How to Choose an Office Chair?

There are several factors that should be considered when choosing an office chair. It’s an essential part of any office setup, so it’s important you know how to choose the right one. With most office workers spending an average of 40 hours a week at work, we believe it’s crucial to find the best chair for you, your business and employees. Find out more below:

Usage

Firstly, ask yourself how many hours will be spent sitting in your chair per day. By answering this question, you can quickly eliminate many options from your search.

• 4 hours: A fairly basic and inexpensive chair (such as task chairs) will be more than adequate for those who only spend short periods of time at their desk.
• 8 hours: The most common types of office chairs are focused more on comfort and support. An ergonomic chair with good adjustment possibilities is a great choice.
• 12+ hours: A premium office chair will easily provide 12+ hours of comfortable use, with heavy focus on your overall well-being and productivity. These chairs will incorporate many design features to be comfortable for extended periods of time and although slightly more expensive, will offer optimum support in return.

It’s also important to understand that people of different heights, weights and activity levels may need different chairs. This leads us nicely on to adjustability and mobility.

Adjustability and Mobility

Having an adjustable chair allows you to set the chair to your own preferences for maximum comfort, as well as being able to adapt it to avoid bad posture. Not all office chairs have adjustable parts, so it is recommended to consider the following before making a purchase:

• Chair Height – This allows you to adjust the chair so that your feet stay firmly on the floor or footrest.
• Backrest Height – This allows you to change the angle of the backrest relative to the seat.
• Seat Depth – This allows you to adjust the seat depth by moving the seat or backrest in and out.
• Chair Tilt – This allows the entire chair to tilt relative to the floor.
• Armrests – These have options to be adjusted up and down, horizontally and sideways. Some people find armrests obstructive, while others find them great for additional support.
• Lumbar Support – Adjustable lumbar support can promote good posture by simply filling in the gap between the lumbar spine and the seat, supporting the natural inward curve of the lower back.

Another factor to consider when choosing an office chair is mobility. For example, do you need to be able to move around easily in your chair? Additionally, you need to think about what type of flooring is fitted in your workplace. Does the flooring allow for the movement of a castor chair? A carpeted floor may hinder your mobility and make it hard to move around on, whereas a tiled, or laminated floor will give you an easier time.

For more compact office spaces, it may be worth considering static office chairs due to their smaller design and footprint.

Colour, Design and Material

Once you’ve narrowed down your selection, you can then decide on the colour, design and material of your new office chair. We have a huge range of modern and traditional looking chairs for various budgets. Simply pick a design that you think looks visually appealing and will suit your interior office plan!

In terms of materials, there are a choice of options:

Fabrics – Fabric is a very popular choice for office chairs. The material’s hardwearing nature makes it suitable for regular use.

Mesh – Mesh chairs allow air circulation between the body and the chair seat, offering great breathability – perfect for warmer office settings.

Leather – Leather is durable and incredibly easy to maintain, providing a luxurious feel to your workstation.

Plastic – Plastic chairs are designed to be durable and affordable. They are incredibly easy to maintain, resilient to spillages and are often much lighter and compact.

Ready to choose an office chair? Browse our range of new and used office chairs online today!