Month: September 2020

We pick out the 7 essential office chair accessories you should consider to enhance your comfort.

Looking to make your workspace more comfortable, practical, and productive? We’re showcasing the seven essential office chair accessories you should consider to enhance your seating arrangements. 

Our expert team of reviewers have tested all the best office chairs – so we know the best way to kit out your computer seat for extra comfort. After all, even with comfortable cushioning, breathable materials, and a wealth of adjustment controls, you can always kit out your chair with some essential extras. 

So, we’ve rounded up our top seven office chair accessories you should consider to complement your seat, from padded armrests to extra support for your feet and back. 

For even more office essentials, we’ve tested out the best standing desks and the best office desks.  

1. Footrest

(Image credit: Q-Connect)

When sat in your office chair, your feet should be comfortably flat on the floor – if not, this is bad ergonomic news (and you may find that the edge of your seat is pressing into the back of your legs, potentially interfering with your circulation; which is worse news still).

You might find your chair otherwise comfortable, and perhaps not want to change it, so an alternative solution is a footrest. Obviously enough, this is a small platform for your feet to rest on, and a good model will be adjustable, so you can ensure that it’s at the right height for your feet to be perfectly flat. (Although as well as the height, also make sure that the platform itself is large enough to comfortably accommodate your needs if you have larger feet).

This can be a good solution for those whose chair and desk setup otherwise doesn’t allow for them to adjust things so they can have their feet flat on the ground as they should be.

2. Armrest pads

(Image credit: Posturite)

If your office chair has armrests, you might find them rather hard and unforgiving, and perhaps not particularly comfortable to use for long periods of time. To remedy this, you could give your lower arms something of a treat by purchasing some armrest pads which attach and sit on top of your existing armrests.

The padding is often made from memory foam, providing an additional dollop of extra comfort for your armrests. One point to be aware of here is the height of the pads – just make sure they aren’t so thick that they’ll leave your arms in a poor ergonomic position (although you may be able to adjust the height of your chair’s armrests to compensate, of course – but any good armrest pad won’t overdo the padding, generally speaking, anyway).

3. Lumbar support

(Image credit: Fellowes)

Some office chairs have lumbar support built-in, but yours may not – so one shortcut to add this feature without going to the expense of buying a whole new chair is to purchase a standalone support. Lumbar supports often come in the form of a roll or a larger pillow, and can make a solid addition to your office chair, giving you some much needed extra support.

Note that they won’t likely prove as effective as an integrated support which the designer has included with an ergonomic office chair, but they can do the job – just make sure you purchase a well-reviewed one, and the vendor has a return policy. The latter is particularly important because if the support doesn’t suit you, and proves a thorn in your back, so to speak, you can always send it back.

4. Chair mat

(Image credit: Floortex)

Worried about your perhaps quite heavy office chair damaging or maybe leaving marks on, for example, a vinyl floor? There’s a simple solution to this, which is to buy a mat which sits on top of the floor, so it won’t be troubled by your chair’s casters. Clear PVC floor mats which don’t stand out like a sore thumb aren’t expensive, fortunately – and are certainly a lot cheaper than eventually having to replace your floor covering.

5. Chair cover

(Image credit: Easyfit Slipcover)

Want to protect your office chair from the likes of drink spillages, or if you work from home, perhaps your cat or dog? The simple way to do this is to buy a stretch cover for the chair, which fits over it and gives you a layer of protection. It’s also a solution if you’ve got a worn or rather battered looking office chair, because for a small cost, you can easily cover up all of your chair’s sins and make it look like new(ish).

If you decide that you do want a chair cover, bear in mind you’ll need to carefully consult any size guides to make sure the cover fits (although they’re typically designed to stretch to fit a range of sizes).

6. Heating pad

(Image credit: Heated Mouse)

Dread those cold winter mornings when you head into your office before the heating has properly kicked in, feeling not unlike a polar explorer? A simple heating pad which sits on top of your seat and can be powered by a USB connection can make your office chair a more pleasant prospect for sitting in when it comes to colder mornings.

You can even get full seat covers, ones which go over the backrest as well as the seat pan to provide further warmth, although they could possibly interfere with the ergonomic or comfort aspects of your office chair.

