Office seating is not just a case of having somewhere to sit, it’s about having somewhere to be comfortable and supported, whilst also being made of a material which is going to be durable and stand the test of time.
You might not even give it much thought, but a chair is one of the biggest nods towards productivity you can have in a workplace. If someone isn’t comfortable, are they going to be inclined to work harder and lose themselves in the task? No, they’re going to be focused entirely on how uncomfortable they are, and they’ll be counting down the hours to home time. Not something you want your staff to be doing in your workplace!
In order to engage your staff and make sure they are comfortable during their working hours, you need to give a lot of thought to office furniture solutions. The very basics of someone being comfortable go a very long way in terms of happiness, comfort, and focus at work.
We can talk about ergonomics all day long, but there is something much more basic than that which has a huge influence on whether someone is comfortable, and whether a chair actually lasts for any length of time - the material it is made of.
You only have to check out several chair options to see that you have a range of different materials to choose from, and making the right decision is vital. Let’s talk about the main types of materials when it comes to office chairs, and let you make your own decision, based on the needs of your workplace, and your staff.
So, what do you need an office chair to be?
- Comfortable
- Easy to clean
- Durable and strong
- Adjustable
- Attractive – the design and the colour; grey office furniture is very popular at the moment, and you’ll find chairs in this colour and many more besides
If you can tick those boxes, you’ve made a good choice.
Mesh Chairs
Mesh office chairs are relatively new in the office world, but they have some great advantages, as well as a few disadvantages. Mesh is easy to clean and breathable, so you won’t become overly sweaty whilst sat in the chair, and the plastic fibre-material the chair is made of is quite flexible, so it’s likely to be a comfortable choice. On the downside, this type of chair isn’t that supportive if you’re sat in it for a long period of time, and it can be difficult to clean.
Leather
The leather chair is an iconic piece of furniture which every office strives for. These look great with a glass desk, and can be the ultimate in executive chairs. This is a luxurious choice, but the downside of that is the price. Leather is long-lasting and durable, smooth and comfortable, as well as being super easy to clean. If you’re going to kit your entire office out in luxury leather chairs however, you’re going to have to pay the price and most senior managers usually do!
Mock leather, or faux leather is an alternative choice, which is a little cheaper. This is also great for the environmentally conscious as it is not made from animal material. The downside of faux leather is that it simply isn’t leather, therefore it isn’t as durable, and it can be prone to cracking or ripping.
Fabric
Fabric office chairs are the type you will see most often in general office spaces, and that is usually because of the price. Fabric chairs are considerably cheaper than leather and more long lasting than mesh, so they’re a good piece of middle ground for many offices to look into. They also come in a range of different colours and patterns, so you can easily fit them into your existing design.
The downside is that fabric easily stains, so these aren’t the easiest to clean, and whilst they’re durable, they’re not going to last the same amount of time as a leather chair would.
A Personal Choice
In order to make the right decision in terms of which material to go for, you really need to weigh up the pros and cons of each one. If you have a large workforce, it’s unlikely that you’re going to be able to afford a luxury office chair for each person, however faux leather might be in your budget. If you prefer the more mainstream side of things, and you want to look into different colour options, then fabric is a good go-to. Mesh is ideal for shorter sitting times, but not the greatest idea for longer times spent at a computer.
What is your preferred material for an office chair?