Content
- What types of office chairs and chairs are there?
- Choosing an office chair based on characteristics
- How to choose office chairs
- What is the difference between a gaming chair and an office chair?
- We draw conclusions: how to choose office chairs and chairs
Prolonged sedentary work often leads to increased fatigue, poor posture, back pain and swelling of the legs. As a result, chronic diseases of the musculoskeletal system and cardiovascular system may develop. This problem affects not only office workers, but also those who spend a significant part of their time at the computer at home.
The cause of such problems can be an incorrectly selected chair, which keeps muscles and joints tense, preventing you from relaxing, and this leads not only to deterioration of health, but also reduces performance. In this article we will talk about what you need to consider when choosing armchairs and chairs for the office.
Requirements for children's computer chairs
The selection process deserves attention, because the child must have correct posture, and the product must be comfortable and like the design. So, when choosing, consider the following points:
- there must be a headrest, a footrest, and the ability to adjust the height;
- a strong cross is an essential item;
- The upholstery material must be resistant to dirt and moisture;
Children's computer chair Bambo
Children's computer chair BUMBO - the back is only high;
- Armrests are not needed - you should not interfere with the correct formation of posture due to frequent transfer of the load to them.
The fact that a chair is a very important element of the workplace can be learned by comparison. A competent choice of a computer chair will allow you to concentrate as much as possible on your lesson, not worry about your back health, and use the product for a long time and with pleasure.
What types of office chairs and chairs are there?
Considering the location and purpose, several target groups of chairs and chairs are distinguished: for managers, office workers, visitors, children and gamers.
Executive chair
– This is most often an oversized model with a high, comfortable backrest and an adjustable headrest. The armrests should be wide and ergonomic, the upholstery should be soft but durable, made of natural or high-quality eco-leather, in strict colors – brown or black. A swivel seat on a stand with five legs and casters allows the person sitting in the chair to turn around to face the interlocutor or move along the table while dealing with work issues.
Chairs for office employees
are designed in the same way: they allow you to work comfortably throughout the day, but, as a rule, the models are somewhat more modest in finish, size and functionality. A back without a headrest is usually at shoulder height, and there may be no armrests at all. The material chosen is inexpensive artificial leather or durable furniture fabrics.
For visitors
select armchairs or chairs of simple design, most often without armrests. This type of furniture does not need a swivel seat and casters for movement, so ordinary legs or curved runners often act as support. This type of chair is not used for long work, but allows you to sit down only briefly while waiting in line or to communicate with office employees. The requirements for them are low, and functionality is limited. The seats of chairs for visitors are most often hard, made of plastic, or with soft upholstery made of textile materials or artificial leather.
Baby chair
The child needs to be able to feel comfortable at the desk. In most cases, children's models are similar in design to office chairs, but with smaller dimensions. If the purchase is intended for long-term use, then it is necessary that the seat is adjustable in height and the backrest is adjustable in depth.
For gamers
They produce special gaming chairs. Gaming chairs have a cross with casters and a swivel seat with armrests, a comfortable high back, but the colors are mostly bright and energetic: red, blue, turquoise, lemon. Gaming chairs are characterized by good stability and more precise adjustment to the owner’s requirements: the height and width of the armrests, the depth of the seat, and the backrest angle.
Main selection criteria
Before choosing a chair for working at a computer, it is important to determine the frequency and conditions of its use, study the design elements, material of manufacture and take into account some other purchasing requirements.
Dog child seat
Purpose
Typically, the design of the chair depends on the conditions of use:
Office chairs
for employees, they are usually equipped with a spring-screw mechanism (supports the back), gas lift (responsible for height adjustment), and armrests. This is enough for an employee or freelancer to feel comfortable throughout the entire working day.
Executive chairs
usually larger and wider in terms of functionality. Another feature is providing not only comfortable work, but also the opportunity to relax. The last option provides, for example, the possibility of rocking or a massage area.
