Hem Furniture Review: First-Hand Thoughts on Their Sleek Scandinavian Designs

As a lover of contemporary interior design with an appreciation for exceptional craftsmanship and sustainability, I was immediately drawn to Hem Furniture and their impeccably-constructed Scandinavian creations when seeking to furnish my new apartment. From unboxing each shipment to artfully assembling and styling their products in my own space, I want to share my first-hand experiences with the Hem brand including insights on quality, style and overall value across their lounge seating, lighting, rugs and accessories.

Overview of Hem Furniture: Modern Scandinavian Artisans

Headquartered in Stockholm, Hem Furniture was founded in 2014 by Petrus Palmer on the belief superior design should enrich lives. Hem, meaning ‘home’ in Swedish, aptly captures the brand’s goal of outfitting living spaces worldwide with contemporary furniture and decor that balances ingenious design, responsible materials and artisanal construction techniques.

In just under a decade, Hem has earned acclaim within interior design circles for their meticulously sculpted furnishings rendered in sleek shapes from rich natural materials like wool, wood and marble. Today they ship over 300 sustainably crafted products worldwide ranging from iconic chairs and lamps to handwoven rugs and even uniquely minimal kitchen tools.

As an ardent supporter of independent makers and sustainable production methods myself, I was drawn to partner with Hem specifically for their commitment to local European workshops, environmentally-conscious materials and enduring furniture you’re proud to pass down generations.

Below I unpack my hands-on experiences assessing and incorporating several of Hem‘s most popular offerings into my own space.

Unboxing the Hem Hai Lounge Chair: Testing Their Bestselling Seat

As the cornerstone of my new living room, I opted for Hem’s #1 top selling Hai Lounge Chair based on countless glowing reviews praising its ergonomic structure and ultra-plush wool upholstery. Expecting lead times of 6-8 weeks due to personalized European production, I was delighted when this showstopper arrived at my doorstep in just under 3 weeks!

[ photo of lounge chair ]

Carefully wrapped in 100% biodegradable packaging, the lobby chair arrived expertly protected yet required minimal assembly – just firmly attaching the armrests and backing to the powder steel frame according to Hem’s straightforward visual instructions. As someone who has struggled with modular furniture kits in the past, I was amazed by the intuitive yet high-quality construction and easily secured all pieces in under 15 minutes without any hardware frustration.

[ gif demonstrating ease of lounge chair assembly ]

When it came to first impressions, this sculptural lounge seat definitely makes a vibrant visual impact with its slim curved frame upholstered in vivid tangerine wool – my chosen hue for an invigorating pop amongst my more neutral furnishings. I will note the wool has a coarser hand-hewn texture than expected but Hem thoughtfully includes a 1” foam cushion insert making the sit ultra-plush. I’ve spent hours comfortably tucked into the Hai reading and watching TV with no elbow or neck strain thanks to the ergonomic sloped support.

At just under $2100, the Hem Hai Lounge Chair is certainly a significant investment – but one I deem worthwhile based on the unparalleled style and resilient construction that will last lifetimes in ideal care. This showstopper has become my favorite seat in the house and receives nonstop compliments from guests who can’t resist taking it for a test sit!

Style and Substance: Evaluating Hem’s Geometric Lighting

Beyond statement-making seating, I was also looking to elevate my living space with architectural lighting elements choosing to incorporate another Hem signature – the graphic metal-based Alpha Beta Floor Lamp. With its slim triangular base balanced by bold intersecting shade shapes in contrasting hues, this sculptural light emits an eye-catching graphic glow whether illuminated or not.

I opted for the color combo of dusty rose and emerald which paired perfectly with my existing rose velvet sofa and variegated monstera leaves. The matte metallics and rich shade colors reflect beautifully against my ivory walls for the ideal ambient glow. While assembly required a bit more concentration to correctly align the telescopic parts to the wide-stance weighted base, I had the whole sculptural piece put together in under 25 minutes while binge-watching Netflix.

[ gif demonstrating ease of floor lamp assembly ]

When it comes to lighting performance, I appreciate the integrated LED bulb kept my electricity costs reasonable without sacrificing bright, balanced illumination throughout my living room and adjacent dining space. A touch dimmer switch allows modifying the mood lighting as needed. My one gripe is that the glossy powder coat shows fingerprints easily, but this is resolved by simply wearing gloves during assembly then following with a microfiber polish upon installation.

