Chair at the desk: when the dining chair moves into the office
In many companies, the home office is becoming a permanent fixture, and suddenly employees are no longer sitting on an ergonomically designed office chair, but on the chair from the dining area. What may seem like a makeshift solution at first can actually work quite well if you observe a few basic rules. Anyone who wants to use a dining chair permanently at the desk should pay attention to seat height, upholstery and stability. Otherwise, there is a risk of tension, back pain and declining concentration throughout the day.
The right seat height makes the difference
A dining chair is built for a different table height than a desk. Most dining tables are slightly higher, which is why you often sit too low on a classic dining chair when you push it in front of the desk. The forearms should rest horizontally on the tabletop without the shoulders being pulled up. If the chair is too low, the neck muscles tense up. If it is too high, the edge of the table presses against the forearms. If you have no way of adjusting the seat height, you can compensate with a firm seat cushion or adjust the desk itself.
Upholstery and backrest for longer sitting
A chair designed for dinner does not necessarily have to be suitable for eight hours of screen work. The upholstery is crucial: it should be firm enough to support the pelvis, but soft enough to avoid pressure points. The backrest should reach at least to the middle of the back and allow a slight backward tilt. Anyone looking for a home office solution in the range of Chairs should look for continuous upholstery and a backrest that is not too flat. A completely unupholstered wooden chair becomes a burden after just a few hours.
Stability and steadiness in continuous operation
A dining chair is normally moved several times a day, but not subjected to hours of load. At the desk, this changes: the chair is under weight all day long, is moved back and forth, perhaps turns slightly to the side. Therefore, the frame should be stable and the connections should be tight. Wobbly legs or loose screws not only lead to an insecure seating feeling, but also to an unfavourable posture because you unconsciously counteract it. Before continuous use, a quick check is worthwhile: tighten all connections, test the stability, if necessary attach felt glides so that the chair does not slip away on smooth floors.
Appearance and spatial effect in the study
A dining chair at the desk can certainly be a deliberate design decision. Especially in small apartments or in rooms that fulfil several functions, a uniform chair type creates calm in the room. Anyone who furnishes with baroque mirrors anyway can also use the representative character of an upholstered dining chair in the study. The chair then does not become an expedient solution, but a deliberate design element that visually connects living and working areas.
When a real office chair is still the better choice
Not every dining chair is suitable for continuous use at the desk. Anyone who sits at the computer for more than four hours a day should at least consider an interim solution: an additional seat cushion, a footrest or a small lumbar cushion can help. In the long term, however, the dining chair does not replace a real office chair with adjustable seat height, movable backrest and breathable upholstery. For occasional work, for short video conferences or for sorting documents, the dining chair is quite sufficient. However, if you notice that your back or neck regularly tenses up, you should consider a permanent solution.
Related: Decorations, Benches, Coffee Tables. The complete range: Baroque furniture.
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Related categories: Decorations, Benches, Coffee Tables. The full range: Baroque Furniture.
Read more: Dining table for six people: check the floor plan first, Console as Storage in the Bedroom: Alternative to the Chest of Drawers, Designing Waiting Areas: Bench Seating Instead of Individual Chairs for Greater Efficiency, Bed in the centre or against the wall: what the room allows, Bench at the Foot of the Bed: Completing the Bed Visually