Gamer options
equipped with an anatomical seat that follows the contours of the body and provides proper support. Often the backs of such products are folded out up to 180 degrees, and to increase strength, an all-metal frame is used that can withstand heavy loads.
Computer chair Prime Design 2
Chairs for children
- not the same as chairs for adults: different ergonomics involve placing the chair higher, repeating the lines of the spine, increased stability characteristics, environmentally friendly manufacturing materials, withstanding even extreme loads, etc.
Design
Before choosing a chair for a computer, it is important to study the design of the product and the presence of elements to improve the convenience of the product. Each screw and each part of a computer chair has its own characteristics that affect the comfort and service life of the product.
Back
Supports the spine in the desired position and is almost always adjustable. The angle of inclination, if it is impossible to change, must be selected individually. There are high backrests (width - 60 cm, height - 90 cm) to support the entire back, short backrests (width - up to 55 cm, height - up to 60 cm) with minimal control of the lumbar region, orthopedic with a special curve, for gamers with height adjusters and tilt angle.
What to consider when choosing:
- the element must be adjacent to the back or at least have many points of contact with it;
- It’s good if there is a bend in the lumbar region - this way you can get rid of back fatigue. If there is no bending, you can purchase special orthopedic pads for chairs;
- if you need to create support for your shoulders, choose models with a height of at least 65 cm;
- It is desirable (but not necessary) to have the ability to tilt the seat forward/backward.
Armrests/headrests
If relaxation of the cervical-collar area is needed, a headrest should be provided in the design. Sometimes such an element is adjustable in height and tilt. If the chair is high, instead of a headrest, there may simply be a seal at head level that has a bend.
Armrests allow you to distribute the weight of your arms. When choosing, be guided by the correspondence of their location to the level of the table or the possibility of their adjustment.
Gas lift
This element of a computer chair is mandatory and is a kind of shock absorber that regulates the height of the furniture while simultaneously softening vibrations during loads.
Structurally, a gas lift is a part with a steel cylinder filled with gas. The maximum permissible weight of the user and, accordingly, the load can vary - up to 120 kg. But gas lift comes in 4 classes, 2 of which are simple and inexpensive options, and classes 3 and 4 are distinguished by a reinforced design and can withstand up to 150 kg.
What to consider when choosing:
In this case, the weight of the user of the product plays a role.
Cross
An element that takes on a significant portion of the load. Structurally, it has 4 legs plus a base. The quality of the cross directly affects the reliability and stability of the entire computer chair. Part dimensions - from 50 cm, manufacturing materials - metal, plastic, polyamide.
What to consider when choosing:
Plastic crosspieces cannot withstand a load of more than 120 kg and may break if handled carelessly or dropped. When choosing, pay attention to more durable polyamide and metal.
Regulating mechanism
The part is located between the seat and the gas lift and has several types: a screw or a plastic lever for raising the chair. The main role of the regulating mechanism is rotation, height adjustment, tilt, the ability to swing with position fixation, etc.
What to consider when choosing:
Pay attention to the presence of those adjustments that are necessary for you.
Rollers
The wheels for moving the chair around the room/office, even in a sitting position, are mostly plastic. Remember that if the furniture is located in a room with laminate, parquet or tiles, it is better to choose rubberized options - this way the floor surface will not deteriorate.
Footrest
The element can be independent (purchased separately) or already built into the chair. It is mainly needed by short users, including children, or those who find it more convenient to work in a reclining position. A high-quality detail eliminates blood stagnation in the legs and creates the correct angle in the knees and ankles.
Important!
The size of a computer chair for home/office may vary. The minimum dimensions are established by SanPiN acts and are 40 cm for the width and depth of the seat surface and 40-50 cm for height adjustment.
Product materials
Above we wrote about the options for materials for manufacturing structural parts of chairs, now we will talk about materials for filling and upholstery of furniture.
The filling of computer chairs is made of polyurethane and foam rubber. Foam rubber is cheap and allows air to pass through well. Polyurethane is more durable and resistant to various types of deformation.
