Home Office

What to Consider When Buying an Office Chair

Let me guess: back pain after spending a few hours in front of your computer? A sore sensation in your wrists and forearms? Then you most definitely need to invest in a proper office chair!

However, given the time that you'll spend sitting on it and the correct position that you should maintain when working on a laptop, choosing one requires a little more planning than purchasing a traditional chair.

Here's exactly what you need to consider when buying an office chair in order to avoid being stuck with a model that will make you feel cranky and sore by the end of a long workday.

Consider choosing an office chair with adjustable height 

To avoid compressing your thighs and affecting blood circulation in your legs, the most ergonomically correct position is for you to be able to sit by your desk with your feet flat on the floor.

Measuring both your desk and yourself while sitting down on one of your existing chairs can be useful, but the safest choice is definitely to opt for an office chair with adjustable height.

Comfortable Office Chair
Comfortable Office Chair

Measure the depth of your seat

To maintain the correct posture, you must also be able to sit with your back right against that of your office chair but without pressing the back of your knees against its front edge.

Once again, try doing this with one of your existing chairs and figure out the right seat depth for you before purchasing your new office chair.

Decide if you should look for a swivel base & wheels

Even though we usually imagine them with this feature, not all office chairs actually swivel:

  • If you don't really move around when working from your home office, then it's probably not a priority for you;

  • However, if you sometimes reach out for other office equipment without getting up or you happen to have a corner desk, do your back a favor and choose an office chair with a swivel base. Otherwise, these movements could end up affecting your muscles and damaging your back in the long run.

As for wheels, that depends on whether these movements are fairly wide and what type of floor you have:

  • Soft rubber wheels are ideal on hard surfaces;

  • If you have a carpet, then choose high-quality hard wheels specifically designed for that type of floor, as cheaper lower-quality models could end up marking it and ruining it, as well as making it difficult to physically move your chair around.

Consider adjustable armrests…

This might be the least of your worries, and yet using armrests that are placed at the wrong height could lead to straining your neck.

Because the most ergonomic position consists of having your elbows perpendicular to the chair's armrests, choosing an adjustable model is the safest option to ensure this all the time.

Modern Office Design

… and an adjustable backrest with lumbar support

While most office chairs include basic adjustments and flexible features, more ergonomic models will take this to the next level.

They might be slightly more expensive, but this investment will spare you from feeling sore after slouching for hours without even realizing it, which will help you avoid back pain and muscular problems over the years.

Basically, ergonomic models are a much safer option if you sit in your chair for many hours every day.

For example:

  • An adjustable backrest helps relieve pressure on your upper back and reduce stress on your muscles and vertebrae by adapting to your specific posture;

  • Lumbar support makes it easier for you to maintain the correct posture by aligning your spine along a curved S shape so that the muscles surrounding it don't end up being overworked.

Workplace Fitness
Workplace Fitness

Choose a good material and level of firmness for your office chair

Trying it before buying it is definitely the safest option: you need your chair seat to be padded enough to offer adequate support but not so hard that you can feel the actual frame.

We also recommend choosing an office chair with a waterproof but air-permeable cover. That way, you won't have to worry too much about spillages nor heat buildups.

Finally, find the right style for your home office

Sure, office chairs are famous for their practical function rather than their looks.

However, while there's less choice compared to more traditional chairs, this most certainly doesn't mean that you must settle for the first ergonomic model you see!

You can still find an office chair that complements the rest of your room and décor:

Office Chairs

Foter Magazine is a premier architecture, decoration, interiors and design website. We inspire and guide you to make your home a more attractive place.

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