Wooden Swivel Desk Chairs
Buy the best wooden swivel desk chairs selected and recommended by interior designers. By Eliza Bush.
Exuding romantic vibes and nostalgic impressions, wooden swivel desk chairs tend to make your home office feel like you’ve traveled back in time. The combination of wood and upholstery, and in some cases, metal, also lends a warm, cozy ambiance to your work environment. While most have a traditional flair, there are also those that radiate modern rusticity. Take a look at our designers’ picks for wooden desk chairs that are perfect for pairing with an antique table or a contemporary bureau.
Wooden Swivel Desk Chairs
Buying Guide
Eliza Bush
Interior Design Expert
Eliza is a creative interior designer who swears by the power of sleek interiors and quality furniture to transform daily personal and professional life. With a B.Sc. in interior design from Philadelphia University and a well trained eye for craftsmanship, she offers unparalleled advice on how to arrange your space to make it sophisticated, comfortable, and functional, whether it’s the office or bedroom.
Whether you are a student in need of a desk chair for your dorm room or a professional looking for a comfortable office chair, finding the perfect chair can be overwhelming. The terms “desk chairs” and “office chairs” are often used interchangeably, so it makes sense to use both when searching and shopping online and when seeking help in-store.
There is no definitive answer to what makes the most comfortable desk chair. Comfort is individual to each user, so while one user may require the back and leg support of an ergonomic chair another may prefer a lightweight task chair that allows them to sit and stand quickly and easily when moving between tasks. The comfort level desired may also be affected by how long you sit at your desk.
A good desk and office chair:
- should make accomplishing your work easier,
- support your body comfortably
- remain comfortable during long periods of sitting
- is suited to the user’s body and the flow of work at hand.
For those who sit for long periods and work on the computer, a desk chair with arms is the best bet. The arms provide additional support for your shoulders and neck and improve posture.
Armless desk chairs work well in tight spaces such as a dorm room or home office. Task chairs are most often armless and allow the user to sit and stand fluidly.
Highly adjustable and ergonomic office chairs are recommended for those individuals with back and neck issues and injuries. When choosing a chair, make sure the operation and adjustable controls are easily reached while seated and don’t require straining to operate.
Desk and office chairs are considered ergonomic when they adjust to comfortably fit the body and supportive needs of the user while increasing their efficiency at work. Adjustable features and ease of operation lead the most desirable and beneficial elements of an ergonomic desk chair.
When choosing an adjustable desk chair, you’ll want to find one with an expansive array of controls to allow for the most comfortable positioning. Office chairs typically have from five to 14 adjustable features. These require more mechanisms, however, and can drive the cost higher. When shopping, look for the following:
- Lumbar support—Lower back support is a must, and a chair that allows you to adjust the level of support is optimal.
- Seat height and back—This feature allows for accommodation of varying heights of people. For tall individuals raising both seat and back are a must for proper support. For shorter persons, adjusting the seat, so your feet are flat on the floor is desirable.
- Seat and back angle—Adjusting the angles will allow for a proper seating position to take the pressure off the user’s thighs. It also allows for additional adjustment when using the lumber support.
- Tension control—For those who lean back while talking on the phone or contemplating, this feature allows for the back tension to be more flexible. While those who need to sit straight up can tighten it for ideal support.
- Arm height and width—With variable desk heights, you may need a chair that allows you to adjust the level and breadth of the chair arms to allow for linear support of the user’s arms from the chair to the keyboard.
- Headrest—For those with neck issues, a headrest that tilts forward and backward for ideal support is a smart desk chair option.
While there are many pay-offs to investing in an ergonomic office chair, there are a few that are immensely beneficial, including:
- Improvement of posture.
- Lessening of back and neck pain.
- Proper alignment of spine, hips, and shoulders.
- Increased comfort during lengthy tasks.
- Improvement in productivity overall.
- Alleviates stress to the mind and body.