Chair upholstery is made from:
- synthetic fabric - wear-resistant, inexpensive, durable, does not accumulate electricity, allows you to implement different ideas in terms of product design.
The downside of this option is that it doesn’t have a very presentable appearance if you buy a chair for an expensive office or study. More suitable for children's models, chairs for home use; Computer chair Dikline SP04-12 - leather is a material characterized by high strength, environmental friendliness, beautiful appearance and high price;
- leatherette - generally similar to leather in all respects, but costs less;
- acrylic mesh is a relatively new material, characterized by wear resistance, breathability, tactile comfort and unusual appearance.
Choosing an office chair based on characteristics
When choosing an office chair, several basic parameters are taken into account: body material, back and seat upholstery, presence of armrests and headrest, seat lift mechanism and others. These factors affect not only the comfortable use and appearance of the furniture, but also the final cost of the product.
Upholstery
Various materials are used for upholstery of chairs: textiles, genuine or artificial leather, eco-leather, elastic mesh or plastic.
- Fabric upholstery is a practical, durable and inexpensive material. Due to the fact that textiles absorb moisture and odors, when choosing this type of upholstery, you should give preference to breathable fabrics with good hygroscopicity.
- Genuine leather is a presentable, wear-resistant and durable, but expensive material. In addition, natural leather requires periodic care to maintain its appearance and elasticity. But we must not forget that in a hot room a leather chair will be uncomfortable, and fabric upholstery will be much more comfortable.
- Faux leather is an inexpensive upholstery made from PVC that imitates natural material. Much cheaper than leather, easy to care for, but short-lived.
- Eco-leather is a modern material made on the basis of “breathable” polyurethane. The characteristics are practically no different from genuine leather, but noticeably cheaper.
- Mesh is a popular type of upholstery made from durable elastic threads. Well ventilated, does not accumulate debris and dust. It looks stylish in any room and is inexpensive. The mesh backrest is often combined with a textile seat.
- Plastic is an inexpensive and practical material, but it is tough and will inevitably develop scratches and defects over time.
Chair back and seat
- A comfortable work chair should have a high back, curved in the shape of the letter S, which follows the contours of the back. The orthopedic backrests are slightly concave at the point of contact with the lumbar region to minimize stress on the lower back.
- The tilt and resistance of the chair back can be adjusted manually or automatically. It is good if the back fits tightly to the user's back. The elasticity of the back should be such that it bows slightly under the weight of a person.
- Depth adjustment. This function makes it possible to increase or decrease the size of the seat depending on the physical characteristics of the owner. It is optimal if there is a free distance of approximately a palm's width from the edge of the seat to the bend of the knee. This allows you to normalize blood circulation in the vessels of the legs, preventing compression of the veins and arteries.
- Reverse (negative) slope. A useful feature for those who often sit leaning towards the table, write, draw or work at the keyboard. Tilt of the backrest forward prevents unnecessary pressure on the inner thighs and pinching of the leg muscles.
Armrests and headrests
The presence of armrests is desirable for long-term sedentary work, because they allow you to correctly position your hands on the table. It is recommended that your forearms, wrists and hands be in line with the tabletop. The correct height of the armrests will help avoid a common problem for many office workers - “tunnel syndrome”, in which the nerves and tendons of the wrists are pinched. Most chairs have armrests in a fixed position, so to be able to adjust their width and height correctly, choose a model with adjustable armrests.
In chairs for children, the presence of armrests is not recommended, because the child will lean on one arm and sit in a bent state, which will have a bad effect on posture and can lead to curvature of the spine.
Headrests do not play a special role in the ergonomics of an office chair. This is rather an indicator of the prestige and status of the owner, which is why they are often installed in expensive models for executives or gaming models.
Mechanisms and wheels
Office chair height adjustment.
The easiest way is using a rotary control. The second, more popular option is a pneumatic lever (gas lift), which makes it possible to change the height of the seat with one movement of the hand. There can be one or two levers: for raising and lowering the chair.
