I Tried It

I Tried It: Womb Chair by Eero Saarinen

75 years later, the Womb has still got its edge

November 5, 2021

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Image may contain: Furniture, Chair, and Armchair

Womb Chair

$4,364

Knoll

Reviewer: Collier Sutter, contributing writer
Model tested: Womb Chair by Eero Saarinen
The details: Eero Saarinen’s 1946 Womb Chair was designed to be the dream seat to curl up in, a response to Florence Knoll’s request that the Finnish-American designer and architect come up with “a chair that was like a basket full of pillows.” But the selling point is in the name—the Womb Chair’s enveloping sculptural shape that, yep, intentionally mimics a womb, made it an instantly recognizable classic of the modernist movement. “It was designed on the theory that a great number of people have never really felt comfortable and secure since they left the womb,” Saarinen once explained. “The chair is an attempt to rectify this maladjustment in our civilization.”

Sit test: Is it comfortable?

Let’s get down to business. Sometimes, a chair is just a chair. But that’s not the case here: This chair is first-class seating all the way. The Womb Chair by Eero Saarinen is eero-gonomic—pardon the pun—with a foam lining around its fiberglass frame offering ultimate comfort and just enough support. It was not designed to be stuffed to the brim with cushions, but has its comfort components in its structure: The organic shapes stem from the designer’s belief that a chair should be flexible to accommodate any type of sitting posture. Plus, the indented armrests sit parallel to the floor and at the perfect height for lounging. Take a seat, and you’ll wonder why all lounge chairs don’t follow suit with said genius armrest placement.

The high-quality wool fabric the chair is upholstered in is also super cozy and the small square back cushion is upholstered in the same fabric. Although the seat and back cushion appear stitched into the body of the chair at first glance, they’re actually movable for easy adjusting. Let it be known, the whole womb concept is very real. Plop down, and you’ll feel safely cocooned into a chair that almost echoes the embrace of a baby’s bassinet and supports many body positions. You can lounge in every way you would dare to and the Womb will have your back: Sprawl out, curl up, extend sideways, or bring out your crisscross applesauce pose.

Is it durable and practical in a modern home?

It’s difficult to find a chair that is both comfortable and durable, but this checked both boxes for me. It should definitely hold up in a home with kids or pets. Most of the fabrics offered for upholstery have a stain-repellent finish, and can be cleaned using water-based cleaning products. Fun fact: Eero and Florence consulted with a boat builder on the original design to develop the Womb using industrial materials like fiberglass and resin, and the legs are made of tubular steel—no delicate stuff here.

Do the photos do this product justice? Was there anything you were surprised to see IRL?

The IRL experience with the product well exceeded what I expected. I was most struck at how snug and homey the rugged-textured fabric was while up close and personal with it—and by how much the chair fit right into my space. I didn’t even need an ottoman, as I couldn’t help but curl up like a pretzel in this angled icon. As I previously mentioned, I was also surprised at the extra elbow room on the indented armrests with enough free space to lay my book down (or live on the edge and put my cocktail there).

Here, the classic Womb Chair blends seamlessly into the dark wood accents of this Brooklyn brownstone.

How much does it cost? Are there payment plans available?

Hopefully you’re sitting down. The Womb Chair starts at $4,300 at Knoll. Payment plans are available through Affirm though, with options including $152 per month for 36 months, and up.

Where can you shop it?

The best places to shop online for a new Womb Chair is at Knoll, where you can snag ready-to-ship Womb chairs or get crafty with your customization. For vintage Womb chairs, you can peruse 1stdibs or Chairish. If you do your homework, eBay and Craigslist are both amazing resources, just look out for copycat models.

What are the upholstery options?

There are 15 different upholstery options to choose from at Knoll ranging from leather and ultra-suede to variations of woven wools. You can also choose between polished chrome gold or black for your frame finish.

What is the lead time for delivery?

If you want a Womb Chair and you don’t want to wait one more minute for it, Knoll offers a quick-ship option of one to two weeks for a Womb Chair upholstered in classic bouclé with polished chrome legs. Otherwise, the lead time for delivery is about 13 weeks for the custom upholstered option of your dreams.

Is this chair suitable for particular decor styles, and if so, which?

This highly functional piece of art can complement any vibe. Be it a pop of delight in a reading nook in a glass house, or subtle camouflage in an all-around neutral (and minimalist) brownstone in Brooklyn. It can fit the bill. We’ve also spotted it in countless celebrity homes and displayed like trophies in the Saarinen-influenced TWA Hotel at JFK. Walk into any of the 512 guest rooms at the retro hotel, and you’ll be greeted by a handsome Womb Chair that’s yours for the night.

Whether you’re a futuristic-modernist or a staunch traditionalist, you can’t deny this chameleon chair’s appeal. It’s clear that Saarinen succeeded in his goal of turning the idea of what an armchair should be on its head: “There seemed to be a need for a large and really comfortable chair to take the place of the old overstuffed chair,” he once said. “Today, more than ever before, we need to relax.” 75 years later, the sentiment remains, and the Womb has still got its edge.