It’s important to sit correctly in order to avoid back, neck, and shoulder pain, which can all result from having an incorrect sitting position. If you type at home and work on your computer frequently, your chair should be as ergonomic as possible, because that’s what will help you maintain a good posture while working so that you don’t strain yourself.
Here’s everything you need to know about choosing the right home office chair for your needs so that you can sit correctly and comfortably.
What Is A Home Office Chair?
A home office chair is a seat with a backrest that’s designed to be used in the home, although it can also be used in other places. There are two main categories of home office chairs:
- Lower chairs: lower chairs have seats that are 18 inches or less from the floor.
- High-backed: high-backed chairs have seats that are more than 18 inches off the floor.
Casters make it easy to move around, while wheels don’t and provide better stability. Ergonomic office chairs feature features like lumbar support, height adjustment, and a headrest to provide comfort while you work.
Read: Home Office Design Ideas For Remote Workers
How To Buy A Home Office Chair
When deciding on a chair for your home office, there are many factors to take into consideration. For example:
- If you want to use the chair while standing up, you will need to get a stand-up desk and a specialized chair.
- If you already have an office chair at work but need one for your home office as well, then you don’t need to buy a new one. You can easily convert your current office chair into a home office chair by adding wheels and an armrest extension kit.
- If you find that your current office chair is too comfortable for sitting in for long periods of time, then it might be time to look into getting another one with better features like neck support, lumbar support, and adjustable armrests.
- If you plan to sit all day in your home office chair, you may want to think about buying a taller seat height (between 19-22 inches) which will help keep your feet from dangling and make sure that your feet rest flat on the floor when they are supposed to. There are also tilt chairs which can help prevent back pain since they keep you sitting upright instead of slouched over or leaning back in an ergonomic position.
- If space is limited, try looking into smaller computer chairs like those used in small apartments or dens. They still offer great back support so that you won’t suffer from strain due to prolonged sitting.
- Chair color: Some people prefer the laid-back style of black leather, brown leather, or blue leather. Others would prefer bright colors such as red, green, and yellow.
- What material do you prefer: wood, fabric, or leather? Fabric makes it easier to clean up spills and protect against dust mites. Leather is quite expensive but feels luxurious.
- Torso length: Your torso length determines how long you need the seat cushion to be.
- Assembly instructions: Make sure that the chair you purchase has assembly instructions because installing the wrong pieces could result in injury to yourself.
How To Choose The Best Home Office Chair
There are many factors to consider when looking for the best home office chair. Some of these include:
- What material is it made of (plastic, metal, fabric)?
- Is it ergonomic?
- What color do you want?
- Does it have wheels or not?
- Is it adjustable in height and width?
- Where will you be using it most often?
- Do you need a cushion on the seat or backrest to make sitting more comfortable for long periods of time?
- Do you need a swiveling chair for use at your desk so that you can turn and look at someone without having to twist in your seat constantly?
- Does the chair come with armrests or not? If they’re there, what’s their height range of them? Are they adjustable in height and width?
Are they also slanted forward so that they won’t put too much pressure on your back muscles while typing at a computer all day long?
- Are there any non-adjustable pieces included with this chair like head support, lumbar support pillow, footrests, under-desk ottoman stool, and tray table attachment to keep food and drink within reach without taking up space elsewhere around your workspace?
These features may not seem important now but could save you hours of discomfort later.
If you answered yes to any of those questions, then it sounds like this might be the perfect chair for you.
Read: Best Home Office Furniture Buying Guide For Beginners
What Are The Best Home Office Chairs?
There are many factors to consider when choosing a home office chair, such as adjustability, support, and durability. Some good options to consider include:
- Herman Miller Aeron chair
- Hon Exposure Mesh Task chair
- Steelcase Leap chair
- Herman Miller Embody chair
- Herman Miller Sayl chair
- Herman Miller Mirra chair
- HON Nucleus Knit Back chair
- Humanscale Freedom chair
- Herman Miller Caper chair
- HON ComforTask chair
Ultimately, the best chair for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences. It’s a good idea to try out a few different chairs in person to find the one that is most comfortable for you.
How To Check The Quality of A Home Office Chair?
The first thing you need to do to check the quality of the chair is, lift it up and down a few times to see how sturdy it feels. If you can’t lift it up and down easily, then you are dealing with a poorly made chair. You also want to make sure that the back of the chair is high enough for your needs. It should hit right around your shoulder blades when sitting in a relaxed position.
Lastly, look at the armrests on the chair. They should be wide enough so that they don’t dig into your side or stomach while sitting. They also shouldn’t have too much padding as this can get uncomfortable over time. Make sure there’s room between the seat and the arms so that you’re able to lean back comfortably while working on something like reading or typing.
Read: Benefits of Having A Gym In Your Home Office
Conclusion
There are many options when it comes to choosing a home office chair. Before you make the decision on which chair is best for you and your home office, there are a few things that you should consider. First of course is your budget. Secondly, what type of style do you want to go with?
Thirdly, take into consideration how often will you be using your chair and if it will be used by someone else in the home as well. Lastly, ask yourself if the height of the chair will be comfortable for you and if it is ergonomically designed so that it won’t cause any back or neck pain while sitting in it all day long.
