Knoll Life Chair

The Knoll Life chair is an ergonomic desk chair in the $500 to $1000 price range. With a more modern, sleek look, this chair won three industry awards for design and sustainability.

Life is designed to be adaptable to the individual and the space it occupies. The chair is designed simply, but it would fit in nearly any office setting, reception area, or board room. Knoll touts the chair as one that responds to shifting body weight, so that you are supported whether reclining or seated in an upright position. Designed by Formway Design, the contours of the seat are meant to provide pelvic, lumbar, and shoulder support.

The manufacturers of this chair aimed for simple and intuitive adjustments, a slim silhouette and a green design. The Life chair is made of a minimum 55% recycled content and can contribute to obtaining LEED® credits. More advanced controls automatically adjust to the user’s weight and providing customized ergonomic support. It is also rated Sustainable Gold by the SMaRT© Consensus Sustainable Product Standard.

The Knoll Life chair comes with a 10-year warranty and features the following standard options: synchronized reclining with auto-balanced tension, knit fabric back suspension fabric, a flexible seat with a waterfall edge design, and a seat depth of 4 inches. The chair is designed to self-adjust to the user’s body weight and shape, but also utilizes a knob on the back for fine tuning support. The five star base has a broad reach and can be used as a footrest.

Like most office chairs in its class, Knoll offers add-ons and upgrades for the Life chair. Simple arms that can be adjusted for height are offered along with high performance armrests. The high performance arms allow you to adjust the width between arms and make changes in front or back placement. Another optional feature is adjustable lumbar support. This mechanism is held together using magnets, and you can slide it up or down for more customized support. Finally, aesthetic upgrades include a polished aluminum base and leather upholstered arms and seat.

The Life chair offers several fabric choices and frame finishes from which you can choose.

Here’s what others are saying about the chair:

Pros
• Very comfortable design
• Durable construction
• Simple to adjust

Cons
• Arms are a little wiggly
• Optional features are pricey
• Chair makes some noises when shifting weight or position