Stressless

In 1934, Jens Ellingsen Ekornes founded a furniture company. Soon thereafter, the J. E. Ekornes Fjærfabrikk (Spring Factory) – which had just three employees and used machines made in Germany – found its first customers and began successfully selling springs for furniture and mattresses throughout Norway.

50 years of forward thinking

In 1934, the company developed several types of springs for beds and furniture. Jens also drew inspiration from abroad and began increasing capacity by introducing more machines. After a trip to the US in 1946, he bought American machinery for the production of spring mattresses.

This kind of forward thinking paved the way for development of a new type of recliner. Stressless® was created on the principles of industrial production to ensure an unprecedented level of precision, supplemented by human experience, insight and craftsmanship

A new way of living since 1971

1970s: In 1971, Stressless® was launched. The revolutionary recliner became the first real TV chair for modern society. You could lean back and rest, watch TV in comfort or turn around to face the coffee table in one smooth movement. The patented Glide™-system attracted a great deal of attention and is still a unique feature.

1980s: The philosophy behind Stressless® quickly gained a foothold. Comfort was in high demand, and at the same time as Stressless® recliner no. 500,000 completed production, export sales pushed past NOK 100 million. The company’s success in the export market was recognised in 1983 when Ekornes was awarded the Norwegian Export Prize.

1990s: Stressless® consolidated its position. The Plus™-system was introduced, with automatic adjustment of the headrest and lumbar support. The Stressless® sofa was launched and Ekornes began producing each design in two or three sizes to ensure maximum comfort regardless of the user’s physique.

2000s: The Ekornes factory was extended by 30,000 sqm in order to meet increased demand. The factory became one of the most modern furniture factories in the world. 2004 saw the introduction of the redesigned Stressless® logo and throughout the decade, product lines and variants were continuously expanded and refined

2010s: Ekornes introduced several new concepts of motion furniture. Stressless® Dining, an innovative collection of tables and chairs, was launched and soon conquered dining in total in complete comfort. Another milestone, Stressless® achieved 10 million seats sold and opened its first brand store on Tottenham Court Road, London. At the end of the decade, the first Stressless® furniture with Power™ was launched.

2020s: The Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO) named Ekornes 'Exporter of the Year 2020'. In 2021, Stressless® marked 50 years of reducing stress all around the world. Ekornes celebrated with the global Stressless® community and continued preparing for a sustainable future with a production process based on natural materials and renewable energy

In 1971, TV played an increasingly important role in the home, providing entertainment and news. It was an ideal time to launch the first Stressless® recliner, which introduced features during a time where we were spending more and more time sat down. The Stressless® recliner offered technologies like no other, and the continuous introduction of new features has helped to drive development and comfort ever since.

In 1971, TV played an increasingly important role in the home, providing entertainment and news. It was an ideal time to launch the first Stressless® recliner, which introduced features during a time where we were spending more and more time sat down. The Stressless® recliner offered technologies like no other, and the continuous introduction of new features has helped to drive development and comfort ever since.

Discover patented features

What makes a comfortable seat? We certainly know. Ekornes literally shaped the furniture world when the company developed the first Stressless® recliner, an iconic design that still retains every bit of its original desirability today. Now having honed and developed our craft over the past 50 years, we continue to produce Stressless® furniture that utilizes scientific research around the human body, setting a new standard of comfort with our innovative and luxurious designs.

That is why Stressless® is the only Recliner brand endorsed by the Australian Chiropractors Association.

More About Functions

Our pledge to the environment is to create furniture that spans generations. When you purchase Stressless® furniture, you choose quality that will serve you throughout a lifetime. We continuously strive to improve efficiency, believing that any measure that enhances quality while reducing energy, time and wastage during production is a step closer to creating superior furniture that lasts.

Sustainable fabrics

At Stressless® we are proud caretakers of the beautiful scenery that surrounds our factory in Norway. We wholeheartedly believe the best choice you can make is to furnish your home with high-quality furniture that will last a lifetime

Our Factories

Across four of our factories in Norway and one in the US, we are ISO 14001:2015 Environment Management certified! This means that we are managing the immediate and long-term environmental impacts of our products and processes.

FSC® C163127 and PEFC

Our policy is to only source FSC® C163127 or PEFC certified wood, ensuring that all the wood used in our production is from sustainable sources. FSC® C163127 shows that there is a focus on responsible forest management, protecting fragile ecosystems, respecting native cultures and more. PEFC certification confirms that the product is from sustainably managed forests and controlled sources.

The LWG

The Leather Working Group is an international organisation made up of stakeholders across the leather supply chain, working to promote environmental best practices within leather manufacturing and related industries. We are committed to supporting sustainable leather manufacturing around the globe and that is why we are proud members of the LWG.

UN Global Compact

This is a voluntary scheme in which members commit to implementing ten principles in the areas of employees' rights, human rights, combating corruption, and sustainable production that protects the environment.

Products that last

Every piece of furniture from Stressless® are quality products that will accompany you throughout your life. We carefully choose our raw materials to give our furniture a long life. Choosing a high-quality products extends their service life while reducing their environmental impact. This means that design is also important. With a focus on timeless furniture design, we create icons that last.

Find Stressless in

• Aust Capital Terr
• New South Wales
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Victoria
• Western Australia