The Best Home Office Chairs
Working from home has now become part of normal life for a lot of people. Despite health protocols starting to ease across the globe, there are plenty of companies who have shifted their working arrangements to a safer environment – your home.
Last year, it was such a sudden transition that we had to settle for makeshift office setups. Some used their dining tables and as a work area, while others have simply used laptops on couches and beds to get the job done.
While this worked as a makeshift solution during the early WFH months, we’re now over a year in, and the problems are beginning to surface. Several people have complained about back pain and other issues that arose after months of working in makeshift environments, which led to discomfort, a lack of performance, and even mood swings.
One of the simplest ways to solve this is by upgrading your office chair, given that you are sitting most of the time while you’re working. An ergonomic chair can provide you with the right features like height adjustability, tilt adjustability, and, most importantly, lumbar support.
Although you can switch to your kitchen stool, dining chair, or couch once in a while, a dedicated home office chair is still the best option to keep you comfy during work hours and ensure that your spine is well-supported.
Don’t worry if you are a little uncertain about buying your next home office chair. To help you with your decision, we’ve listed five of the best home office chairs that you can confidently rely on:
The 5 Best Home Office Chairs
Steelcase Series 1 Ergonomic Mesh Task Chai
Steelcase is a well-reputed name when it comes to office chairs, and the Series 1 is an offering that you can happily bring home as you slowly build your home office environment.
Steelcase is a well-reputed name when it comes to office chairs, and the Series 1 is an offering that you can happily bring home as you slowly build your home office environment.
One of the main advantages of this home office chair is its LiveBack flexor system, where the back fully conforms to your seating position. This will allow the chair to move with you while supporting your spine as you constantly shift positions through your workday.
This chair also has adjustable lumbar support, giving you further control over your seating posture.
This smart home office chair automatically responds as you sit and move. It gives a relaxed resistance every time you recline. To top this off, there is also an integrated tension setting that you can tweak to add more recline resistance as needed.
If this is not enough, the Series 1 also has a lock-in feature so you can set the chair in an upright setting and let it stay there until you shift it. Even the armrests are 100% adjustable – they can be raised and lowered, shifted back and forward, and even from side to side.
Being one of the chairs that conform and adjust fully to your body, the seat edge is also flexible so that it can be slightly bent to relieve your pressure points further, keeping your thighs from feeling numb and stressed.
Steelcase Gesture Chair
Another home office chair from Steelcase, this model is worthy of being included on this list because of its stylish design, ergonomic adjustability, top-of-the-line materials, and superb back support.
Another home office chair from Steelcase, this model is worthy of being included on this list because of its stylish design, ergonomic adjustability, top-of-the-line materials, and superb back support.
It is decked with a synchronous tilt system, so when you recline, the seat also slightly lifts while keeping your feet on the floor. The advantage of this is that it doesn’t disrupt your blood circulation, even if you remain sedentary for a long time.
The Gesture Chair also boasts a seat cushion design with in-air pockets that can adapt to your body and minimize the pressure on your back while sitting. At the same time, the edge of the seat is also flexible, so your thighs won’t feel as stressed compared to a regular chair.
This chair has an impressive 360-degree rotating arm, so it can seamlessly follow you when you have to work with several devices at a time without forcing you into uncomfortable seating angles and positions.
While the armrests are rotatable, they remain parallel to your table or work surface. This ensures that your wrists remain loose and relaxed while at work. Pair all of this with excellent back support, and you’ve got a superb all-rounder option.
Herman Miller Aeron Ergonomic Office Chair
The Herman Miller Aeron is a little pricey, but you will understand why the price tag is steep and agree that it is a fair deal.
The original Aeron chair was released in 1994, and it has been continuously modified and revamped to keep up with modern workplace requirements. Based on a time-tested design that offers unparalleled reliability, it has become more competent to provide for your needs as you work at home.
The Herman Miller Aeron is a little pricey, but you will understand why the price tag is steep and agree that it is a fair deal.
Its ergonomic design is already a real winner because this chair can keep you comfortable throughout an entire day of work. Its light mesh back combined with a solid base can easily support your weight, while providing ventilation to keep your skin comfortable.
The chair itself has integrated additional features to keep you comfortable. There’s the tilt mechanism, 8Z Pellicle suspension, and adjustable PostureFit SL. All these extra features are geared towards a better posture and a healthier working experience that can be extensively customized depending on your body proportions and desk arrangements.
The materials used are all premium, so you know that you can rely on this chair for many years to come. Even if everyone goes back to the standard office setup, this chair is an excellent addition to your home and offers great functionality for hobbyists and students as well.
Alera Elusion Series Mesh Mid-Back Chai
One of the top choices for WFH employees is this mid-back chair, primarily because of the features and, more importantly, its affordable price.
One of the top choices for WFH employees is this mid-back chair, primarily because of the features and, more importantly, its affordable price.
It boasts a multifunction mechanism so you can adjust your chair’s height, tilt, back angle, and even the height of the chair’s arms. This provides you more freedom to tweak the chair to suit your needs.
With a breathable mesh back, you can have an excellent working experience even when the weather is a bit muggy, or you’ve already spent hours sitting on your chair.
Another attribute that you will like is the Alera Elusion’s contoured seat cushion. It is designed with a sculpted waterfall edge to minimize the pressure on your legs. This chair also has a five-star base integrated with casters so you can move freely and easily across your workspace.
It contours to your frame well, and again, thanks to its adjustability, you can recline as much as you want, lock your chair in place, and move about freely.
Even if the legs are made of plastic casting and the casters are made of metal axle and plastic, the overall build is still solid and can last for a long time – provided that you take care of it well.
A budget-friendly chair that can provide you service for the next five years and more, you can confidently invest in this home office chair and enjoy work and your sitting experience.
Humanscale Freedom Headrest Chair
The materials used are also top of the line, and you can expect this chair to still be functional and comfortable even after 5 to 10 years.
If you are starting to get fed up of back pain or want to adopt a healthier working experience, then consider investing in the Humanscale Freedom Headrest Chair.
This ergonomically designed chair is an ideal choice because it has a built-in automatic headrest and is capable of reclining so you can maintain correct eye levels even while lounging. The cushions of the Humanscale Freedom Headrest chair contour to your body perfectly, and the backrest automatically adapts and supports your back.
Not only is it fully ergonomic, but it is also aesthetically pleasing. Although it looks like all the regular office chairs at first glance, this one has a subtle, contemporary silhouette that really stands out from others. You can even get it in other colors, aside from black. Available in navy, graphite, red, blue, and sage, you can use this to add an extra pop of color to your home office.
The materials used are also top of the line, and you can expect this chair to still be functional and comfortable even after 5 to 10 years.
The price may be a little steep, but you will soon realize that every dollar you put into this investment is worth it.
After Thoughts
Regardless of whether you will still be working from home thirty days or three years from now, you have to consider getting a dedicated home office chair to keep your body and mind focused.
You have to remember that you can only work if you are in your healthiest state. The work output you deliver is more accurate and presentable if your environment is conducive. Believe it or not, your office chair can impact these factors by a massive amount that often goes underestimated.
So, reward yourself with your home office chair. Being sedentary looking at your computer or reviewing documents for 8 hours and more is not healthy enough. You owe it to yourself to provide yourself with the suitable tools – like an office chair – that can promote an ‘all is well’ environment – both during and after work hours.