Suggestions for Choosing an Office Chair

Knowing what to look for in an office chair is fundamental for you to be able to work well and be comfortable. Here you can find out how to find the best purchase.
Suggestions for Choosing an Office Chair

Last update: 03 February, 2019

Knowing what to look for in an office chair is fundamental for you to be able to work well and be comfortable. Sometimes, you might go for attractive designs, colors or materials, while temporarily forgetting about the really important characteristics that an office chair should have.

Here you can read a series of suggestions that will help you when it comes to choosing the best office chair.

Flee from low prices

Don’t forget that the office chair is really the most important piece of furniture there is in the workplace or home office. You’ll be seated for long hours in it! That’s why we recommend that you don’t choose a cheap office chair. This applies even if you don’t have much of a budget set aside for a chair. It would be preferable to save in other areas, such as on things like tables, carpets or shelving.

Also, if you consult different furniture websites you’ll see that you can find a quality chair for a relatively lower price. So, shop around, but don’t be deceived. Make sure you pay close attention to the quality. What might seem like a bargain could really just turn out to be a waste of money.

Good for your back: the most important thing

We’ve probably all suffered (or regularly suffer) from backache. One common cause of this is from sitting for long hours at a time in an inappropriate chair. To avoid these problems you should pay close attention to the backrest of the office chair you’re thinking of buying.

Low backrests that only come halfway up your back might be sufficiently comfortable if you’re just going to be sitting for a little while or for only a few hours a week. What if on the other hand, you’re going to be sitting in your office chair for hours at a time? Your best bet would be to find a chair with a backrest as high as possible. This will help keep your back in the correct position to avoid backache.

An office chair with a low back and without armrests could be a good option. When? Only if you’re just going to use it occasionally and if you don’t have much space. If you get one of these office chairs, you should make sure you remember that it shouldn’t be used frequently as it could be bad for your back.

Design, but not at the cost of comfort

With regards to design, this should suit your tastes and the style of your home office or workplace. Sometimes you might be tempted to go with a novel designer office chair that would add that special touch no other decor item could compare with.

Of course, that doesn’t mean to say that you have to forget the design completely for the sake of comfort. You just have to find a balance between the design and comfort. Although sometimes that might seem impossible, the two things can work together.

Choose an office chair not just for its design but for comfort and stability

The material, an important choice in an office chair

Another important characteristic to take into account when choosing an office chair is the material the chair is made of. On this point, you can find numerous possibilities: plastic, timber, or metal. The same is true of the seat cushion and backrest. The choice of a good covering will be fundamental so that your chair will last longer.

If you don’t choose the material of your office chair with care, it could appear dirty, worn or old after just a short time. You could find fabrics that are very pretty or that might combine perfectly with your office. However, you should put quality or ease of cleaning above appearance on your list of priorities.

For example, detachable covers are an excellent option, since you can take them off to wash every now and then. You could also choose washable chairs that don’t need detachable covers. Avoid if at all possible seats that are hard to clean and maintain.

Adjustable armrests and height

If you want an office chair that you can adapt to your exact characteristics, look for one with adjustable armrests and height. In that way, you’ll be able to work more comfortably and in an ergonomic position. You will also be able to adapt your chair to different workspaces. Without a doubt, if you’re going to spend many hours sitting, an adjustable chair is essential.

As you can see, there are many options available in office chairs. With the above suggestions, and with your needs and style in mind, choosing will be a much simpler task.