7. Cup holder

(Image credit: Dirza / Amazon)

Maybe this might not seem like an ‘essential’ accessory for your chair, but you’ll certainly appreciate its value if you’ve ever had the misfortune to knock over a drink on your desk, with that spillage subsequently ending up damaging an electronic device that was also resting on the same surface.

If your chair has armrests, one solution is to buy a clip-on cup holder which attaches to one of the armrests. The holder should prevent any danger of your drink being spilled, and even if the worst should happen somehow, at least it will only hit the floor, and not anything precious sitting on the desk (or indeed under it – which is where some folks keep their PC hidden out of the way).

One option in this department is Amazon’s choice when it comes to clip-on cup holders, which is this model from Dirza that’s affordably priced.

Add extra comfort to your workspace with the best standing desk mats. 

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Can gaming chairs be used as office chairs?: We answer this and five other vital questions about office chairs.

Ever wondered if gaming chairs can be used as office chairs? Our team of expert office furniture reviewers answer this and five more of your burning questions about choosing the right office chair. 

And we’re well-placed to answer, having tested out all the best office chair and the best gaming chair options. You’ll find plenty of crossover between the two, of course, but is it the right choice for the office or home office? 

We’ll also look at whether expensive office chair models are really worth the money and if a second-hand computer seat may be the best way to say money. 

And for more office furniture essentials, we’ve compared best standing desks and best office desks.

1. Can gaming chairs be used as office chairs?

Is it okay to use a gaming chair as an office chair for your daily working routine on an ongoing basis? The short answer to this is ‘probably not’, but the slightly longer and more complex answer is that it depends on your situation and the exact gaming chair in question.

As a general rule of thumb, gaming chairs aren’t designed with sound ergonomics first and foremost in mind. They may be designed to be comfortable – or perhaps to look comfortable, more to the point, perhaps overdoing the padding, for example.

We’ve also seen models with a pronounced lumbar support which looks like it might support your back – or at least that the chair designers thought about this aspect of the seat – but it’s actually over-the-top, which is likely to be worse for your back than just a straight backrest.

Gaming chairs are also often designed to be affordable, and to look good – usually like racing car seats – neither of which elements lend themselves well in terms of the search for a good quality chair that you can sit in all day while you work. Gaming chairs are less likely to come with any ergonomic adjustments either, aside from raising (or lowering) the height of the seat.

Are there exceptions to the rule? This is where the longer answer comes in, because there are pricier and higher-end gaming chairs which do take their ergonomic design seriously. For example, the Edge GX1 is highlighted as an excellent ergonomic option in our best gaming chair roundup, or you might want to check out the Herman Miller Embody Gaming Chair, an adaptation of a high-quality ergonomic office chair.

Models like these can make fine choices, although note that they are the exceptions, generally speaking. Even a mid-range gaming chair might be okay for, say, bouts of part-time working, but the truth – at least in our experience – is that your average gaming chair isn’t a good choice for the 9-to-5 grind.

(Image credit: Herman Miller)

2. Are expensive office chairs really worth the money?

Again, this is a question which can be answered in general terms – yes, we’d say they are from an overall perspective – but there are caveats, and not every pricey office chair is a good value proposition, as you can imagine.

It is worth paying for a quality office chair, though, and one which is well-reviewed and critically acclaimed. These chairs will offer advanced ergonomics that your back will thank you for in the long run, and may even help you avoid health problems with your posture and spine that could keep you off work. Not only that, but in contrast to cheaper chairs, they often offer lengthy warranty periods of 10-years to 15-years, which is a statement of confidence in how long the chair should last.

And if you work out the monthly outlay based on ownership of the chair for a decade or longer, it really isn’t that expensive relatively speaking – particularly not when compared to buying a cheap chair, and then having to replace it when something goes wrong after perhaps only a year or two. And then having to replace it again… well, you get the picture.

That said, there are expensive chairs out there that aren’t worth the money, which is why you need to check reviews carefully as mentioned, and possibly even try out the chair yourself. (If possible – some of the manufacturers or online retailers out there even allow you to trial a chair for a month, say, via a money-back guarantee policy, and you can return it if you’re not happy).

