Serta AIR Arlington Executive Chair, Black/Pewter

So I finally bit the bullet and upgraded my home office chair to the Serta AIR Arlington Executive Chair in Black/Pewter, and honestly? It’s been a total game-changer for my WFH setup. I’ve been dealing with back pain from my cheap Amazon basics chair for months, and after about two weeks in this Serta, I’m kicking myself for not splurging sooner.
Right out of the box, I could tell this wasn’t like my old office chairs. The bonded leather looks pretty professional—definitely nicer than I expected for the price point. It’s got this black and pewter color scheme that actually matches my desk really well, and I’ve even gotten compliments on it during Zoom calls, which is kind of funny for a chair!
The comfort is where this thing really shines though. They’ve got this “Smart Layers” foam technology in the seat that feels way better than my old chair that basically turned into a pancake after a few months. The seat has this waterfall edge that keeps my legs from getting that pins-and-needles feeling I used to get after a couple hours of sitting. To be fair, I’m still getting used to the lumbar support—it’s firmer than I expected, but my lower back feels so much better at the end of the day.
I’m about 5’10” and the dimensions (27.5″ wide, 31.5″ deep, and adjustable height between 44.5–48″) fit me perfectly. The headrest is probably my favorite feature that I didn’t even know I needed! I can actually lean back during long calls without feeling like I’m going to tip over, which happens with a lot of cheaper chairs.
Setting it up wasn’t bad at all—took me maybe 25 minutes while half-watching Netflix. The instructions were surprisingly clear, which was a relief since I’m terrible with furniture assembly. All the adjustment features work smoothly—I can raise and lower it between 18.5 and 22 inches, and the recline lock is pretty sturdy. I was worried about the wheels on my hardwood, but they roll really well without scratching anything.
One thing to note is that it’s not exactly lightweight—around 49 pounds—but that honestly makes it feel more substantial. It’s rated for 250 pounds and 6-8 hours of use daily, which is perfect since I’m at my desk most of the day.
The GREENGUARD certification was a nice bonus I wasn’t even looking for. My last chair had this weird chemical smell for weeks, but this one was basically odorless right away, which is great since my home office is pretty small.
It’s comfier than my living room recliner now, which is kinda dangerous—I’ve dozed off once or twice during afternoon meetings (camera off, thankfully!). Is it worth the investment? For anyone working from home or spending long hours at a desk, I’d say absolutely. My back doesn’t hurt anymore, and I’m not constantly shifting around trying to get comfortable.