Rocking mechanism.
This function will allow you to freely lean back and, swaying rhythmically, calm down and take a little break from work. The support of a chair with a swing mechanism should be as stable and durable as possible.
Cross.
Office chairs are equipped with stands with five-beam crosses, which are made of metal, plastic or wood. Despite the fact that plastic crosspieces are cheaper, they can also withstand quite a large load, but over time they develop scratches that cannot be eliminated. The same thing happens with wooden legs with intensive use, although they look the most presentable. The most durable, strong and practical crosspieces are made of metal.
Wheels.
Rollers rotating in two degrees of freedom are fixed at the ends of the legs. The rollers are selected taking into account the floor covering in the office. For hard surfaces such as tiles, porcelain tiles, laminate or parquet, choose chairs with elastic, quiet wheels. For a soft surface, such as carpet, on the contrary, hard plastic rollers are needed for better movement over the surface.
Comfort (seat softness)
Plastic seats are given an anatomical shape that follows the curves of the human body to compensate for the hardness of the material. Upholstered chairs are filled with elastic materials, usually polyurethane foam (polymer foam). Polyurethane foam is a wear-resistant material that provides a sitting person with high comfort.
Question 2. What sensations do you want to get?
Each chair is created with a specific idea, and we assure you that if it is chosen correctly, it can acquire the significance of a beloved family member and even replace a psychotherapist.
Dream
A lounge chair with a high back creates a feeling of relaxation, peace, trust; you want to doze off in them and gradually forget about the difficulties at work or in business. Models for dreamers relax and direct your gaze upward. As a rule, they have a significant backrest angle, very comfortable armrests and a headrest.
Take a break from everyone
Options with a high back and “ears” in the head area make it possible to isolate yourself from everyone for a while, feel isolated, hide and put your feelings in order. For anyone with a busy work schedule, they are essential (Lou Read by Driade).
Here you can choose a chair of any design and style from more than 1,000 items!
Select a chair
By the way, a fireplace chair with “ears” appeared in England, and was supposed to protect the ears of the sitter from harsh English drafts. Today there are many modern versions that look great in interiors. We recommend paying attention to Wanda (Galimberti Nino) or Capote (Mobilidea).
Note: When choosing a lounge chair, pay attention to the following nuances:
- if it is low, it is suitable for interiors where there will be no formal or semi-formal meetings. And one more thing: it is difficult for older people to get up from such a chair;
- very soft models are certainly good - you climb into them like a cloud, but they do not hold their shape. The pillows will need to be fluffed every time to keep the room looking neat. Think about whether you are ready for this;
- chairs without armrests force you to keep your hands on your knees and your elbows in the air. This makes it possible to be in good shape and not relax;
- The width of the armrests increases your personal zone - the wider the armrests, the larger and more significant you feel.
How to choose office chairs
What we pay attention to:
- Frame. Must be strong enough to easily support the weight of a visitor of any size and serve for a long time regardless of the intensity of use. Chairs with a wooden frame are most often designed for a load of up to 100 kg; they fit perfectly into a business office environment, but are not strong enough. Models with a metal frame are better suited for the office.
- Upholstery. The material is chosen taking into account how intensively the chair will be used. If a large number of people come to the office, then it is necessary to select materials that are wear-resistant and resistant to mechanical damage. Durable but affordable furniture fabric or mesh is ideal. Chairs upholstered in genuine leather or eco-leather look more solid, but will not last long with frequent use, and in the hot season or in stuffy rooms it will not be very comfortable to sit on a leather chair.
What is the difference between a gaming chair and an office chair?
Recently, “gaming” chairs have been in great demand; although they practically do not differ in appearance from ordinary office ones, they have their own characteristics.
