There’s no denying that sitting down in an office chair takes up the majority of your time, whether that’s working in an office or working from home. You might be finding that sitting in the same position is causing discomfort, pain, or stiff muscles. Don’t worry - there’s an easy solution.
Most executive office chairs come with adjustable functions, allowing you to adapt your seat to a comfortable position. However, sometimes it isn’t as easy as clicking a button. In this guide, we will teach you how to adjust an office chair, as well as offer tips on how to use the correct office chair posture.
Here at Order Office Furniture, we have an extensive range of cheap office chairs which are extremely comfortable and adjustable without a heavy price tag. With over 270 options to choose from, you’re guaranteed to find a chair that suits your needs!
Let’s dive right in and find out how to adjust an office chair.
Use an Ergonomic Office Chair
Before we guide you through the process of adjusting your office chair, we highly recommend investing in an ergonomic office chair.
Comfort and safety are important, especially if you’re spending multiple hours a day sitting in the same position. Ergonomic office chairs offer things such as tension control, shaped backrests, padded headrests, and arms for additional support.
Ergonomic office chairs can:
- Reduce fatigue, muscle strain, and other pain caused by uncomfortable chairs
- Take the individual into account, shaping itself to your needs
- Show you appreciate your staff, if you work in an office
- Work well with modern office desks for increased job satisfaction
How to Adjust An Office Chair
Now that you have an understanding of the importance of adjustable office chairs, it’s time to find out how to adjust them to best suit your needs. It is worth noting that each office chair comes with its own unique set of adjustments, so we’d advise getting to grips with it before following these steps.
Establish the Height of Your Work Station
One of the most important things to ensure maximum comfort is to set your workstation up at the appropriate height. Some desks, such as our electric office desks, allow you to change their height accordingly. However, if this isn’t an option for you, then you will have to change the height of your chair.
If your workstation can be adapted, then stand in front of the chair and adjust so that the highest point is just below the kneecap. Then adjust your desk height so that your elbows form a 90-degree angle when you are sitting down with your hands resting on the desktop.
Adjust Your Armrests
If your office chair has armrests, then you can easily adjust these to the correct height. Relax your shoulders, and use the adjustment lever on your chair to slide your armrests up or down until they are at a comfortable height. Your arms should rest at a natural angle and not feel ‘pushed up’.
If you find that your hands are higher than your elbows, then your seat is probably too low. Raise your body off the seat and press the adaptable lever that allows your seat to rise. Once you have reached your desired height, let go of the lever to lock it into place.
This should also help to make your office chair feel more comfortable.
Make Sure Your Feet are Correctly Placed
To ensure maximum comfort when sitting down, your feet should be firmly placed on the ground and adjusted to the right level compared to your seat. While sitting down with your feet on the ground, slide your fingers between your thigh and the edge of your office chair. There should be about a finger-width space between.
If you find that there is more than a finger-width space between the chair and your thigh, you will need to raise your office chair as well as your workstation to achieve the appropriate height.
If your feet don’t touch the floor when your armrests are level with the desk, then you might need to invest in a footrest. You can use adjustable footrests to create a higher surface for your feet to rest on. Or, use an office sofa to prop your feet up.
Adjust the Height of Your Backrest
Most chairs come with adaptable backrests, allowing you to adjust the height up and down to suit your comfort. While sitting properly on the chair with your feet down and your calves a fist-space away from the edge of the chair, move your backrest up or down to fit in the small of your back.
Doing this will provide great support for your back, helping you feel comfortable and propped up ready to embrace the day. Sitting down properly can help to maintain good posture and a healthy back and spine.
Assess Your Eye Resting Level
When sitting down, your eyes should be level with the computer screen that you are working on. You can assess this by sitting on your chair, closing your eyes, pointing your head directly to your screen and slowly opening them.
You should now be looking at the centre of your computer screen and be able to read everything without straining your neck or moving your eyes up or down.
- If you have to move your eyes down to reach the computer screen, then you can place something underneath it to raise its level.
- If you have to move your eyes up to reach the computer screen, then you should try to find a way to lower the screen so it is directly ahead of you.
Find Your Perfect Office Chair Today with Order Office Furniture!
Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of how to adjust an office chair. There are plenty of things to consider, such as desk height, chair style, and how long you are sitting down for. However, we hope that we have made it easier for you!
Don’t forget to check out our range of modern office furniture, ranging from leather office chairs to commercial office desks!
If you have any office-related questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with a member of our team. Alternatively, you can check out all of our office furniture in person at our showroom in Huddersfield.
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