Further remember that shopping around online can get you some pretty good deals on office chairs, and the more expensive models can be had for a lot less than the recommended price at times (also remember to go for cheaper options, too, like fabric instead of leather for the seat material).

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

3. Should I buy an office chair second-hand to save cash?

Theoretically, one good way to save money on an office chair is to buy second-hand. In fact, some of those expensive chairs we’ve just been talking about can be a lot cheaper if you go this route.

Naturally, there are risks though, one of which is that the chair in question may have been used for many years, and the seat padding – or mechanical parts – may not be everything they once were.

Like buying anything second-hand, really, this is a bit of a lottery – but in some ways, there’s nothing wrong with having a punt. Even if you don’t get on with the chair, you may not have spent all that much, and you could recoup some of that outlay simply by reselling (although with a product as big as an office chair, bear in mind that this could involve a fair amount of hassle).

One thing we would advise if going second-hand is to buy from an established retailer that sells used chairs – and provides a warranty – as opposed to a private seller on the likes of auction sites or elsewhere. Tread carefully, for sure.

A final (although not particularly pleasant) point to bear in mind is that the economic aftershocks of coronavirus and lockdowns will inevitably lead to some company closures, so the sad fact is it’s likely that the second-hand market for office chairs will likely become a busier – and therefore cheaper – place in the not-too-distant future.

4. Could an ‘ergonomic’ office chair be doing me more harm than good?

If you buy a poorly built office chair, possibly made by a more unscrupulous company which is trying to sell products under the guise of being ‘ergonomic’, when that’s actually not the case – you could possibly fall foul of this particularly peril.

You’ll obviously know if a chair isn’t doing you any favors if any part of your body – most likely your back, or maybe your bum or thighs, in the case of chairs – is achy at the end of the day (or indeed after an hour or two).

The best bet in avoiding this kind of danger is to stick to office chairs from established, reputable and trusted vendors, although even then, not every chair will necessarily suit everyone.

The good point, again, about purchasing from a reliable vendor is that they often have sterling return policies in case of issues. And if you have any consistent aches or pains, take that as a sign that you really should change your office chair sooner rather than later.

(Image credit: Shutterstock.com / LStockStudio)

5. How can I be sure a particular chair will fit me okay?

This is a tricky one, as the best solution is to go to a bricks-and-mortar shop and try out a particular model – if you have such retail outlets near you (and they stock the product in question).

That possibility aside, the best you can do is carefully look at the dimensions and spec of the chair, and ensure that the seat width and rated load bearing weight in particular aren’t going to be a problem. Also remember that some chairs come in different sizes – for example, Herman Miller make chairs in small, medium or large sizes, so depending on your height or weight, you need to make sure you pick the right model.

There are always going to be elements of uncertainty around this question, but what can also help is to head online and do some thorough research, perhaps getting feedback from owners of the chair on the likes of Reddit. You may even find someone who has a similar build and height to yourself who can impart vital info on how comfy and suitable they find the chair in question.

6. What are the best manufacturers and models of office chairs?

This is probably one of the most often asked vital questions when it comes to office chairs. The best chair makers tend to be those who have been around for a long time, and have built a reputation for reliability. In fact, the easiest way to answer this question is to check out that roundup and our top recommendations therein – it’s a great starting point for any hunt for the right office chair.

We’ve also featured the best business projectors and the best portable projectors

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We look at the 5 common mistakes most people make when buying an office chair – and how to avoid the same pitfalls.

These are the 5 common mistakes most people make when buying an office chair – and how you can avoid them. 

We’ve assembled, tested, and reviewed some of the best office chair options you can get right now, and tracked deals aplenty across Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. So, we know what to look out for when choosing your next computer chair. 

There are loads of designs and models out there, from basic office seats to high-end, high-backed swivel chairs, and hundreds in between. As such, it’s worth checking out what to watch out for when scrolling images, checking specs, and deciding which one is right for you. To help you make the best choice, here are 5 common mistakes most people make when buying an office chair. 

Check out more office furniture in our reviews of the best standing desks and the best office desks. 

1. No research or preparation

The top mistake people make when buying an office chair is simply buying an office chair. Just because it looks nice, or it’s a good brand, or it’s cheap on sale. But to get the right chair, it’s worth researching and preparing the groundwork, so you know what to get. 

