4 min readThe next generation of seating is here, and it’s smarter, softer, and more adaptable than ever. After months of scouting the latest launches at High Point, Milan, and beyond, our editors found that the chairs and sofas shaping the future aren’t just beautiful; they’re designed to flex with our lives.
Not all of these seats are available to add to cart just yet, but they show us what the design industry will come to value in the future. Namely, recycled materials, hidden tech, comfort-first details, and modular silhouettes. So many of our favorite showstoppers can fit any space and grow with you over time. Remember IKEA’s lightweight inflatable chair? There are now even more chairs, sofas, and sectionals that are easy to rearrange.
Some are still more concept than everyday purchase, but together they point to where great design is headed next: sustainable, supportive, and endlessly reconfigurable. Below, you’ll find a guide to the seating innovations that wowed us the most, and the furniture brands leading the charge.
Aging in Place Made High-Tech
A Bluetooth-capable armchair? It’s more likely than you think. Sound by Samuelson’s Immersion Sound Chair takes entertainment to the next level. The chair itself can connect to a phone, laptop, or TV from up to 50 feet away, so the sound emanates through it for personal listening. It’s designed for enjoying music or watching your favorite movie in maximum comfort, which is ideal for aging in place.
Seniors with hearing loss can enjoy music or watch their favorite movie without high volume disturbing others. And they can do so in comfort, with seat depth and arm height designed for easy entry. As a bonus, the tapered walnut legs fit right in with any midcentury modern home.
Recliners Turn Smart (and Invisible)
Reclining sectionals are one of the trickiest pieces of furniture to design beautifully. We all want to kick our feet up, but not on bulky, outdated furniture. Natuzzi’s Dwell Sofa finally takes the smart approach, making the reclining mechanism virtually invisible. The headrest folds and curves over the back of the sectional, and the footrests blend in with the channeled upholstery.
If the cushy silhouette looks familiar, know that it was designed by the son of Mario Bellini, the architect of the iconic Camaleonda Sofa.
Pillowy Reading Chairs
Imagine the comfort of a puffy down coat, but year-round. Enter the Ardys Armchair: the pillowy, slightly oversized chair-and-a-half from Cassina. It’s designed for sinking into, and the modular system can be added to over time. It’s the ideal enveloping reading chair, still keeping the room feeling playful and light.
Sag-Proof Couch Cushions
Rarely do a sofa’s back cushions retain the same comfort over years of use. Poltrona Frau has presented the solution with its Blisscape Sofa.
The plush sofa has bendable backrest cushions that never sag. You no longer have to choose between ergonomic support and comfort. You can simply bend each cushion to support your spine as needed. It’s built with an adjustable bayonet mechanism, so no uncomfortable metal frames are poking into your back.
Sustainably Made Seating
The chairs of the future are made from recycled materials, but they still look brand-new. The high-arched Bocht armchair from Jelmer Reus gets its shine from 100 percent recycled waste linoleum. Linoleum is naturally flexible, which allows for the unique curved shape in this chair. Meanwhile, the colorful REmoRE Canelé stools from Revelop combat the over 6,000 tons of fabric waste generated in Korea every year. They’re made from 100 percent recycled PET bottles and waste banner fabric.
Swivel Chairs With an Open Design
Swivel barrel chairs have taken over interiors lately, but they can be pretty bulky additions to your home if you don’t account for them. The market’s newest swivel chairs have lighter frames or pedestal bases that let the light pass through. Visionnaire’s Voluptas swivel armchairs rest on an eye-catching stainless steel base. Meanwhile, Natuzzi’s Baya armchairs are perfect for a sitting room, allowing you to keep up with conversation while resting on the curved, T-shaped frame.
Al Fresco Seating, Uninterrupted
All the seating innovation isn’t just happening indoors. Outdoor sofas are getting a major upgrade, too. Take Poliform’s modular Shore Sofa, which has an uninterrupted handwoven rope frame. True to its name, the silhouette evokes the shape of a seashell. The frame hugs the cushions to create a sturdy armrest that could also function as a cocktail table.
Cradling Chaise Longues
We love the feel of stretching out on a chaise longue, and it has a pretty iconic look. But the newest loungers on the market support like never before. Poliform’s Attimo chair has a curved shape that cradles you from top to toe, with soft leather cushioning. It has a zero-gravity floating shape that emphasizes comfort even in the most minimalist interiors.
