you?" and promises to explain the key features and benefits.

Other movement chairs

The Actulum appears in Tonal fabrics, and the Move is offered in Tonal, Ultra and Vidar. A Move Compact and a Move with wheels are listed as separate models, the latter in Tonal, Vidar and Ultra. The Ekstrem is shown in Knit upholstery in shades named Sand, Umber, Pool and Olive.

On the lounge side, the Why movement page introduces the Gravity under "Sitting made levitational," saying sitting "can be expansive, liberating, levitational even." The Wing and the Multi sit alongside it, and the Social comes in Blue, Cream, Onyx Black and Red, all marked in stock. The Peel and Peel Club, and the Kokon and Kokon Club, round out the lounge side; several of these are tagged "New." Most models carry a Customize link on the overview page, which suggests fabric and color can be chosen per chair; the Ekstrem and the Variable Monochrome show an Explore link instead.

Fabrics and samples

Varier names its upholstery collections throughout the range: Hallingdal, Re-Wool, Tonal, Ultra, Melange Nap, Technicolour, DUNES, Knit, Vidar and Select, each with a numbered shade. DUNES shades carry names such as Dark Brown, Rust and Camel. For anyone unsure about a color, the homepage offers fabric samples by post. It says buyers "will receive a sample package including a discount code equal to the sample cost of up to three samples, which can be used when purchasing your chair." In other words, the samples cost nothing in the end if a chair follows.

Stories

The site runs a Stories section alongside the shop. The current homepage feature, "Small habits, lasting change," is an interview with Fredrik Fernando Austad, described as an Oslo-based breathwork therapist and meditation teacher, about finding calm in everyday life. It fits the brand's broader message that wellbeing comes from small daily habits rather than a single fix.

Who it suits

Varier suits a buyer who already likes the idea of a kneeling chair and wants the designs that grew out of Opsvik's thinking, with a wide choice of fabrics and the option to order samples first. It is a design brand with a clear philosophy, and its main pages spend more time explaining why to sit differently than listing technical figures. The site has a "Need help?" section for questions about a specific model.