There are very few jobs that will let you escape from the dreaded office chair. Studies show that the average working person spends over 70,000 hours in an office chair during the course of his or her life, and that is just the average. The study did not include computer analysts, secretaries, writers, or data entry professionals. It is also believed that overall health and productivity is related to the comfort that you maintain while trying to work in your particular office chair. Therefore, it is important to try and achieve maximum comfort while also trying to achieve maximum results in the home or work environment. With so many options on the market today, it can be hard to decide where to start when picking out your new, and hopefully improved, office chair.
It is no secret that the best chair on the market is the Herman Miller invented, Aeron chair. Introduced in the mid 90’s, in the prime of the Internet boom, this mesh chair started to make history. The Aeron has been said to have a less modern look, but it has still won more awards than any other chair in office furniture history. The options on the Aeron include an adjustable frame for depth, seat height, armrest height and angle. The chair comes in three sizes, so if you struggle with height extremes (like being too short, or too tall), this would be the chair for you. The seat is pellicle instead of fabric, which allows you to have some cushion and give when you are sitting for a long period of time. These chairs do ring in as the most expensive, starting at around $1200, so start saving your money now.
Two chairs that will go over well with the environmental crowd are the Contessa Task Chair that is made by Teknion, and the Leap Chair by Steelcase. Both of these chairs only come in one size, and unless that size fits your body’s frame, you are out of luck. The Contessa Chair is considered to be part of a smart operation system. Its key feature is that you can sit in the chair, and then adjust the armrests. Being able to do adjustments while sitting in the chair makes it easier to find the correct positioning for maximum comfort. The Leap Chair makes a guarantee, which is hard to ignore. Supposedly, when you sit in a Leap Chair to do your work you will see an 18% increase in productivity. Regardless of promises, both chairs are 99% recyclable, but like anything else that is organic, they cost a good bit of money for a chair. They cost anywhere between $300 and $800, but you could do some research and possible find one that is cheaper. These chairs also have a modern look to them, so if you are trying to be fashionable, but not anchored by trends, these chairs are worth checking out.
If you are interested in the Aeron, but your budget isn’t, there are some options that may not rise to the quality completely, but they come really close. The Ergonomic Office Chair by Humanscale Liberty retails for $850 and it is thought to be the logical cousin of the Aeron Chair. It has minimal adjustment options, but it does provide natural support for the lower back and spine. Humanscale Liberty offers a five-year warranty on all of their fabrics, and a lifetime warranty on all of the chair’s other parts. When you want something that your budget cannot afford, sometimes you have to look at the best quality for the price. IKEA offers their Joakim Swivel Chair, available in red, dark blue, and a grey-blue. If you are looking to outfit a new business, or just looking to update the look of an old one, these chairs are the best for the price. The Swivel Chair has a gliding seat, a ten-year warranty, and little adjustments. The price is low for the options at just $225 per chair.
Finding the right office chair is not that difficult of a task, but finding the right office chair for you as a person could prove to be a challenge. Not everyone is created equal, and people’s bodies come in all different shapes and sizes. Also, look through the logical lens before making any decisions that could cost you a fortune. For instance, if you only sit a desk for two hours a day, the Aeron might not be the wisest purchase. On the other hand, if you have the money, and luxury is a priority, make the most of it and buy the best. However, nothing is perfect and all of the chairs that are on the market possess unique qualities that make them different from their competitors. Take the time to figure out what you need, and not necessarily what you want.