How to Choose Your Perfect Office Chair

October 15, 2021

An office chair may not, at first glance, seem to be the most important piece of furniture in a room. However, many people spend long periods of time each day seated in front of a computer in their workplace or home office.

Choosing an office chair that helps support better posture, provides ventilation, and allows for adjustments as the user moves through various positions is integral to ensuring the chair remains a helpmate and comfortable. A few styles and attributes of popular office chairs will be explained and evaluated, and the decision-making chart at the end of this article can help you find the right office chair for your needs.

Considerations for your Office Chair

In the early days of computing, most people just utilized whatever chair was nearest and handiest. As computerization has evolved into the element that underpins so much of work and life in the digital age, sitting in an appropriate chair during all that screen time now means more than ever. Computer chairs come with a wide scope of choices, such as:

Height: High-back allows for back support. Mid-back permits a bit more range of motion.
Upholstery: Leather-like, breathable mesh, mahogany, nylon, and fabric options abound, some with many layers of cushioning for added comfort.
Style: Managerial has armrests and easy mobility. Executive chairs provide slightly more curvature and further cushioning for the back of the legs.
Color: From multiple shades of brown, silver, black, gray, white, and even red, there’s a computer chair to be found for any office color scheme.

Whether selecting for seat comfort, visual style, or simply how well it moves across the carpet, computer chair choices help determine much about the manner and speed in which office work gets done. With the average person spending so much time in front of a computer each day, having the right chair now contributes to more than just an aesthetic choice.

Executive Ergonomic Chairs

Manager's Ergonomic Chairs

Task Ergonomic Chair

Explore Ergonomic Chair Design

With some organizations operating with full-time ergonomics specialists on staff to help with employee comfort, ergonomic computer chairs have been thrust into the limelight and continue to represent the forefront of intelligent office design. Early-boom Silicon Valley companies understood that health and safety considerations for employees were every bit as important as the work being done; the length of time a worker could be expected to do that work was as important as any financial or personal detail.

So, what makes a chair ergonomic? Besides providing support, comfort, and adjusting to the sitter’s needs, an ergonomic chair allows for dynamic sitting positions to effectively adapt to the user’s movements. Offered in a variety of mesh and fabric options, ergonomic office chairs — along with standing desk chairs — lead the trend toward greater comfort in the workplace.

Active Chairs Can Keep Your Body Moving

While some might initially find it a bit counterintuitive to seek out something called a “standing desk chair,” sitting still for protracted periods of time isn’t beneficial to the body. Standing desk chairs address the need for a worker to have a place to hover between sitting and standing. Active chairs have become popular in recent years and can be height-adjusted to whichever degree of standing a user may need, from a simple lean to a full sit.

Active seating extends beyond the standing desk chair to balance boards and ball chairs, as well. As more companies incorporate remote work options, careful thought about designing a healthier workspace becomes more imperative.

Gaming Chairs Help Generate High Scores

While high-powered handheld technology has meant that video games can easily travel anywhere with their players, a serious gamer can often be found at home desiring an equally serious chair. Gaming chairs differ from standard office chairs in that they’re designed to extend the stamina of a player who may need to recline for an extended period of time. Hallmarks of this design include an especially high, reclining backrest and a thickly padded seat, often encased by a variety of soft fabrics.

Typically equipped with wheels and sometimes uniquely mobile armrests (both to promote the unusual frames of movement common to seated gaming), gaming chairs come in a range of colors. Variations exist with rocking capability, some with a “racing” design, while others focus entirely on ergonomics for the authentic skill set associated with gaming. As the gaming industry grows and monetizes, the right gaming chair becomes an important decision faced by every serious gamer.

Mesh Chairs Mean Modern

As interior design trends reflect open floor plans and modern, sleek profiles, mesh office chairs have enjoyed a heyday of popularity. Their slim, minimalist look lends a bit of edge to any office appearance. The breathable mesh back may provide air ventilation to help keep cool and dry and lead to less upkeep and cleaning.

Choosing a mesh office chair entails evaluating a number of factors unique to their particular design. Their flexibility and distinct ergonomics make them appealing options for workers who want something more resistant to wear and tear. Offering flexibility through adjustable back support and reclining capabilities, the mesh office chair is favored by many for its ability to morph throughout the day as best befits the user’s need. Featuring attractive price points compared to leather-like or fabric executive-style chairs, mesh offers the additional bonus of being among the more fiscally conservative and high-quality seating options on the market.

Sitting in the Big Chair

The phrase “big chair” has long been a euphemism for CEOs and powerful company leaders. Today, it’s aimed at serving those who simply have longer legs or more need for space. Manufacturers have begun to recognize that all bodies are different, and the office chair industry has responded with a plethora of big and tall chair options.

Sitting in a chair that may not suit a given body type can result in discomfort, a distraction from work, and general lethargy. In addition to greater weight capacities, options among big and tall office chairs now include features like unique cushioning, increased seat depth, and bonded leather backs for more lanky forms. Longer, lower adjustable armrests provide arm and shoulder support for taller people, and proportional high- and mid-back chairs support the back for those with lengthier torsos.

Folding Chairs Are Not Just for the Company Picnic Anymore

All folding chairs aren’t created equally, nor are they just for informal family gatherings. Today, folding chairs can come equipped with helpful armrests, padded seats for long-term sitting, and rolling casters that lend a great deal of versatility to their daily use in the workplace. They can also be stored easily without taking up too much valuable space in open and traditional office settings.

Traditional folding chairs can be purchased in packs of four and come in an assortment of professional colors that won’t detract or distract from any office decor. What has also evolved are the different materials folding chairs can be made from. Besides metal, options like vinyl, resin, and plastic can offer lightweight nesting and gentler support when seated for longer periods of time.

If the quantity is a concern, folding plastic chairs can be purchased in bulk of up to 40 chairs to a package. If comfort takes center stage, cushioned options come in wood, metal, and acrylic, complete with all manner of linen, vinyl, and leather seat cushion designs.

What’s the Right Chair For You?

Just as no two people are the same, each body requires something different from furniture that can be expected to see daily usage. Productivity, efficiency, and overall comfort all depend on the chair a person chooses to perform a task, whether that’s winning a digital game or composing a spreadsheet.

There are many intelligent office chair options. Choosing the right one simply means deciding what elements of work or play are most important for overall well-being and maximum function while in that space.

To figure out the right chair for your needs, work your way through the decision-making chart below. You might be surprised at the style you end up with.

About the Author

Dana Miller is a freelance writer with focal interests in music journalism, Eastern medicine, and STEM subjects.

All content provided herein is for educational purposes only. It is provided “as is” and neither the author nor Office Depot, Inc. warrant the accuracy of the information provided, nor do they assume any responsibility for errors, omissions or contrary interpretation of the subject matter herein.

The information does not constitute a medical consultation and cannot replace medical advice. Any information should never be used as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other health care provider. There are many possible causes for physical discomfort. If you are experiencing persistent symptoms or symptoms that are severe enough to interfere with your job or personal activities, consider seeking medical assistance.