Office chairs have significantly evolved since the late 19th century when they were manufactured with wood and were designed to be rigid with little to no ergonomic benefits. Today, however, we have a wide variety of innovative workplace chairs specifically made to promote postural well-being, lumbar support, and comfort.
When you talk about the consistent evolution of office furniture and equipment, there's no doubt that the simple office chair has undergone drastic technological innovation and upgrades. While you may find an occasional relic from the past – those rigid and uncomfortable plastic or wood chairs, their time has long come to an end. Today, office chairs come with a boatload of interesting ergonomic features, styles, and functionalities, all of which have helped contribute to the complete transformation of the modern corporate environment. In light of this, we're going to talk about some interesting trends and features that you can look forward to in your journey to shopping for the right ergonomic chairs.
The Focus on Comfort and Ergonomics
If there's one thing that has helped companies take a dynamic shift towards designing comfortable and innovative office chairs, it's definitely the growing trend of ergonomic furniture to support employee health as well as help boost their productivity. How? Well, according to research, it was identified that ergonomic chairs and desks can help improve your posture and minimise the risk of musculoskeletal injuries. This ultimately helps reduce employee absenteeism rates due to a physical illness and can in turn help improve their focus and motivation to work more positively. As a result, office chairs now come equipped with several wellness features mainly lumbar support options, and headrests, and some even come with built-in seat heaters.
Top Innovative Ergonomic Chair Trends and Styles to Consider
The Growing Popularity of Mesh Chairs
Chairs manufactured from mesh fabric (such as interlaced ductile metal and fibre strands) are an excellent option for people working in relatively hotter climate conditions. These chairs help increase breathability, absorb sweat, and provide added comfort while helping you correct your posture. They are also great for people who have to work sitting down for hours, keeping them cool and relaxed. They are also a cost-effective ergonomic furniture option that can be commonly found in many office settings.
Sit-Stand Chairs with Height Adjustability
The standing and sitting combination has further transformed the traditional workplace environment. Chairs built with a stand-sit functionality help provide users with several postural benefits throughout the day. They can help minimise the adverse effects of sitting hunched over your laptop for hours (which will lead to back, neck, and shoulder pain). Many office chairs now come with height-adjustable features letting users set the correct position of the chair to alternate between sitting and standing.
Smart Technology in Office Chairs
Another pretty innovative trend in office chairs is the integration of smart technology and functionalities such as sensors that can help the user track their posture and improve the way they sit for optimal comfort and wellness. These features provide you with real-time input and suggest minor adjustments that you can make to correct your posture.
Wireless Smartphone Charging
Isn't it great never having to fret about running low on battery when you're at work? Yup, there are office chairs that come with top-notch connectivity and USB charging functionalities. So, now you can charge your phone and sit comfortably working without a care in the world.
Artificial Intelligence Features
You'd be surprised to know that some ergonomic chairs also come built-in with AI technology, such as voice recognition. You can literally tell your chair to adjust settings while you're sitting down. For instance, if you want to have a massage, you can just command the chair to activate the feature. It's pretty cutting-edge, albeit these chairs are pretty expensive.
Eco-Friendly Materials
Another great innovation in chair technology nowadays is sustainability. If you're looking to reduce your carbon footprint, you can also opt for chairs built with environment-friendly materials such as recycled plastics and wood. They come with all the same ergonomic features but are sustainably designed.
Design Versatility
Ergonomic chairs aren't just functional, they're also designed to complement your interior décor. These chairs are available in a wide variety of textures, styles, colours, and designs, making it easier for consumers to invest in one that can match their environment be it the office or their home.
Important Reasons Why You Should Invest in an Office Chair
Helps Minimise the Risk of Injuries
It's no mystery that prolonged sitting can cause postural problems, which, in the long run, can lead to a variety of health complications such as chronic back and neck pain, frequent headaches or migraines, hunched back, poor circulation, and much more. Investing in an ergonomic chair for your employees (or for yourself if you work from home) can help reduce the risk of several musculoskeletal injuries. Not only that, it is also identified that a poor posture can just as easily cause stress and anxiety, which can further limit your productivity and focus. Ergonomic chairs are designed to help users gradually get their natural posture back, helping them restore their spinal curvature for enhanced blood circulation and pain relief.
Promoting Fitness and Exercise
Along with the numerous benefits of office chairs we have mentioned, there is one other that is worth talking about, and that is exercise. You see, stand-sit chairs are designed to help employees alternate between working standing and sitting. And working standing up can help burn a few calories more than sitting down. In addition, working while standing is also going to gradually help you slowly retract your shoulder, relieving joint pain and stress.
Bottom Line
So there you have it, a comprehensive dive into understanding the various innovative design trends of modern office chairs and why you should consider investing in one. Ergonomic chairs come with a wide variety of postural and wellness benefits apart from just being comfortable. In addition, some chairs are also packed with smart technology options and are designed with sustainable materials.