The frames of gaming chairs are made of all-metal pipes, so such chairs are heavier and much stronger than office chairs: some models can withstand loads of up to 200-250 kg. All other parts and mechanisms also have a high level of reliability. The filler is most often foamed polyurethane, which is attached to the frame with elastic straps. This design provides greater durability and strength.
The gaming chair's crosspiece is also reinforced and guarantees maximum stability while the structure moves across the floor. The rollers are rubber-coated, so they do not make noise and provide reliable grip on the floor surface.
The chair itself is made in a bucket shape, almost completely imitating the seat of a racing car, and anatomically supports not only the back of the gamer from the back, but also on the sides with special side protrusions. Gaming models are designed for gamers who can play for several hours at a time, so they must maintain correct posture during long games on the computer and not put strain on the spine. The chair supports any movement of the player: forward, backward, sideways, measured swaying.
Everything in a gaming chair can be adjusted: the back, seat and armrests. Moreover, for some models, the angle of the backrest can be changed with great accuracy from 90 to 180 degrees, depending on what the gamer is doing - playing, watching a movie or just relaxing. The adjustment is made using a special lever with one movement of the hand.
The armrests of the gaming chair have a non-slip rubber-like coating and can be adjusted in width, length, height and angle.
The seated lower back is supported by a special elastic cushion in the form of a curved pad, which relieves muscle tension from the back during long battles and does not interfere with normal blood circulation. A height-adjustable headrest is designed to support the head and neck.
Any of the unclaimed elements of the chair configuration can be easily removed at the required time.
Question 3: What are your personal parameters?
It happens that we like the design so much that we are ready to make a purchase “without trying it on.” This primarily applies to ordering through store websites. However, it is advisable to test the chair. Only after sitting down and analyzing your feelings will you understand for sure whether it is right for you or not. The preliminary stage is the necessary measurements.
- the height of a comfortable chair will be equal to the distance from the floor to the knee + - 5 cm;
- the seat has an inclination - it is about 15 degrees, with the higher part where the knees will be located;
- the more relaxed you are going to feel, the greater the angle of deviation of the back from the vertical;
- seat depth - the length of your thigh minus 5 cm. In other words, when you sit in a chair, the edge of the seat does not reach the bend of your knees. In this case, your back is pressed against the back of the chair;
- the width of the seat is the half-circumference of your hips plus 10 cm. A caveat: this calculation will be correct if you are not going to sit in this chair with your legs;
- The height of the backrest is determined by your height. The taller you are, the higher it is.
Sometimes ergonomics are thought out in such a way that a chair, even with a low back, confidently holds your back. But it is still impossible to lean back in it. Most often, in these cases, the backrest ends in the area of the seated shoulder blades.
Important: the chair is not suitable for you if
- you have too much free space between your lower back and back. As an option, some models may come with a pillow “under the back”;
- your shoulders rise as you rest your hands on the armrests. Or you start to slouch. In the first case, the armrests are too high, in the second - too low;
- the back of the chair ends in the middle of your back, and you feel insecure.
Top tip:
When “trying on” a chair, trust your feelings. If it was created for you, it will give you a feeling of unprecedented comfort that you will never confuse.
We draw conclusions: how to choose office chairs and chairs
For the manager
A manager needs to choose an office chair that is not only convenient and comfortable, but also presentable and made of high-quality materials. This will emphasize the status of the leader. The best option would be a leather chair with a metal frame and a high, ergonomic back, on which you can fully recline if desired. The maximum number of elements should be adjusted.
For staff
For a large office, it is worth buying medium-priced soft chairs with fabric upholstery. The ability to adjust the backrest tilt and seat height will be an undeniable advantage for the comfort and efficiency of workers. Wheels are chosen depending on the floor covering in the office: for a hard surface you need elastic and quiet ones, for a soft surface you need hard plastic ones.
For a small team, you can purchase chairs upholstered in leather or eco-leather.
For visitors
For clients, comfortable office chairs with a reliable metal frame and durable fabric upholstery designed for intensive use are sufficient. It will be comfortable to sit on such chairs for a short time.
