Scandinavian design has become increasingly popular in the last few decades. People are drawn to the minimalistic design, breezy decor, and clear lines and borders. When decorating in the style, you may not be sure what kind of furniture will fit in.
When looking for sleek furniture that still offers maximum comfort, look no farther than Fjords furniture. Founded by the Hjellegjarde brothers, Fjords has been in the furniture business since 1941. They’ve perfected the art of creating comfortable, beautiful furniture pieces.
Fjords offer furniture to fit any lifestyle and budget. If you want to start filling your home with these unique Norwegian pieces, read on to find out how to pick the perfect piece. You’re ready to utilize all that Scandinavian design has to offer.
The Basics of Scandinavian Design
Scandinavian design encompasses much more than trendy IKEA shelving. There’s a distinct aesthetic to Scandinavian design that’s appealing to many people.
In its essence, Scandinavian interior design is based around minimalism and clutter-free living spaces. Interiors in this aesthetic use natural, earthy colors against white and cream. Blonde wood and exposed brick are staples.
Since being introduced to the Western world at large, Scandinavian design has remained popular to this day. It’s currently having a resurgence thanks to the new minimalist movement, and the popularity of “hygge” and the Kon Marie method.
This style started to become more popular around the globe in the 1950s, as people longed for attractive, modular furniture that still functioned well. The Scandinavian design relied on three main principles: simplicity, beauty, and modernism.
No brand encapsulates this better than Fjords.
History of Fjords Hjellegjerde Furniture
This furniture line has strong connections to its homeland. Fjords Hjellegarde takes inspiration from the environment and nature; not what’s trending.
Fjords Hjellegjerde has been in business for over eighty years. Founded in 1941, Fjords has been a brand focused on comfort and simplicity since its inception. Fjords is a family-run company that has always sought to create stunning, comfortable pieces,
In Sykkylven, a fjord community in Norway, Otto, and Mindor Hjellegjerde began constructing furniture in the cellar of their home. Their goal was to create a line of furniture that did not sacrifice comfort for beauty, and sell to their neighbors and friends. The company quickly gained popularity, and sales were great from the beginning.
By 1946, a third Hjellegjerde brother, Ingvald, joined the team as they moved out of the cellar. They named their furniture brand “Hjellegjarde”, and began selling to other members of their community. This is where they really began to refine their goal for the brand.
Since then, the company has expanded to selling on four different continents. They own several state-of-the-art furniture factories and rebranded as “Fjord” in 2006 to appeal to an international market. However, care and quality have never disappeared from their work.
The Nordic Inspiration
The Hjellegjerde brothers took their inspiration from the beauty of Norwegian nature. This mindset guides Fjords as a brand: everything inside is inspired by the outside.
The modern Fjords company draws inspiration from the lightness and darkness present in nature. Especially in Norway, a region that boasts both mountains and coasts, the balance of dark and light is vital.
Therefore, Fjords furniture balances the dark, such as leather materials, and sturdy construction, with light: intensely comfortable furniture with ergonomic design. Their furniture is pleasant to look at, without sacrificing craftsmanship.
Another unique feature of Fjords furniture is the customization factor. They offer multiple bases for most of their chairs and recliners, so you can create your perfect seat. Their furniture also comes in a variety of fabrics and finishes to match your home.
Finally, Fjords goes the extra mile when it comes to comfort. The Active Release System in their recliners gives active neck support—something often overlooked in furniture design. They also combine cold-molded foam with traditional springs to give optimal support.
The Importance of Ergonomic Furniture
What’s the point of having a gorgeous interior if all the furniture makes you uncomfortable? The biggest strength of furniture designed in the Scandinavian method is that it’s meant to be used. The Hjellegjarde brothers understood that the best furniture must not only look good, but you must also feel good while using it.
Using uncomfortable or unsupportive furniture can lead to a host of issues. Without proper lumbar and back support, you can experience chronic pain, lethargy, and migraines. It’s important to invest in furniture that guides you into the proper position.
If you’re one of the millions of people now working from home, choosing ergonomic furniture is more important than ever. Even your comfy sofa should properly support your spine! This is where Fjords furniture comes in.
Fjords Hjellegjerde: A Buyer’s Guide
Alright, so you’re thoroughly impressed with the history of Fjord furniture. But how do you know which pieces are right for you? All furniture produced by Fjord is top-notch, but some are suited to better purposes than others.
Luckily, we’ve compiled a shortlist of all our favorite Fjord pieces. These recliners, chairs, and sofas will look good in any home and will support your back perfectly. Read on to see our recommendations.
1. Minimalist Beauty: Atlantis Recliner
The Atlantis Recliner is a work of great engineering. This recliner is reduced to perfect function, with a plush seat and a well-placed headrest. It’s reminiscent of the American mid-century modern style, while its visible seams add a rustic touch.
The Atlantis recliner is available in black and brown leather. It’s a rocking chair, and you can choose either a motorized or mechanical recliner. This allows for a good amount of customization; you’ll be getting a chair you truly love.
The Atlantis is perfect in any setting. Its demure color palette and attractive design make it the perfect choice for any room. From the living room to a home office, the recliner will look right at home.