- Comfort during hours of study or desk work.
- A task chair is most often armless with a low back and lightweight body. These chairs allow ease of use for workers who move from desk to other areas of the office often.
- An executive chair typically has a tall back, arms, and heavy padding. These chairs are more expensive than a task chair and allow for more adjustment for longer periods of sitting.
Leather, vinyl, fabric, and plastic are all good choices for a desk chair depending upon your needs.
- A fabric mesh chair allows for air to circulate and works nicely in warmer office environments to prevent sweating.
- A leather chair will last longer as the material is stronger and more durable.
- A vinyl desk chair will be cheaper and works in environments where the chair is used less.
- Lightweight plastic desk chairs are often used as task chairs as they are easier to push back and pull forward when moving about more.
Casters allow the desk chair to be moved about when sitting, standing, and moving between desk and worktable. The casters come attached to a base commonly with four or five-prong wheelbases depending upon the chair body. Consider laying a plastic mat under the desk chair for ease of movement.
A swivel desk chair will give you the most flexibility when preforming tasks and moving between sitting and standing positions. A fixed base will not give you any movement, and you will have to physically move the chair back and pull it forward to your desk or work table.
Before you invest in a desk chair, make sure you’re picking an option that’s durable, comfortable, and stylish. However, the most critical factor to consider when choosing a desk chair is its ergonomics. Since you’ll be sitting in this chair for hours at a time, you need to pick an option that provides ample support to your lumbar region and upper shoulder muscles.
When you’re sitting at a desk, your hips should be slightly above your knees, with your elbows at 90° to your body, your head upright, and your feet directly in contact with the floor. Opt for a chair with a height adjustment feature and a seat tilt lever to customize the chair to your comfort level.
If you get a chair that doesn’t support your back or lumbar region properly, you’re likely to end up slouched over your computer screen, putting unnecessary and continual pressure on your lumbar and thoracic spinal discs.
Get a chair made with breathable fabric so that you don’t overheat as you work. Look for models with integrated air vents or mesh backrests that allow you to stay comfortable and cool throughout the day.
If you work with multiple monitors or you need quick access to your printer and office supplies, choose a desk chair that swivels and has lockable rolling casters. Wooden swivel desk chairs are a stylish and ergonomic choice for your home office.
Despite the multiple moving parts, wooden swivel desk chairs are easy to assemble. If it has come in a flat pack box, the manufacturer should have included easy-to-read instructions with pictures of all components and attachment methods. The only challenging part is ensuring that the swivel mechanism and any hydraulic adjustment features are properly fitted.
The key to easily and securely assembling a swivel chair to start from the bottom and work your way up. Begin by attaching the casters to the base. Place the cover over the pre-assembled gas strut, and place strut inside the base. Attach the chair back to the base - you may find it simpler to perform this with the chair upside down - the back typically includes the swivel mechanism. Connect the seat and armrests to the back and base.
It is critical to never over-tighten any bolts and use washers when provided. Tightening any fasteners too much can cause the wood to split.
The best wood for a wooden swivel desk chair must be durable yet flexible to handle heavy weights without splitting or sustaining stress damage. Pressure-treated kiln-dried hardwood offers the ideal combination of strength and suppleness to withstand heavy-duty use.
Maple, red or white oak, cedar, and mahogany are all excellent choices. They not only offer the rugged durability you need but also add a refined aesthetic to your home office. Regardless of wood type, ensure that your wooden swivel desk chair is stained, painted, or finished with a sealant to protect against moisture damage which could reduce the chair’s structural integrity.
When assembling your wooden swivel chair, avoid over-tightening the screws and other hardware. If the hardware is too tight, it puts added strain on the wood and can cause it to split.
Today, with computer jobs so prevalent, more of us are sitting for longer periods than ever before. The average office worker sits at their desk an average of 1900 hours per year! With that in mind, well-fitted, comfortable, and supportive desk chairs are a must for well-being and work success.