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The Complete Guide to Choosing the Right Office Chairs

Choosing the right office chairs can make a world of difference when it comes to creating a healthy, productive, and aesthetically pleasing workplace atmosphere, wherever that may be, including your home office! More people are working from home and realizing the importance of investing in a quality office chair to minimize back pain and increase productivity.

The first thing that comes to mind is typically ergonomics, and while that is probably the essential thing to consider, it’s not the only factor. In this article, we’ll discuss how to go about choosing the perfect office chairs for your specific workplace needs.

Ergonomics

Office workers spend the majority of their working time sitting in office chairs, and if they’re not designed with skeletal health in mind, they can be negatively impacting employee health and productivity. In order to avoid creating back and neck problems among your workforce and increase productivity, it’s crucial to incorporate ergonomic office chairs that facilitate good posture by supporting the lower back.

Ergonomic office chairs
Ergonomic office chairs

Adjustable seat height

An adjustable office chair makes it possible for workers of all heights to have their feet flat on the floor, with arms at the same height as the desk and thighs level with the hips.

If the seat is too high, you will be inching forward to keep your feet on the ground, degrading your posture. Too lower a chair will make it so that your knees are higher than your hips, putting stress on the lower back.

Lumbar support

Lower back support is the most crucial aspect of an ergonomic office chair. A lack of lumbar support can strain the lower spine and lead to slouching. The lumbar adjustment in an ergonomic chair should be adjustable to adapt to the user, providing support to the lower back on an individual basis. 

Office chair with lumbar support
Nightingale task chair with lumbar support

Backrest with tilt control

An office chair’s backrest also needs to support the natural curvature of the spine and be angularly adjustable with a lock mechanism to keep the perfect angle set in place. 

A slightly reclined angle is ideal, or a 100-110 degree angle. 

Material

Since office chairs are being used for long periods of time, sufficient padding is preferable compared to harder materials. However, the material should be breathable to avoid it from becoming uncomfortably hot.

To elaborate further, the two main types of office chair materials are mesh and cushioned. 

Mesh-backed chairs are the more breathable option. They’re also more flexible. 

Cushion-backed chairs are more comfortable thanks to the upholstery, but they don’t have the same level of support as a mesh-backed office chair. It’s also easier to slouch in a cushion-backed chair. 

However, if you’re tight on budget, cushion-backed office chairs tend to be the cheaper option. 

Mesh office chair
Mesh office chair

Dimensions

Both too narrow and too large an office chair can facilitate poor posture, regardless of the other ergonomic features it may have. For example, too deep a chair can lead to hunching forward, while a narrow chair will make you feel like you’re going to fall over. If the chair is too wide, it will be impossible to comfortably use the armrests.

This is an often overlooked aspect, but you should know the ideal dimensions to look for, and take into consideration the need for ‘big & tall’ options.

Armrests

Office chair armrests make it possible for the shoulders to relax while not typing on a keyboard. Not only do they ensure forearm comfort, but they also help relax the neck and shoulders. 

It’s best to have adjustable armrests because if they’re too high, shoulder muscles will be subject to excess tension, while if the armrest is too low, forearms and wrists will be strained. 

Generally speaking, the armrest should be positioned so that the wrists are level with the keyboard. Some chairs even allow you to adjust the armrest width and angle for even more ease of use.

Swivel and Wheel Base

A rotatable office chair with a wheelbase allows the user to reach different areas of the desk without strain, reducing the risk of work-related injuries.

Style

If ergonomics is the main priority (which it should be!) you may be thinking that you’ll have to compromise in the style department, but not always.

In terms of office chair design, the most aesthetically pleasing options are typically leather and other padded materials. They have less of a “corporate” style and there are some ergonomically supportive options in these categories on the market. 

Nightingale Ec6 Series 635d

Cost

Price is one way to narrow down your search. If you have full-time employees or are looking for a home office chair to spend ample time in, it would be smart to invest in something that is not only comfortable but durable. 

The prices will reflect what extent the features listed above have been included in the chair’s design. 

If you are looking for a combination of adjustable support, quality, and style, you’re going to be in the upper end of the office chair price range. 

If you’re willing to sacrifice in one or more of these categories, the affordability increases proportionally.

Conclusion

Choosing the right office chairs for your workplace is no small task. If you’re on the fence as to which chairs best fit your needs, our team at Officestock would be happy to help guide you in the right direction! With over 145,000 products in stock, you’re almost certain to find exactly what you’re looking for. With our build tool, you can seamlessly customize colors, sizes, shapes, and other configurations. 

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