Taking the comforts of the office home with you might sound backwards, but when, in the professional world, lumbar support, correct posture and (whisper it) health and safety are king, we can all stand to take on a little bit of that advice, especially when it comes to being in the comfort of our own home.
If you work from home and spend eight hours a day or more sitting in one, it makes even more sense to spend some time finding the best office chair for your needs — and that’s where we come in. This list of our top home office chairs is a round-up of home office chair options ranging from the entry-level ergonomic study chair to the high-scale stylemaster, with an easy to reference list of specifications to help you check off your list.
As with so many things, more features on your office chair will, more often than not, mean more dosh, but beware suspiciously cheap models offering false economy (don’t let that scare you, there’s at least one great budget option on our list). Lumbar support usually comes at a premium, but is well worth shelling out for, especially if you already suffer from neck or back pain, and a range of adjustable bits are a must.
Of course, the efforts of even the most advanced ergonomic chair will be negated if you don’t give it a little helping hand. Take some time to adjust the height, back position and tilt. Make sure you’re sitting snugly against the back of the chair, not on the edge. Your feet should be flat on the floor, if possible, with your knees a little lower than your hips, and your wrists shouldn’t be permanently tilted up or down.
High maintenance? Perhaps at the very beginning, but with just a little bit of effort to adjust, you’ll soon find your back-friendly working groove. Finally, be sure to take breaks every now and then — as if you need convincing.
If you are in need of home office inspiration, check out this guide to designing a home office, written by our friends at RealHomes.com.
The Humanscale Liberty Chair is a wonderful entry level introduction to the world of ergonomic seating. The seat itself is comfortably considerable and made of a high-tech technogel which adapts to the user’s form, letting you sit pretty for the duration of a long working day. The mesh construction of the back means you’re supported at every angle without feeling constrained, but for laid-back leaners it’s not the best: there’s no tilt control to achieve a gentle reclining angle.
Flynn is a handsome chap, by all accounts. Available in a choice of two elegant neutrals, Persian Grey or Putty Beige, and featuring a sumptuous button-detail quilted back, this office chair avoids the corporate look entirely, making it an elegant solution for period homes with modern concerns. It’s height adjustable for maximum practicality with multiple users, and the foam cushioning offers long-lasting support and comfort.
This elegant, low-key chair is surprisingly heavy on advanced ergonomic features — it just doesn’t shout about it. Adjustable armrests cut down on the risk of repetitive strain injury, the comfortably wide headrest and pivoting backrest keep things in line (spinally speaking), and the weight-sensitive recline allows you to move freely between angles. All this, in a sleek and stylish package with leather seats and dazzling hardware, earns it a big thumbs up.
The lightweight Setu from Herman Miller is a sleek and stylish affair that will look beautiful in any modern home office, with its elegant curves and clean lines cutting down on bulk. It’s also here, in its minimal design, that we see how the Setu shines when given a job to do. Eschewing the traditional levers, it instead moves automatically as you do, with its flexible kinematic spine and elastomeric fabric conforming to your body shape for quick comfort. Plus, it’s also finished without any toxic coatings, earning it its award for Best Sustainable Design Solution.
The high-backed design of the Langria Ribbed Executive Chair might leave you feeling a little like a Bond villain (white cat not included) but it does only good things. Its durable PU upholstery and crisp chrome-plated hardware gives it a timeless look, its synchro-tilt mechanism locks in three positions for carefree reclining, the generous seat swivels a full 360 degrees, and the pneumatic gas lift makes it easy to make height adjustments. And while you’re tilting, swivelling and lifting, the built-in lumbar support keeps your spine in line. All this, for under £100, is staggeringly good value.
The slimline Boss Design Sona is a bit of a chameleon: it comes in a whopping 19 colourways to fit seamlessly into almost any home office, and hides its functionality well with its clean and considered lines. The unique ‘J-bars’ give the back adjustability and flexibility without the bulk of some other ergonomic chairs, the sliding seat depth adjustment gets you in prime position, and it has a four-degree tilt mechanism to keep even seasoned slouchers sitting up straight.
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