2. Style and Function: Wall Saver Series
One of the most unique features of Fjords’ reclining sofa series is the Wall-Saver feature. This technically isn’t a piece of furniture itself, but a feature available on one line of sofas. However, we’re so impressed by this intuitive mechanism that we’ve chosen to spotlight it.
The Wall Saver is a feature on Fjords’ motorized reclining sofas. In order to prevent any scuffing or sudden bumps, the wall-saver keeps a distance between the sofa and the wall.
This way, you can keep your sofa closer to the wall without worrying about damaging the fabric or the paint. Fjords have truly thought of everything.
3. Ergonomic Design: Hans Recliner
This recliner is as comfortable as it is impressive. The Hans’s plush design is pillow-soft, allowing you to really sink in after a long day. This contemporary easy chair has a 360-degree swivel and unique molded armrests.
You have a lot of options when looking to buy this chair. It comes with a standard brown base, but you can choose between two sizes to maximize your experience.
The Hans is a great centerpiece recliner. If you’re looking for dream-like comfort with a sleek design, this is the perfect piece for you.
4. Modern and Stylish: Axel Recliner
The Axel recliner is another piece reminiscent of the mid-century modern style. The wingback is attractive and intriguing, and it comes in a muted Robin’s egg blue. Axel’s design is contemporary yet timeless.
At first glance, the Axel recliner looks like an average swivel chair. However, the footrest and headrest are both motorized, allowing you to lay back and chill. It even comes with a matching head pillow to offer extra neck support.
This modern chair is great for stylish rooms. It’s simple and understated enough to not take attention away from other design elements, but unique enough to be intriguing.
The Axel is also available in two sizes, medium and large. It does swivel in place, making it an excellent choice for living rooms and home offices. It’s a gorgeous, versatile chair that still offers comfort.
5. Ultimate Comfort: Stockholm Recliner
Once you sit in the Stockholm recliner, you won’t want to get up. This recliner is upholstered in premium leather, and its pillowy-soft seat will allow you to relax completely. If you’re looking for a recliner with a bit of heft to it, Stockholm is a great choice.
This recliner comes in both manual and motorized options. The motorized recliner does sacrifice some swivel: it only rotates 170 degrees, compared to the manual recliner’s 360. Or you can choose a model that forgoes swiveling entirely!
The Stockholm recliner is a glider as well. This chair could work well in a living room or a new nursery. Available in black, brown, and white leather, it will perfectly match any color scheme.
6. Cushy and Roomy: Sydney Recliner
Perfect for a living room or home theater, the Sydney recliner is ready to make its way into your home. Made from soft, sumptuous leather, this relaxer has glide and rock features so you can move with comfort. The chair can also lock in place, allowing you to sit back and not have to move.
Though the Sydney recliner is only available with a black base (standard for Fjords gliders), you can choose between navy and brown leather. Both allow for understated beauty. This relaxer will be perfectly at home in your living room, next to a coordinating ottoman.
The Sydney has a manual reclining feature, allowing you total control over angle and support. This adds an undeniable note of elegance to your sofa. The chair also swivels 360 degrees, so you’ll still have a full range of motion.
This relaxer is the closest to maximalism that Fjords will get. Outfitted in simple brushed leather, its understated elegance will certainly draw eyes. But the lines and construction are still simple enough to make it subtle.
7. Simple Elegance: Nordic Modular Sofa
If you want a sofa that does one job perfectly, the Nordic sofa is your best bet. This three-seat sofa comes with a chaise lounge at one end, allowing you to comfortably recline while still sharing the couch. This sofa has no recliners, just a sleek upholstered base, and plush cushions.
Despite its streamlined construction, the Marie couch is still elegant and luxurious. The cushions are stuffed with feathers and topped with down, allowing for pillowy support. This couch is available with all leather and fabric options provided by Fjord, so you can match it to an accent chair or coordinating recliner.
You can customize the placement of the chaise lounge as well, placing it on either the left or right. You can decide which leg pieces you want, and customize multiple other aspects of this sofa. If you want something moduler and fuss-free, go Nordic!
8. Subtly Cozy: the Finn Recliner
If you want a chair that will look just fine in a home office or at a desk, check out the Finn recliner. This chair is minimalist and utilitarian, but still allows you to sit back and put your feet up at the end of a long day. The base allows for full swivel as well, so you can examine your space from all angles.
The Finn comes in multiple colors of leather offered by Fjords. This way, you can choose a hue that complements your existing color scheme. If you like Fjords design but aren’t sure where to begin, the Finn is a great starter piece.
The customization possibilities of the Finn make it the perfect utilitarian chair. You can create a chair that fits your needs perfectly while still being comfortable. After all, you spend so much time working: why not sit in style and comfort?
Relax in Style With Norwegian Design
We hope this guide to Fjords Hjellegjerde furniture has pointed you towards your new favorite recliner or sofa. If you weren’t already a Scandinavian design enthusiast, you will be after trying a Fjords recliner. See what the Hjellegjarde legacy has to offer!
For more information about Scandinavian furniture and minimalist design, check us out at Stressless European Leather Gallery. We’re experts in classic, timeless furniture. Read through our stressless blog for more!
