What is the Transformer Table Chair?
First, I noticed they have a Transformer Chair 4.0 now, and I think the only difference between them are the color choices. The build, and quality should be the same with varying types of solid wood. I’ll reach out to the team and have a definitive answer in another post that I’ll link here when I get the details.
The Transformer Chair does not transform or have moving parts. The designers have made the chair stackable for space-saving purposes and intended it to pair well with the Transformer Table. I have the Transformer Table, was looking for chairs to match them for a very long time (before they were available), and finally, they came out with the Transformer Chairs. Unfortunately they were really expensive at first, but I found them cheaper elsewhere and managed to get my hands on 4 sets!
I now have 8 chairs and it has been over a year of using them everyday, read on for my honest review and find out if I would buy them again.
Chair dimensions and additional details
- Backrest Height: 12”
- Seat Height: 18”
- Total Height: 33”
- Width: 17”
- Seat Depth: 17 ¾”
- Frame Depth: 22”
- Weight capacity: 7.9 kg / 17.4 lbs
- The Transformer Chairs™ can each seat one person and support up to 400 lbs.
Is it easy to assemble the Transformer Chair?
Unlike the Transformer Table and Bench, these chairs comes unassembled with 2 chairs in one box. The box is compact and can easily fit in the back seat of any car. When you unbox the set of chairs, you’ll find that the packaging is excellent and it includes all the hardware, instructions, and tools needed to assemble the chairs.
The screws were all sealed in a blister pack-like board and were extremely hard to remove all of the bits, but if you take a blade and cut a slit in on the cardboard backing to remove the screws, it was ok (but not really when you have to assemble 4-8 chairs!).
Moving on to the assembly process, I’ll be honest, it took a long time, but the instructions were easy to follow. I’ve built many IKEA furniture before, and this was not too different from that, loads of screws and washers. Part of the instructions mentioned to only screw 80% tightness, but I found that it left the chairs wobbly, so I tightened them 100% (maybe I shouldn’t have?). It felt overwhelming, but I managed to get it done, and I believe you can too.
Is the Transformer Chair comfortable?
I’m 5’0, the chair is extremely comfortable for me. I do not sit with my feet flat on the floor, but the height is perfect when paired with the Transformer Table. I’m about 130 lbs and the density of the foam is perfect for me. After sitting for a long time on the chair, I have no problems and do not feel tired. I would say it is really comfortable for someone up to 5’10 or 11. My husband however, he is 6’3″ and weighs 230 lbs, he does not look like he is comfortable on the seat not does it look like he fits on the seat.
Testing various heights and weights, I confirm that if you’re like my husband, the chair’s back is too low, the seat too small, and the dense foam not dense enough, leading to discomfort after 10 minutes. Whereas if you’re someone like me, it is perfect!
Is the Transformer Chair durable?
Manufacturers make the chair out of solid pieces of wood (very nice, heavy, and well-finished) and make the seat from a cushion wrapped in polyester. According to their site, they use 100% polyester fabric to make it 100% waterproof. Moreover, they use high-density foam for the padding on both the backrest and seat for ultimate comfort. They designed the Transformer Chairs for ergonomics, comfort, and a sleek look to match the Transformer Table.
Are the Transformer Chairs sturdy?
Overtime, the 4 screws holding the back rest to the seat became very loose and required retightening after approximately 3 weeks. Occasionally, they’d loosen again, so I added thread locker to the screws, solving the issue.
How did I tighten the screws on the Transformer Chair?
- Remove the plastic caps from screws
- Place the chair somewhere where it is easily to access the screws
- Work with one screw at a time
- Remove one screw and do not lose the washer
- Apply thread locker to the bottom of the screw
- Insert screw back in and screw tight
- Place plastic cap to cover screws again
- Repeat for all remaining screws
Note that the screws came with some sort of thread locker, but whatever the manufacturer did, it was clearly not sufficient. You can find the thread locker from Permatex I bought here but there are other popular brands available such as Loctite.
Are the Transformer chairs stain resistant and how to I maintain it?
I was worried about white seats staining, but I shouldn’t have been. After a year of heavy use, the seats are still white and they are super easy to clean up a spill. I spilt pasta sauce on it once, and it was really easy to wipe it off with some water.
While the fabric is pretty stain resistant, the fabric pilled over time. I had to pluck the pill off from time to time and often use a lint roller and pill shaver to keep the fabric looking clean and new. I buy the very affordable IKEA lint roller and refills specifically for these seats, it is much needed.
In the image below, the pilling isn’t too bad, but it was worse in winter with fuzzier clothing. This is an example of how the fabric could get over time.
Pros and Cons of the Transformer Chair
| Parameter | Pros | Cons |
| Sustainability | Not confirmed, but from a blog post, for every table they make, they plant 10 trees. I’m sure these trees will be used for more furniture in the future, but for now, its a good effort. (I’m not sure how many trees it take to make one table). | On sustainability: I found a blog post indicating that that are FSC certified, but when I checked the FSC search tool, I could not find them. I also tried searching for them in the PEFC database and could not find them. |
| Comfortability | Perfect for small to medium sized individuals, great back rest height, ergonomic seating position, dense cushion and does not hurt your back when sitting in for long periods of time. | If you’re on the bigger/larger side (height and weight), this chair is not for you. The seat will be too small, it’ll feel like you’ll fall off and your body will be tired over time. |
| Durability | The wood material is nice and solid. The fabric is water resistant and is easy to clean. | The chair requires thread locker paste because the seat gets wobbly overtime, potential uneven legs when assembling, fabric pills over time and lint adheres to the fabric easily. |
| Appearance | Beautiful color and finish. | Nothing to complain about! |
| Cost | Affordable midcentury modern chair | Only affordable if you buy it away from their site (go to Costco!). Massive price discrepancy. |
| Functionality | Stackable (up to 4 chairs) | It works! No complaints here. |
| Maintenance | The 100% polyester material is nice and easy to clean. The wood can be wiped down easily with warm water. | The fabric pills often and requires a fabric shaver and dust and other particles stick to the fabric easily. I would suggest a lint roller on hand to clean the fabric on a weekly basis. This is definitely not pet-friendly. |
| Customer service | Quick response and easy to get a hold of. | Found some reviews on poor customer service related to late shipment and delivery for countries other than Canada. |
What are other customer reviews and ratings?
There are mixed reviews on the Transformer Chairs, many agree with the attractive modern look, nice materials and stain-proof fabric. Many reviews mention the same issue I had: a wobbly chair over time.
Depending on your height and weight, the reviews vary; the chair is not a one-size-fits-all item! Others mentioned that the wood of the chair’s legs split and required replacement. Some reviews mention wobbly chairs due to uneven legs. I personally did not experience that and I have 8 chairs that I built myself.
How much does the Transformer Chair cost and where can I buy it?
Today, the Transformer Chair costs $320 per chair, whereas Costco sells a pair for $329, making it about $165 per chair! Purchasing the chairs from Costco is definitely cost-saving; it is close to half the cost.
Final thoughts
If found for a good price, the chair is well worth the price. Would I buy the chairs again? Absolutely! The Transformer chairs requires some maintenance, however, the price is unbeatable for the style of chair. I would recommend the chairs.
