Choosing The Perfect Ergonomic Home Office Chair

It was reported in the Telegraph, that Microsoft will allow their staff to work from home permanently even after it re opens its offices again – an internal memo revealed its new ‘hybrid’ workplace plan. Working from home does provide many benefits to businesses and it’s employees across the world – it means flexible work schedules, an improved work life balance, a wider range of job opportunities that aren’t limited by geographic location, money savings and lots more.

Working From Home Tips

If working from home is a part of your long term plan, you need to make sure your new work environment has all that you need. One main thing to be mindful of, is your workstation and how comfortable it is. It needs to be ergonomically designed, and ergonomically friendly. You need a workstation that is going to provide you with comfort and support for long periods of time, especially if you’re going to be sitting for a good part of the day. There is lots of guidance on the HSE website, and from the union UNISON. HSE Guidance states that an employer, has the same health and safety responsibilities for home workers as for any other workers, whether someone is working from home permanently or temporarily.

UNISON offer a Display Screen Equipment (DSE) Guide for members and staff, giving information on what the law requires your employer to do and DSE regulations. In brief, an employer is required to minimise the risk of DSE (i.e. computer) work by ensuring that workplaces are well designed, workers have adequate rest breaks and know what to do to reduce the risks. Amongst other things, employers must assess computer workstations, provide suitable workstations, work environments and software.

It’s time for change..

If you’re considering replacing the less than ergonomic kitchen chair that’s been your makeshift office chair for the past few months or years, but have never quite got around to it then it now appears as though your hand is being forced. It will have to go!

But what should you know about buying a good ergonomic chair for the home, and how do you make sure you choose the one that’s right for you? The advice from the HSE shouldn’t go out of the window. It’s vitally important that you pick up the right equipment to help protect yourself for the foreseeable future.

The Mechanics of a Good Home Office Chair

We all know four-legged wooden chairs look great around the house, but they aren’t conducive to comfort. It’s worth investing in a good home office chair to prevent back pain and musculoskeletal issues further down the line.

Now it’s time to dive into the ergonomics of what makes a really good home office chair. We’ve broken it up into a digestible guide here. In short you need to:

Find the most comfortable chair, you need to look out for high levels of adjustability.
No two bodies are the same shape and size.
Seat slides, back height adjustments and contoured backrests are essential
Advanced mechanisms such as tilt, synchro, body responsive and tension control all mobilise you throughout the day.
Second level adjustments of inflatable lumbar support and thoracic cushion will keep your back in contact with the chair back affording comfort and support.
Headrests and coccyx cut outs (coccyx zone) are further levels of support to relieve aches and pains and protect and correct.

Healthy Working

Other factors can you need to consider are your personal health issues, such as sacral nerve problems, scoliosis, fibromyalgia, arthritis and other physical complaints. The best chair for you will tie in suitability for whatever physical issues you have to manage with how you work. According to the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, adopting a healthy posture at your desk can prevent muscle strains in your back, neck and other joints. And don’t forget the warning signs. If you are uncomfortable or have pain, then something is going wrong. Your bodies early warning mechanism is telling you – you need to do something, fast!!

Move, Move, Move!

When you’re working from home it’s easy to become sedentary. In the office you might be climbing stairs, walking to speak to colleagues in other departments. At home everything is close by. Even if you choose a chair with an advanced movement mechanism, synchro, body balance or tilt all which keep your body correctly positioned, make sure you get up every 20-30 minutes for a brisk walk or stretch.

Style & Substance

Ergonomic chairs can have a bit of a reputation for being a bit clunky…

We have been working away to whittle down designs to create really beautiful and functional chairs. With the current selection of chairs on the market, you don’t have to compromise on style in your home – you can have both a stylish and functional chair.

For a softer and homier look, our chairs can be specified in a wide range of fabrics to help in blend in with your colour scheme and decor.

If you’re short on square meters, and the chair will have more than one person needing to use it then make sure you look for a chair that is as adjustable as possible. A seat slide (Positive Plus) will adapt a regular chair into a chair suitable for large and tall users.

What is Next?

You can browse our entire collection of affordable, highly engineered ergonomic home office chairs online. Our various ranges are catered to users of all types, whether you require a smaller chair, large, or one that is able to provide you with the right amount of support for health conditions.

We’re always here to help, message or phone us throughout the day – please contact us if you require further assistance.

If you already have a specific problem that you are trying to combat use our Chair Builder to obtain a more prescriptive solution and cater for the issue, or call us. We are here to offer help and advice!