Knowing a few simple tricks on how to make a desk chair more comfortable, like readjusting the chair’s height or using pillows to support your body, is crucial for health and optimum productivity.
For starters, the ergonomics of the desk chair you use must be well-tailored to your body. While most of the mass-produced desk chairs in the market are advertised as one-size-fits-all, there are still various factors you must consider before getting one.
Continue reading the article below to find out what type of desk or office chair is most suitable for your working space and body needs. If you already have a desk chair at hand, carry on reading until the end to see if there is any way to improve its fit to satisfy your needs.
Types Of Desk Chairs
There are various types of desk chairs. Below are some of the types you can consider having if you are someone whose work involves sitting all day long.
Big and tall chairs
As the name directly implies, big and tall chairs are designed especially for sitters on the larger body spectrum. These chairs are made with a heavy-duty frame, broader and deeper seat, longer and wider backrest and armrest. This type of chair often has a weight capacity of 300lbs to 1000lbs.
Drafting chairs
Drafting chairs are specially made for people who need to be able to stand and sit alternately without major workflow interruptions. Drafting chairs naturally go with drafting tables and standing desks. They are light, height-adjustable, and often come with a foot ring.
Ergonomic chairs
Ergonomic chairs are your go-to chairs if your priority is to avoid neck, shoulder, and back pain due to long hours of sitting. This type of chair supports a neutral posture where the shoulders are relaxed, shoulders are close to the body, and feet fall flat on the floor. Since it has such a positive function, ergonomic chairs are usually more costly than the other types.
Executive office chairs
Executive office chairs are chairs most often preferred by people with higher positions in a company. However, this chair type may also be well considered by those looking for chairs with built-in leather cushions or thickly padded head, back, and armrests. Some models also feature reclining and massaging functions.
Intensive use chairs
Intensive use chairs are also known as 24-hour office chairs. This office chair is perfect and necessary for people whose line of work doesn’t stop even when the sun sets. These chairs passed various quality control measures and, as a result, promised better ergonomic health benefits.
Mesh office chairs
Mesh office chairs are for people working in hotter climates or really just tend to feel hot and sweat profusely. Its net-like fabric backrest allows air to easily pass through, making it breathable and certainly not stuffy. Of course, it also features good ergonomic designs to minimize back pain, especially in the lower parts.
Petite and small chairs
Petite and small chairs, the counterpart of big and tall chairs, are designed for petite and smaller-built sitters. They feature a smaller frame and shorter height to ensure that the sitter is comfortable with their sitting position and their feet are flat on the floor.
Tips To Make Desk Chairs More Comfortable
In this section, we will be giving some tips to make the desk chairs you already have more comfortable. If you are yet to buy an office chair, here are some of the things to consider before the purchase.
1. Adjust the chair’s height
Adjusting the form of your desk chair is a simple enough solution to make it comfortable again. This is true for both brand new office chairs and the ones you have used for so long.
Over time, the height and tilt angle of the chair you were using can change. Make sure to constantly readjust, especially if the chair that used to be comfortable no longer is.
Lower or raise the seat height while sitting down on it to make sure that your feet fall flat on the floor comfortably. Ideally, your knees should be leveled or slightly pointing lower than your hips.
2. Insert support for the lower back
The chair you have must be able to support the curve or your back correctly and snugly. A chair with too much depth will likely force you to sit on the edge, which is not conducive to more extended sitting periods.
To make do with such a chair, consider getting pillows, more specifically lumbar support pillows, to minimize the instances of lower back pains. Slide it between your chair and lower back and fit just right into your desk chair.
3. Add a seat cushion
If you find your knees higher than the level of your hips when sitting on your desk chair, consider adding a seat cushion that can make up for the sitting height shortage. Seat cushions can help you get used to having proper sitting postures, distributing your weight evenly throughout the lower parts of your body.
Seat cushions are also great if you feel that what you’re sitting on is too stiff and uncomfortable. They provide additional softness and comfort, making it more endurable to sit for a longer time.
4. Consider using a footrest
It has been repeated over and over: your feet should rest flat on the floor and not dangle around. If your chair’s shortest height still cannot prevent your feet from dangling, it may be time to get a footrest before strain and discomfort can occur.
Yes, a cardboard box may be used as a footrest. Still, it is best to invest in an actual footrest that is soft but steady. Make sure that the footrest won’t let your knees go higher than your hips.
Conclusion
What we discussed are tips on how to make a desk chair more comfortable. Suppose you have done everything and still find yourself uncomfortable when sitting in your chair. In that case, the next best solution might be to consider buying a new one.