How to Choose An Office Chair

The average Australian spends almost ten hours a day seated. So, whether you’re working from home or in the office, it’s really important you have a supportive office chair.

Office chairs are a vital furniture piece for your desk set-up. The right one will help create a calming and relaxing working environment. But to meet everyone’s individual needs, office chairs come in various types and sizes, which can make finding the right one for you seem like a daunting task.

Don’t worry though, our guide is here to help. Keep reading to learn what to consider before you buy a new office chair.

Budget For an Office Chair

Your price range is the most essential element to determine first. You could spend hours looking for the perfect type of office seat, but if it doesn’t fall within your price range, that time has been wasted.

The price of an office chair varies depending on where you buy it from and what type you buy. They can be as little as $40 or more than $1,000. But an office chair is a vital, long-term investment for your office space, so it’s always worth spending more for a good quality option.

Types of Office Chairs

Once you’ve worked out your budget, you can move on to determining the correct type of office chair to suit your body. The most common types of office chairs include:

Ergonomic Office Chairs

The All-Rounder Choice. Ergonomic means the product is designed specifically for efficiency and comfort in a working environment. These chairs tailor to your body’s shape so you can avoid feeling any discomfort.

Ergonomic office chairs incorporate comfort and support with their adjustable features, including an adjustable back, seat and armrests. Most of them also have a high back to properly support the neck and shoulders all day long.

Gaming Office Chairs

The perfect choice for gamers. As the name suggests, gaming office chairs are specially designed to help gamers perform at their best every time. These chairs offer fantastic support with a high back to line the body. A majority of them even include backrests and cushions to help you stay focused all day.

Like ergonomic office chairs, they also have many adjustable features, including reclining and seat height, to create a sitting experience unlike any other. Gaming office chairs are made from leather for luxury and comfort – perfect to class up your office.

Desk Office Chairs

The Everyday choice. Desk chairs are the most common option but are less advanced than gaming or ergonomic office chairs. They’re a practical and very affordable choice. What they lack in adjustability, desk chairs make up for in style. They have a low back and are small in size, which means they’ll fit perfectly in any space. Desk chairs are ideal for short sitting periods or for those who switch between sitting and standing at their desk.

Executive Desk Chairs

The most luxurious option. Executive office chairs are the height of class and perfect if you want to feel like a CEO in your own office. These chairs are made from high-quality leather and soft padding for fantastic support and comfort. Although executive seats are the priciest office chair on the market, they have a high back and neck cushion perfect for anyone who sits for extended periods.

Office Chair Materials

It’s important to never look past the type of material an office chair is made out of. The last thing you want is to buy an office chair that makes you feel uncomfortable and doesn’t match your needs. Below are the most common types of office chair materials.

Fabric Office Chairs

The cosy choice. Fabric office chairs provide tons of quality, all-day comfort. They’re designed with a foam moulded backrest and seat that aligns your body while you work. Fabric office chairs are incredibly soft to the touch, warming and come in a wide range of colourful options, but bear in mind, they can stain easily.

Leather Office Chairs

The classy option. Leather office chairs combine elegance and stability into one for a luxurious seat choice. Leather is a highly durable material that’s spill-resistant, easy to clean and has plush padding for comfort. Its smooth surface is soft to the touch; however, it can become sticky in humid environments.

Mesh Office Chairs

The Breathable Option. Mesh office chairs have an open webbing design that allows air to flow naturally to keep you cool. The material uniquely moulds to your body’s structure as you sit and adapts to your seating positions. Mesh office chairs have a sleek design that’s supportive and very durable, but it doesn’t have any padding.

Consider Adjustability

Having a chair with adjustable features that are suited to your individual preferences promotes a healthy posture. Adjustable elements to consider for superior comfort include:

• – An Adjustable back – An office chair that allows you to change the angle of back support can reduce pressure on your spine.

• – Adjustable armrests – relax, support your shoulders, and minimise the tension in your upper body with seat arms that adjust to your forearms resting height.

• – Adjustable Chair height – Most chairs do include this feature in their framework because it’s absolutely vital. An adjustable office chair height not only means it can work with any type of desk, but it prevents you from craning your neck or bending over while you work.

Tip: When deciding on the proper seat height, remember your feet should always be placed flat on the floor.

Lumbar Support

No matter how long you sit at your office chair, it’s always vital it offers lumbar support.

The lumbar is the curved part of your lower back and needs proper support to reduce pain and discomfort while you’re sitting.

Chairs with a lower padded cushion for your back will prevent you from slouching and keep the spine aligned all day. If you do suffer from lower back pain, at the very least, consider an office chair with a curved lower back to cushion your body.

It’s also important to ponder the type of back height the office chair has. It could have either a low, mid, or high back.

Low back-office chairs: If you’re only using your office chair for short periods, then this is a stylish choice for you. Low back-office chairs look less bulky than high-back options. However, they don’t provide any support for your shoulders or neck so, always ensure these chairs have a cushion or curve for your lumbar.

Mid-back-office chairs: These types of chairs generally have a structure that stops just below your shoulders and is fantastic at supporting the bottom half of your body. They’re the most common option for general back support; however, if you suffer from upper back pain, it may not offer enough care as a high-back-office chair would.

High-back-office chairs: For superior, all-day support, high-back-office chairs are the ideal choice. Having a chair with a high back means your entire body is supported correctly, including your shoulders, neck, and head. They’re the best option to help align the spine and reduce any pressure in your back.

Wheels & Swivel Capabilities

An office chair with wheels and swivel capabilities makes for easy mobility. Rather than having to twist your body to move, office chairs with wheels and swivel abilities allow you to move freely in any direction and slide out of your desk with less strain on your body. It also helps you to access things more easily.

Available Office Space

Your chosen office chair should fit in your office space and beneath your desk without compromising the area. Otherwise, this can impact the functionality of the room and impact easy movement.

To ensure the chair fits in your space and beneath your desk, check the dimension of its base and armrests.

Other Crucial Factors to Consider

1. 1. Your sitting time. Some office chairs are better suited for short sitting periods like low back-office chairs, while others offer more support for longer seated periods like ergonomic chairs. To find if your chosen desk chair works with your working periods, check the recommended use time in its description.

2. 2. AFRDI Certified. If you want to ensure your chair is highly safe and durable, check to see if it’s AFRDI approved. AFRDI stands for Australasian Furnishing Research and Development Institute, a not-for-profit organisation that does tests and provides standards on chairs to ensure they’re safe for users.

3. 3. The office chair seat size. If your chair size is too long for your body, it can create an uncomfortable sitting experience that doesn’t allow you to relax properly. So always ensure there are only a few centimetres on either side.

4. 4. Office chair warranty. An office chair that comes with a warranty can provide peace of mind and ensure you’re buying a product that the manufacturer stands by.

Additional Office Chair Accessories

Elevate your office space and complete the set-up with some extra, helpful, and functional accessories such as:

• – A chair mat. Move around with ease, protect your floors from potential spills and reduce the risk of slipping. Chair mats are multi-functional accessories that can instantly enhance your working experience. Perfect if you enjoy eating and drinking while at your desk.

• – A Footrest. Help reduce the strain on your feet or legs and relax with a new footrest.