Desk Chairs: Style vs. Function

Over the last 10 or so months many of us have made the transition from working in an office setting to a sort of makeshift home office. Bar stools, couches, the bed and even the floor have served as our work from home throne and if you are anything like our friends and colleagues, you are ready to get into something a bit more comfortable. If you​​ have​​ watched the social dilemma or spent many of your formidable years using the internet you likely know that a quick google or amazon search for desk chairs​​ will yield results based on things you have liked or interacted with. Now while these chairs may look stylish and many times even comfortable, they may not be the best thing for your body and productivity. Below we will detail some ways that style and function clash and mesh to give you a sense of what may work best for you!​​ 

This Photo​​ by Unknown Author is licensed under​​ CC BY-SA-NC

The​​ Barstool​​ Desk​​ Chair:​​ 

Pros: Looks cool in your dad’s garage​​ 

Cons: No back rest​​ forcing you to lean forward consistently​​ which can lead to back pain, hard seat pan,​​ legs dangle cutting off circulation

Verdict: While these may be a great choice for hanging out with a few friends around a bar top,

​​ you will likely not be happy with this after the first 20-30 minutes​​ of work.​​ 

The​​ Exercise​​ Ball​​ Chair:​​ 

This Photo​​ by Unknown Author is licensed under​​ CC BY

Pros:​​ provides a soft surface to sit on,​​ many have back rests, stiffness of sitting surface can be adjusted ​​ ​​ 

Cons:​​ can be very taxing on the core due to instability,​​ often places the back in a flexed position that can lead to back pain,

 ​​ may be distracting if you have figitting tendencies

Verdict:​​ While this chair may seem appealing and maybe even comfortable​​ at times, it does not quite live up to the hype.​​ 

​​ Always opt for something that provides a stable base and supports your back.​​ 

The Swanky Office Chair:

This Photo​​ by Unknown Author is licensed under​​ CC BY

Pros:​​ will look good in your office,​​ often has adjustable chair height, usually has​​ small​​ back​​ and arm rests, may be able to rotate easily​​ 

Cons:​​ Little​​ adjustability,​​ dished back rest and set pan will increase pressure on the hips and back​​ 

Verdict:​​ This chair will look nice in many home offices, but you will quickly find that it will be difficult to work from this chair for hours on end.​​ 

The Ergonomic Desk Chair:

This Photo​​ by Unknown Author is licensed under​​ CC BY-ND

Pros:​​ can have​​ mesh backing to keep you cool, multiple points of adjustment including reclining, arm rest

 ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​​​ height, back rest height, seat height, seat depth, among many other adjustments found in this type of chair

Cons:​​ can range significantly in price depending on desired features and material types used​​ 

Verdict:​​ This type of chair will provide the optimal support, comfort and even style for your home office.​​ 

Some other factors to consider when picking your perfect chair will be your height, waist size and work demands, to name a few. Ultimately the decision to purchase a desk chair for your home office will be a personal one. This chair will be a crucial component of your comfort, productivity and health so be sure to seek out an expert to help you make this decision.​​ 

Our experts at Ergonomx are always here to solve the ergonomics equation for you. If you found this article helpful, please subscribe to our blog or book a consultation with us today.​​