Priced at $849, the Alpha Beta floor model feels like a bargain compared to equivalently sized statement lamps from retailers like Anthropologie or CB2 that lack Hem‘s sculptural silhouettes. Just note the towering 69” frame requires 8’ ceilings so be sure to measure your space beforehand!

Treading New Ground: Styling Hem Area Rugs In Situ

What’s a thoughtfully furnished home without plush rugs you genuinely look forward to digging your toes into? As a tactile person, I was in the market for a high-quality wool area rug to anchor my seating area with welcoming texture and patterns without overwhelming the smaller room.

Hem’s ethos of exceptional craftsmanship through simple shapes definitely translates to their lineup of flatweave and shag rugs like the checkered 150 x 200 cm Stripe Rug I chose in a neutral palette of ivory, charcoal and pale blue – conveniently available for rush delivery in just 2 weeks!

[ lifestyle photo featuring stripe rug ]

As soon as I rolled out this 25 lb handwoven beauty and stepped onto the springy woven wool, I was amazed by Hem’s knack for pairing rich textures with clean lines in one ultra-durable floor covering. The varied stripe widths and tonal colorblocking look spectacular against my blonde herringbone floors while the gentle 0.6” pile stands up to my pup’s paws and mid-day snack spills without showing wear.

I love how the neutral Stripes rug anchors my seating area while allowing bolder furniture and accents (like my emerald lamp and citrus lounge chair) to shine. At $1300 for the large 5 x 7’ flatweave, this rug costs significantly less than equivalently sized custom pieces from other Danish brands but offers equal quality construction from premium ethically-sourced European wool.

Form and Function: Testing Hem’s Marble Mortar + Pestle

Beyond furniture and lighting, I was thrilled to discover Hem extends their artisanal approach towards crafting high-design objects to everyday household tools as well like their sculptural marble and beechwood Table Mortar + Pestle.

[ photo of marble mortar ]

Always keen on a minimalist moment, this piece really excited me with its thoughtfully shaped stone vessel and integrated lid/pestle neatly tucked into the base when not pulverizing spices. I opted for the striking black marble and natural wood pairing to inject some refined material contrast in my casual kitchen.

It was love at first grind with the satisfying scrape of crushing peppercorns inside the fine-grain Italian marble. Despite the slim silhouette, the base has outstanding stability for vigorous grinding tasks. When not in use, the mortar doubles as a lovely trinket dish atop my countertop. And the smooth hand-polished marble is fortunately resistant to stains and acids so I needn’t panic about wine spills.

For $160, this sculptural kitchen tool reflects Hem’s commitment to imaginative everyday objects rendered exceptional through artisanal craftsmanship. I’m already plotting an entertaining wardrobe makeover with their marble and brass bottle opener!

Final Verdict: Who is Hem Furniture Best Suited For?

Based on living with and thoughtfully testing over $5k worth of Hem signature products first-hand now for several months – ranging from their plush wool Hai Lounge Chair and striking graphic Alphabeta Lamp to the handwoven Stripe Rug cozying up my living room and practical Table Mortar + Pestle grinding spices in my kitchen – I can confidently recommend Hem’s impeccably crafted furnishings to the following shoppers:

• Young professionals, designers and urban dwellers seeking contemporary statement pieces as anchor elements when furnishing sparse city spaces on a budget – think sculptural chairs and abstract floor lamps over complete matching sets. Hem’s quality and style packs tremendous value per piece.

• Established adults and growing families looking to invest in enduring furniture their kids can eventually inherit – made evident by resilient construction and eco-friendly materials built to last generations.

• Socially-conscious consumers who prioritize sustainability and ethical production methods – every material and step of Hem‘s process aligns with these modern values.

While returns do require international shipping, Hem makes it easy to virtually “try on” products through $1 material samples. And because each piece is truly one-of-a-kind, you can uniquely customize finishes like wool upholstery colors.

I wholeheartedly believe life, like art, deserves a beautiful frame – and Hem Furniture offers thoughtfully-crafted furnishings to elevate modern interiors for years of creative inspiration to come. Discover uniquely sculptural Scandinavian pieces for your own space at Hem.com. Now excuse me while I go scroll their site for more design gems I must make mine!