When you finally think you have the right seat, don’t make the mistake of ordering it without considering your existing work setup in-depth, and the exact measurements of the seat you’re about to purchase.

How wide is the chair? Do you have enough desk space for a chair that big? Similarly, how high is your desk? And how high will the chair go at its maximum extension? If you can find the full spec, you also might want to consider, say, the level at which the armrests will be in comparison to your desk – and whether the armrests can be adjusted.

In short, try to think through every element of the relative positioning of the chair and your desk, and the amount of space you have in your office, in order to spot any potentially deal-breaking problems in this regard. Furthermore, also bear in mind that all chairs are rated for a maximum weight, so be sure to find a seat that suits you in this respect too.

It’s true that you can send an office chair back in the cooling-off period if you find it doesn’t work in terms of its size, or adjustments, or the way it fits behind your desk; but let’s face it, that’s a hassle which is best avoided if you can anticipate those problems in advance before actually ordering.

2. Fooled by padding

Don’t make the mistake of looking at images of the office chair you’re mulling over, noticing that it has huge amounts of padding, and therefore concluding that the chair must be nicely comfortable.

While having massive padded cushions – something that’s quite common with some relatively cheaper executive chairs you’ll see from unknown brands – might make it seem like a particular chair is comfy, don’t be fooled. Having big padded cushions isn’t necessarily a good thing.

When you look at high-end chairs from makers like Herman Miller or Humanscale, they have padding, sure – but a sensible amount of high-quality padding, and they don’t overdo it. In other words, large padded cushions aren’t particularly desirable from an ergonomic point of view, so while a chair with such padding might look the part in terms of comfort, it may not actually deliver on this front.

(Image credit: Steelcase)

3. Ignoring adjustments and lumbar support

When buying a good ergonomic office chair – and ergonomics should always be a key consideration when purchasing a chair you’re going to sit in for a long time, at work all day, every day – make sure you get one which is suitably adjustable. Preferably, you want not just the ability to adjust the seat height, but also its positioning in the horizontal plane, as well as the facility to change the backrest height, armrests and headrests (if the chair has them), plus the tension of the reclining action.

Most good chairs will also let you manipulate the backrest to change the level of lumbar support provided, which is often a crucial factor in making a chair comfortable for you to sit in all day.

Although with some chairs, elements such as lumbar support could be optional – if that’s the case, don’t make the mistake of saving a little bit of money (and it often is only a small amount) in order to do without the ability to adjust this. If at all possible, you really should get a chair which allows the lumbar support to be customized.

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

4. Forgetting all about the wheels

One small detail that you might forget about is what’s on the end of the chair legs. You’ll doubtless want casters for your office chair, to enable it to be easily moved around – if you want to slide over to a co-worker’s desk momentarily, for example – so the first thing to ensure is that any chair you are buying actually has wheels (unless you really don’t want them, of course).

When it comes to the wheels, however, you will have a choice of two different types – casters for hard floors, or those for carpets. Make sure you don’t overlook the ability to choose the appropriate one (often this is an option somewhere on the chair spec during the buying process online), because getting this wrong could obviously be bad news.

5. Going too cheap

As we mentioned in the introduction, some office chairs can be pretty expensive; but whatever you do, don’t fall into the trap of trying to cut corners. Remember that the more expensive chairs tend to come with 10-year or even longer warranties (we’ve seen 12-year and 15-year affairs).

What you need to remember is that working out the cost over that 10 or 15-year period and breaking it down to a monthly basis gives you a far more palatable seeming outlay for a quality piece of office furniture.

If you buy a cheap chair, it may well fall apart in a few years (or less), so over the course of a decade – or longer – you could end up buying multiple seats which will work out at the same expense as just buying one of the pricier office chairs. Not only is this a budgetary matter, but of course your back will also thank you for investing in a good chair in the longer run – whereas a cheap model could exacerbate any lower back (or other posture-related issues) you may have.

Another additional point to note here is that the kind of reputable companies that make the high-end chairs will have robust return policies – generally speaking – whereas a budget seat from Amazon likely won’t, so bear that in mind too. This is a particularly vital consideration if purchasing chairs in volume for an office, of course.

We checked out the best standing desk mats for adding comfort to your workspace

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