Chair Shopping in Sweden

Last summer, Jess and I went chair shopping. After we moved into our new abode, we decided the upstairs was the proper place for what I like to call "movie central." We had just come from an apartment and did not have much furniture. While we loved to watch movies on the weekend and play the occasional game of Lode Runner on the old Nintendo, it was difficult to enjoy this together because all we had to sit on was the floor or a banana chair left by the previous occupants. We switched off, but mostly I was on the floor and that got quite uncomfortable after about 20 minutes. I had just started a new job and did not have much money to spare. We decided if we got another comfortable chair, we could at least make do until we could afford a couch. I don't want to leave you with the impression that we had no other furniture, just not any to give up for "movie central."

And thus, our quest began. We thought maybe we could get a giant bean bag type chair. After stopping at one store we quickly realized this was not the cost effective solution we were hoping for. So next, we went to the place any price conscious furniture shopper would go: Sweden by way of IKEA.

Sweden is not like America. In fact, it is different. They also make furniture quite differently. It is shaped and colored in ways I would not have thought possible. But then again, I am no furniture designer. We did find a chair we liked, but not at first...

Is this even a chair?

Not the comfort I was hoping for.

Is that a back rest?

Or a hand rest?


The hole would definitely keep snacks from building up.

But there is no place for the other leg.


This chair looks promising.

Two holes for two legs.


Ahhh...the captain's chair?

Onward and upward.


Looks like a play chair.

Just no playing hide and seek behind this chair.


Here is the chair we finally settled on.

Just the larger version.

After our quest we were famished and luckily there were Swedish meatballs cooking upstairs. Those were pretty straight forward.