A chair is not just something to sit on. Oh no! A chair is something which is designed to serve a purpose, that’s for sure, but it’s also something which should be supportive, something which should help you avoid back pain and other nasty ailments, and it is also something which should serve as a decorative piece all the same time.
If you thought a chair was just a chair, think again!
When it comes to kitting your workplace out with new office furniture solutions, you have a range of options before you. We’re not only taking about a reception table and various other must haves, we’re talking about choosing the right office chairs for the needs of your employees, which also fit in with the whole decor and brand.
To help you find the best office chairs for your particular space, we first need to learn all about the types of office chairs you can opt for, and the extras you should be on the lookout for too.
A Word About Ergonomics
Most office furniture stores you venture upon will have a range of ergonomic chairs for you to choose from. If you have staff who are going to be spending a large amount of their time at a computer screen then ergonomics needs to be on your radar.
An ergonomic office chair can be adjusted according to the person sitting in it. The arms will be adjustable and even removable, the height will be adjustable, the recline angle, and the tilt. There will also probably be lumbar support built in, and most of these types of chairs can be adjusted, e.g. you press a small balloon on the side, which pumps up and deflates the lumbar support section.
Whilst an ergonomic chair might cost a little more than a regular chair, it’s a must do for a healthy workforce.
Assess The Types of Seating You Need
Before you start shopping around, you need to know what chairs you need. Do you have a large reception area? If so, you need reception seating. Do you have a large workforce within the office? If so, you need to look into the number of chairs you need to purchase, because the cost will be a deciding factor. Do you need large conference room seating? Again, you need to factor this into your inventory, before you start shopping.
Once you have a list of the amount of chairs you need, as well as the types, you can start narrowing down your choice even further.
Know About Mechanisms
This is where office chair shopping can get complicated! We already mentioned ergonomics and that a chair should be adjustable, and there are various different types of mechanisms which allow the chair to adjust accordingly. The main types include:
• Fixed back
• Permanent contact back
• Asynchro torsion
• Asynchro
• Lock tilt
Each type of office chair differs slightly, so which is best for you?
The fixed back type of chair mechanism is the regular type, i.e. it can be moved upwards and downwards, you can adjust the backrest, and the backrest angle is fixed, i.e. it doesn’t move. On the other hand, a permanent contact back type of chair allows you to move the backrest however you please, and you can also move the seating area (the bit you actually sit on) out and in. The backrest is however always touching your back, hence the name.
Asynchro torsion and asynchro might sound complicated, but they’re really not. Asynchro is a great choice for computer use because you can adjust it completely, and find the most comfortable position for you. The name really comes from the fact that it is in sync with your body’s positional requirements at all times.
We then have the lock tilt type of office chair, and in this situation, the height of the chair is locked with a lever, as well as the forward and back tilt. You will then use a knob on the side to adjust accordingly.
All of these types of chairs are adjustable, but to slightly different degrees, so you need to know what your staff prefer, and what their requirements are. The asynchro types of chairs are perfect for long-time computer use. Of course, you might also want to have some spare chairs which can be stacked away when not in use, and in that case you can purchase some funky desk chairs which you can put away and bring out when you need them.
Other Things to Bear in Mind
It’s not just about how the chair adjusts, because we need to look at extras too. These include:
• Armrests which can be adjusted or removed accordingly
• The ability to turn and swivel
• Lumbar support
• Seat padding
Armrests aren’t a uniform addition to chairs, and some people like them, some people don’t. It’s really down to the person sitting in the chair in terms of what they require. Do a quick survey and find out, but if you have staff who have difficulty getting up and out of a chair, then armrests can be very useful tools.
The ability to turn and swivel isn’t always guaranteed, although you might think so! Not all chairs have wheels after all, but for computer work, a chair which has this ability is a good option to go for. Meeting room chairs don’t necessarily need this addition, or reception seating.
Then we have comfort. Lumbar support isn’t always added to chairs as standard, but it is very useful for those who are sitting for long periods of time. This can be adjusted by a pump, as we mentioned before. If your chairs don’t have this lumbar support, you can purchase support pads which strap to the back of the chair, and do the same job.
Choose an office chair that is comfortable for the user to sit on. Ideally, only one person should use each chair so that it can be set at a fixed height and other personal settings used. It is best practice to find a chair that is comfortable to sit on and has a backrest that provides lumbar support. Padding is also something to look into. You don’t want your staff sitting on hard chairs all day - not only is it very uncomfortable, but it can also put extra pressure on the base of the spine. Just enough padding to add support will help your staff be comfortable, and help to avoid back pain.
Who Uses The Chair?
What is your seating policy? Do you have a hot-desking situation in your office, or do you have one person sitting at each desk all the time? It’s often best for staff to have their own personal chair, which can be adjusted accordingly and then set that way for them to return to work day after day.
Of course, hot-desking and other flexible working options are becoming very popular, and that means that anyone could be sitting in a particular seat, at any given time. This means that the ability to adjust is even more important, and that easy adjustment is possible, without it being too time consuming.
Buy the right type of office chairs for your workspace isn’t the easiest thing in the world, and it requires understanding of what is out there, and a deep understanding of your staff overall. By doing your homework before you start your purchasing, you can make sure that you choose the right option, thus saving time and effort in the long run, as well as money.
Remember, it’s not just chairs for computer work that you need to think about, it’s the other seating requirements you might have too. Your reception area may need seating, and the amount will really depend upon the size of your organisation. If you have a canteen or rest area, then you’ll need seating there too, and meeting rooms also need to have chairs within them. Each area has specific requirements, and they don’t all have the same type of seating needs within them. Canteens and meeting rooms can use standard chairs, without wheels or casters, reception seating in the form of sofas or seating cubes are effective, and standard office space generally requires wheeled chairs. If you have a breakout area or collaboration zone, again, you could look into breakout booths, stools or mesh chairs, for a change of design and for that specific need.
Did you find any other pertinent points when office chair shopping in the past? What type of chair did you opt for in the end, and do you feel you made the right choice? Share your pros and cons of the chairs you chose, and possibly help someone who is stuck on picking the right office chairs for their workplace.