7 essential office chair accessories to consider
Do you want to make your workspace more comfortable, practical and productive? We present the seven essential office chair accessories you should consider to improve your seating arrangement.
Our expert team of reviewers have tested the best office chairs, so we know how to best equip your computer chair for extra comfort. Even with comfortable cushioning, breathable materials and a large number of adjustment options, you can always equip your chair with some essential extras.
That’s why we’ve rounded up our top seven office chair accessories you should consider complementing your chair, from padded armrests to extra support for your feet and back.
For even more office essentials, we tested the best standing desks and the best desks.
When you sit in your office chair, your feet should be comfortably flat on the floor. If not, it’s bad ergonomic news (and you may find that the edge of your chair is pressing against the back of your legs, potentially restricting your circulation; which is even worse news).
You may find your chair otherwise comfortable and may not want to change it, so an alternative solution is a footrest. Obviously this is a small platform for your feet to rest on, and a good model will be adjustable so you can ensure it is at the right height for your feet to be perfectly flat. (In addition to height, make sure the platform itself is large enough to comfortably accommodate your needs if you have larger feet).
This can be a good solution for those whose chair and desk setup otherwise doesn’t allow for things to be adjusted so they can keep their feet flat on the floor as they should.
2. Armrest cushions
If your office chair has armrests, you may find them quite hard and unforgiving, and may not be particularly comfortable to use for extended periods of time. To remedy this, give your forearms a treat by purchasing armrest cushions that you can attach and place on your existing armrests.
The filling is often made of memory foam, which provides an extra touch of extra comfort for your armrests. One point to consider is the height of the cushions – just make sure they are not so thick that they leave your arms in a poor ergonomic position (although you may be able to adjust the height of your chair’s armrests to suit your wishes). compensate of course – but any good armrest cushion will generally not overdo the filling).
3. Lumbar support
Some office chairs have built-in lumbar support, but yours may not. One way to add this feature without the expense of buying a whole new chair is to purchase a separate support. Lumbar supports often come in the form of a roll or larger cushion and can be a sturdy addition to your office chair, giving you much-needed extra support.
Keep in mind that they probably won’t prove as effective as the integrated support the designer included with an ergonomic office chair, but they can do the job – just make sure you buy a well-rated chair and that the supplier has a returns policy has. . The latter is especially important, because if you don’t like the support and it turns out to be a thorn in your side, so to speak, you can always return it.
4. Chair mat
Are you concerned that your perhaps quite heavy office chair will cause damage or leave marks on, for example, a vinyl floor? There is a simple solution for this: buy a mat that lies on the floor, so that it is not affected by the castors of your chair. Fortunately, transparent PVC floor mats that are not so noticeable are not expensive – and certainly a lot cheaper than eventually having to replace your carpet.
5. Seat cover
Do you want to protect your office chair from spilled drinks, or, if you work from home, perhaps your cat or dog? The simple way to do this is to buy a stretch cover for the chair, which fits over it and gives you a layer of protection. It is also a solution if you have a worn or rather battered office chair, because for a small amount of money you can easily cover all the flaws of your chair and make it look like new.
If you decide you still want a seat cover, keep in mind that you will need to carefully consult the size chart to ensure the cover will fit (although they are typically designed to stretch to different sizes).
6. Heating pad
Do you dread those cold winter mornings when you enter your office before the heating is properly turned on and you feel like a polar explorer? A simple heating pad placed on top of your chair and powered via a USB connection can make your office chair a more pleasant prospect to sit in when it comes to colder mornings.
You can even get full chair covers that go over both the back and the seat to provide even more warmth, although they may potentially disrupt the ergonomic or comfort aspects of your office chair.
7. Cup holder
This may not seem like an ‘essential’ accessory for your chair, but you’ll appreciate its value if you’ve ever had the misfortune of knocking over a drink on your desk, with the spill subsequently damaging an electronic device. which also rested on the same surface.
If your chair has armrests, one solution is to purchase a snap-on cup holder that attaches to one of the armrests. The holder should prevent any danger of your drink being spilled, and even if the worst were to happen somehow, at least it will only end up on the floor, and not something precious sitting on the desk (or even under it – which is where some people keep it). their PC out of sight).
One option in this department is Amazon’s Choice when it comes to clip-on cup holders, which is where this model comes from Dirza that is affordable.
Add extra comfort to your workplace with the best standing desk mats.