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The Best Affordable Eames Lounge Chair Alternatives

Always wanted the Herman Miller classic but couldn’t justify the price? These chairs are for you.

the herman miller eames lounge chair Herman Miller

By Johnny Brayson

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There is no more iconic chair in existence than the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman from Herman Miller. A mainstay in the upscale furniture brand’s catalog since it debuted in 1956, the Eames Lounge remains unmatched in style and prestige nearly 70 years after its debut. It’s the status chair one gets once they’ve “made it,” and its form has inspired innumerable takes from other designers and brands over the years.

But not everyone can get an Eames Lounge. In fact, I’d say most people can’t. The most recognizable configuration of the chair — featuring a palisander rosewood plywood shell with black leather upholstery — retails for $7,895. There are cheaper configurations available, sure, but all of them are going to cost several times more than what the average person is willing or able to spend on a chair. So if you’ve always wanted an Eames Lounge Chair but can’t justify the cost, consider one of the following alternatives.

Products in the Guide

What’s so special about the Eames Lounge Chair?

The Eames Lounge Chair is perhaps the most representative example of the modernist design movement of the mid-twentieth century, or what we today refer to as mid-century modern design. It was designed for Herman Miller, itself a giant of the furniture industry, by husband and wife designer duo Charles and Ray Eames. The Eameses are at the top of any list of the most acclaimed product designers in history, with their Shell Chairs, Aluminum Group Chair, LCW, Wire Chairs, Hang-It-All and other designs all having reached iconic status. But even among the Eameses’ tremendous catalog, the Eames Lounge Chair remains king.

The pair were known for experimenting with new materials, a hallmark of mid-century modernism, and those experiments included bent plywood. Following up on their earlier work in designing the all-wood LCW a decade earlier, the Eamses combined the material with supple leather, ample cushioning and an aluminum base to create a modernized version of the classic English club chair style of the 1800s. The chair quickly became popular among the public and in designer circles, and it’s been a piece of the Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection since 1960. The Eames Lounge Chair is more than just a chair; it’s a work of art, a symbol of a design movement and a timeless symbol of good taste.

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Burrow Vesper Wood & Leather Lounge Chair

Burrow’s Vesper is a unique lounge chair in that it has one foot in the past and another in the present. Its design was inspired not only by the Eames Lounge but also Knoll’s Womb Chair and Carl Hansen & Søn’s Shell Chair, two other mid-century icons. But the chair also adds some very contemporary touches of today, like the black powder-coated base and the nesting design that compactly ships in one box.

The chair is available in a number of finishes, with the most affordable being an all-fabric version, but if you really want to amp up the Eames vibes, go for the option with leather upholstery that shows off the bent plywood shell. And make sure to select the ottoman when purchasing, since it costs extra.

Read our full review of the Burrow Vesper

Article Meklen

Article has no shortage of excellent lounge chairs — the brand’s website lists dozens — but the stylish Meklen is the closest to an Eames in design. Its shape is very reminiscent of the Eames — peep the five-point base and curved armrests — without being a direct copy, and it’s a high-quality piece of furniture in its own right, boasting a solid wood frame, steel base and semi-aniline leather upholstery. It’s also nearly six inches taller than even the Tall version of the Eames Lounge, making it a great pick for taller folks.

West Elm Paulo Bent Ply Leather Chair

West Elm’s Paulo almost looks like an Eames collab that never was, mixing the cushioned, leather-upholstered, plywood-wrapped seat of the Eames Lounge atop the four bent plywood legs of the Eames LCW. The overall look is very sharp and Eames-esque while still doing its own thing, and it’s handmade by artisans.

The Paulo is one of West Elm’s “Contract-Grade” pieces of furniture, meaning it is designed to withstand the more rigorous abuse endured by furniture in commercial spaces. The only thing it’s missing is a matching ottoman.

Apt2B Hadley Recliner and Ottoman

Contrary to popular belief, the Eames Lounge Chair does not recline. Instead, it’s permanently reclined at a fixed 15-degree angle to encourage lounging. So if you’ve always loved the look of an Eames but want a recliner, Apt2B’s Hadley is a great option regardless of price.

The Hadley has a very Eames-inspired look thanks to its large bent birchwood shell and full-aniline leather upholstery (it’s available in black or white), but there’s also a built-in reclining mechanism, making this chair even better for napping than the original. What’s more, it’s very solidly built, as the price would indicate, mixing a solid hardwood frame and a stainless steel base.

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