Seven blow-up chairs that hark back to the 1990s
Following IKEA's launch of the inflatable PS 2026 Easy Chair, we take a look at seven blow-up chair designs that build on the memorable 1990s teen-bedroom furniture fad.
PS 2026 Easy Chair by Mikael Axelsson for IKEA
IKEA hit the headlines during Milan design week with the launch of an inflatable chair that is "trapped within a metal frame".
The chair consists of two inflatable cushions that are inflated by a foot pump. The main seat comprises two separate balloons, allowing the central area to be deflated and made softer if desired, addressing comfort issues associated with inflatable furniture.
Find out more about PS 2026 Easy Chair ›
The Jelly Collection by Jell-O
American brand Jell-O referenced jelly moulds for its collection of blow-up chairs, which are available in red, orange, yellow and green.
The seat is surrounded by a series of curved inflatable modules that form armrests and a backrest. The brand said it launched The Jelly Collection in response to "jelly-inspired" home decor trends popular with Gen-Z and Millennial consumers.
Find out more about The Jelly Collection ›
Milanese design studio Older referenced the 1980s sci-fi Blade Runner for the design of Zhora, a chair with a bent stainless-steel frame and an inflatable PVC cover.
"The chair has an avant-garde expression, and – like the movie it references – pushes our expectations of what 'common' actually means: in this case, a chair," said the studio.
This seat was part of a large, worm-like seating system formed of twisting inflatables that could be connected using zippers.
Designed by Riley Hooker to be easily moved and rearranged, it was finished with a range of pillows and cushions that allow users to sit and engage with it in various ways.
Find out more about Sit(uation) ›
Another recent inflatable seat designed by IKEA was its gaming chair, launched as part of the Brännboll collection.
The low-slung chair challenges the stereotypical "cyberpunk-y" look of gaming furniture and provides users with an easily movable setup.
At the time of its launch, IKEA said it was its first successful inflatable furniture piece, following a failed attempt in the 1990s.
Find out more about Brännboll ›
This weird but wonderful blow-up seat was designed for both lounging and proving dough for bread.
Aptly named Sofa-Bread, it was created as part of a collection that encouraged humans and bacteria to directly engage with the process of food fermentation.
"We were interested in this idea of domesticity, how these objects become like kitchen utensils," said its designer.
Find out more about Sofa-Bread ›
The Holding-Breath Chair by Ray Jiao & Yi Wang
Chinese designers Ray Jiao and Yi Wang developed this blow-up rocking chair to mould to the body of its sitter. It is one of three in the Holding-Breath collection.
The seat uses an inflatable bag filled with foam particles, from which the user can exhaust air upon sitting, encouraging the foam to bind around their back and hips. Air is then pumped back into the chair through its valves to reset it for a new sitter.
Find out more about The Holding-Breath Chair ›
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