Whether you work from home or go back to the office, one thing’s for sure: you can’t spend a good working day sitting in a chair that doesn’t suit you.
But with the wide variety of office chairs available on the market today, it can be quite difficult to choose one that won’t have negative effects on your body.
That’s why we’ve compiled a list below of the most popular types of office chairs, as well as the people who can benefit from them.

Conference chairs

Conference chairs are ideal for – as the name suggests – conferences.
This means they’re ideal for sitting in for short periods of time.
Although meetings can last a long time, they don’t usually take up the whole day.
These chairs should not be used on a regular basis.

Since these chairs are designed for sitting for a few hours at a time, they don’t offer sufficient lumbar support for sitting all day.
What’s more, they usually have armrests that can’t be moved.
It’s a chair you probably won’t be able to adjust to your liking.
Therefore, if you plan to use it sparingly, and not to perform the full range of your daily tasks, the conference chair may be right for you.
The reason people choose conference chairs is that they tend to be less expensive than high-end chairs.

Work chairs

Task chairs are chairs generally found in individual workspaces.
If an office space has many desks and cubicles, they are usually accompanied by task chairs.
Task chairs are a little more adjustable than conference chairs, but don’t provide as much support as higher-end chairs.
However, they are still designed for everyday use.

Some task chairs are low-back chairs designed for shorter sitting times.
You’ll typically find these in call centers, where employees change shifts every 4 or 5 hours.
Other task chairs are medium-backed and offer a little more support for longer shifts.
These chairs are generally inexpensive, but if you’re looking for a chair with a full range of adjustments and support, it’s best to choose another chair.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for something less expensive but still offering some support, office chairs are for you.

Play chairs

Although gaming chairs are intended for a very specific activity, as their name suggests, they can still be used as office chairs.
They don’t usually have the most elegant design, so you won’t find them in office buildings.
However, if you work from home and need a chair for your new home office, then a gaming chair is certainly something you should consider.
After all, when you think of gamers, you usually imagine someone sitting in their chair for several hours.
A gamer certainly couldn’t do that if their chair was uncomfortable!

Gaming chairs generally have wider frames and high backrests.
They usually feature lumbar and head support, as well as adjustable armrests.
They can also be reclined.
There are many gaming chairs to choose from, and the prices may surprise you.
While $400 for a gaming chair is considered high-end, it’s generally the norm for ordinary office chairs.
You can find gaming chairs for as little as $100!

Ergonomic chairs

Ergonomics began to gain ground when people began to realize that their work facilities were causing them work-related injuries such as carpal tunnel, musculoskeletal disorders and even cardiovascular disease.
Of course, this is hardly surprising when you consider that you spend a third of your day, every day, on those chairs and desks.

So the standard for office chairs began to change, and we ended up with the long-awaited ergonomic chairs.
Ergonomic chairs allow you to adjust the height and inclination of the seat, backrest, armrest and headrest to ensure correct posture.
They’re a little more expensive than ordinary office chairs, but you’ll never have to worry about hiring a physiotherapist or chiropractor.

Executive chairs

Executive chairs are the most expensive type of chair, as they come with a full range of ergonomic features and tend to have the best type of fabric to ensure ultimate comfort.
These are the chairs that, as the name suggests, executives use in their offices.
They’re expensive, but if you want to give your body its best, then an executive chair is the right choice for you.

Chair fabrics

• Mesh office chairs

Mesh office chairs are perfect for those who prefer a more breathable fabric.
For example, if you live in an apartment or house that isn’t air-conditioned, mesh fabrics are probably the wisest choice, as they’ll keep you cool while you work.
They’re also low-maintenance and generally more ergonomic than chairs made from stronger materials, as they follow the natural curves of the spine.

• Leather office chairs

Although leather office chairs are less breathable and more sensitive to temperature changes, they do have a few advantages.
They’re easy to clean, durable, comfortable and better suited to allergy sufferers.
Obviously, they’re best used in colder climates, so if your office is air-conditioned, they’re the right choice.