With so many options available these days, it can seem overwhelming to think about seating for your office space. Your future comfort and efficiency is riding on this decision, so before diving headfirst into office chair pandemonium, take a few minutes to read our helpful suggestions on what to consider when making a purchase.
How will you use it?
Are you looking for a office chair to use at your computer?
Will the chair be used for guests in your office or conference room?
Is this chair the first thing visitors will see?
Depending on it’s intended purpose, there are a variety of demands that your office chair will have to endure
Task Chairs
Most of us sit in our chairs typing away for hours on end so the priority in this case would be comfort and safety. Task chairs are the recommended office chair for this purpose
Features to look for:
- Separately adjustable seats and backs- the longer you sit in a chair, the more important it is to adjust the height and seat angle to accommodate different muscle groups and avoid muscle strain and promote blood circulation- relieve pressure, promote proper posture
- Seat depth and width – just like people, chairs come in different sizes – deeper seats for taller people, shallow seats for those smaller, wider seats…well you get it
- Lumbar support – relieves the muscles in your lower back and reduces the risk of disk compression
- Armrests – adjustable armrests allow you to get closer to your desk and place your hands at the proper height reducing the risk of repetitive strain injury
Meeting Chairs
Generally used for guests and conference rooms.
Features to look for:
- Height adjustable seats and arms are not necessary so you don’t need to spend money on features you don’t need in meetings
- A simple tilter chair with back and seat can be connected and fixed arms will suffice.
Reception Chairs
These are the first thing visitors to your office will see so they should be comfortable and visually appealing
Features to look for:
- Usually fixed four legged chairs or club seating with no adjustments and no adjustable arms – these are meant for short term seating and will do the trick
What is the chair made of?
Do you have trouble adapting to temperature? Do you tend to eat at your desk? Are you the only person sitting in this chair or do you have to share it with other? Is this chair at a workstation or in the reception area? How long will you be sitting in the chair? Is decor important? Just a few of the questions you should ask yourself and the answers will help determine your chair selection.
- Many people who have temperature issues have found that mesh seating helps keep them cooler due to increased air flow, conversely it would not be a good idea to choose leather or vinyl seating due to lack of breatheability if you are sitting at your desk all day, ask yourself which fabric would you prefer?
- Leather and vinyl are clearly easier to keep clean than fabric. I’ve seen it many times, coffee knocked over at your desk is much easier to clean up if it has not soaked into your fabric upholstered chair
- Leather club chairs are very impressive and durable for the reception area of a law office but if you are a paediatrician, you might want to consider the most recent group of vinyls which are much softer and have the look and feel of leather , are well priced and still keep moisture and dirt out
- If a chair is being used for three shifts on a 24/7 basis there is a specific group of products that support this type of work and are recognized for their durability. Fabric might not be a good choice whereas leather or vinyl are preferable because they are is easier to clean and will withstand the rigours of multiple users
Just as there are many functions for office chairs, there are many material and colour options choose from.
Tips for trying office chairs.
Well, once you have determined which office chair suits your needs, you really should try out your chair properly and make sure it fits and feels just right.
- When you initially sit in the chair make sure your posterior is as far back in the seat as possible – take advantage of that lumbar feature or why bother paying for it
- Avoid the bounce test – jumping in and out of a chair very quickly without adjusting it – test out the arms, the height adjustment, the tilt and everything else you chair has to offer.
We could write endlessly about office chairs and this post really this is just the tip of the iceberg. Over the next few months we will delve deeper into the specific office chair features and what they have to offer. In the meantime, if you have any office furniture questions , reach us directly at Track Office Furniture 416-663-3423.
