Office Chair

An office chair, or desk chair, is a type of chair that is designed for use at a desk in an office. It is usually a swivel chair, with a set of wheels for mobility and adjustable height. Modern office chairs typically use a single, distinctive load-bearing leg (often called a gas lift), which is positioned underneath the chair seat. Near the floor, this leg spreads out into several smaller feet, which are often wheeled and called casters. Office chairs were developed around the mid-19th century as more workers spent their shifts sitting at a desk, leading to the adoption of several features not found on other chairs.

Types

There are multiple kinds of office chairs designed to suit different needs. The most basic is the task chair, which typically does not offer lumbar support or a headrest. These chairs generally cannot be sat in for more than a couple of hours at a time without becoming uncomfortable, though they often offer more room to move than higher-end chairs.

The Aeron by Herman Miller.

Mid-back chairs offer fuller back support, and with the right ergonomic design, can be sat in for four hours at a time or longer. High-end chairs in this category, such as the Herman Miller Aeron and the Steelcase Leap are comfortable for long periods. Some mid-back chairs in particular offer customization options that can allow for a headrest to be added. Executive or full-back chairs offer full back and head support. Many executive chairs are designed to be sat in for eight or more hours at a time. These are typically the most expensive office chairs.

What Is a Mesh Office Chair?

Mesh office chairs, as the name suggests, are made of mesh fabric. Like their leather counterparts, mesh office chairs are made of other materials as well, such as metal or heavy-duty plastic. Only the backrest of most mesh office chairs is made of mesh fabric.

Mesh itself isn't a specific type of fabric. The term “mesh” simply refers to any fabric featuring multiple strands of connected fibers, resulting in a webbing-like appearance. The individual fibers are woven or otherwise joined to create a breathable mesh fabric. This fabric is then stretched out and secured to the backrest of an office chair.

Although there are exceptions, most mesh office chairs are made of one or more synthetic fabrics like polyethylene, nylon, or polypropylene. The individual strains of fibers are then connected to create the mesh fabric, which is used to make the backrest of mesh office chairs.

The benefits of a mesh office chair

Research shows working in a hot office lowers productivity. When you feel uncomfortably hot, your work output will decrease. While using a mesh office chair won't directly affect the temperature of your office, it can still help you beat the heat by promoting airflow. The heat produced by your body – the average person produces about 250 and 400 British Thermal Units (BTU) of heat – can escape through the chair's mesh backrest. If you choose a different type of office chair, though, your body heat will remain trapped, which may cause you to feel hot. Mesh office chairs provide a cooler and more comfortable seating solution than other types of office chairs by promoting airflow.

If you're on a tight budget, a mesh office chair might be the answer. Mesh office chairs typically cost less than leather office chairs. You can find a variety of high-quality mesh office chairs available for just $200 to $300, making them a smart choice for budget-conscious consumers and businesses.

With their mesh construction, mesh office chairs are lighter than other types of office chairs. As a result, you can easily lift and move them around your office.

It's also worth noting that mesh office chairs have a smaller and more compact design than leather office chairs. Even if your office workstation has limited space, you shouldn't have trouble adding a mesh office chair to it. They aren't as bulky as other types of office chairs. With their small and compact design, you can easily add a mesh office chair to most workstations.

Furthermore, mesh office chairs are less vulnerable to scratches than leather office chairs. The seat and armrests can still develop scratches, but the mesh backrest is nearly immune to scratches. You can use a mesh office chair for eight or more hours a day, and the backrest won't develop scratches.

Pros & Cons of Different Chair Materials

Fabric Chairs

Fabric office chairs are one of the most common choices for computer chairs. They're comfortable, easy to maintain, and come in a wide variety of colors and patterns that make it easy to match your existing decor.

One drawback to fabric chairs is that they don't allow air to flow as freely as much as a mesh chair would, making them more susceptible to holding in moisture and odors. If you do your best to avoid bringing drinks to your desk that could possibly spill, choosing a fabric chair should be no problem.