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Professional Inspiration
Rostam Batmanglij: Embracing Change
Rostam Batmanglij, producer and founding member of Vampire Weekend, discusses his second project as solo artist Rostam. Discover the home office essentials that inspire him, from his Fender Stratocaster to his Aeron Chair.
Herman Miller Office Chairs
For short stints at your desk or long workdays, a high-quality office chair is critical to your productivity and well-being. In fact, the right desk chair plays a pivotal role in enhancing your wellness while at work. Comfort – or lack thereof – can have a profound effect on productivity, especially as the hours tick by. The best office chairs are designed to accommodate the nuanced needs of the human body, with features that relieve unwanted pressure, provide crucial lumbar support, regulate temperature, and more. Herman Miller office chairs are innovative, bringing a deep knowledge of human-centered design to the fore. Some ergonomic chairs, most notably the Herman Miller Aeron Chair, are among the best ergonomic office chairs, featuring cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art adjustability to accommodate a wide range of body types. At Herman Miller, shop bestselling office chairs for your workspace, including ergonomic office chairs, gaming chairs, and drafting stools.
Types of Office Chairs
Ergonomic Office Chairs
Ergonomic office chairs are expertly designed to promote a healthful posture and comfort over long periods of sitting. With a contoured back that delivers lumbar support and helps stabilize the spine, an ergonomic chair is usually equipped with responsive tilt mechanisms that mirror your movement and adjustable elements that enable you to fine-tune your perfect sit. Ergonomic chairs are among the best office chairs for long-term comfort. Invest in an ergonomic desk chair from Herman Miller, and discover how a supportive, comfortable office chair can help improve your productivity and well-being at work.
Drafting Chairs & Office Stools
Ideal for collaborative spaces and creative workstations, drafting chairs and office stools offer a wider range of movement than many standard office chairs. Drafting chairs, also called drafting stools, share many common features with ergonomic office chairs but are distinguished by their seat height. These ergonomic stools are usually available in bar and counter height versions to provide a better vantage point over a drafting table or creative workstation. Office stools and desk stools, on the other hand, are simpler than standard office chairs, featuring a pared-down design. Simple office stools are ideal for occasional use in collaborative workspaces where a wide range of movement is essential.
Gaming Chairs
In many ways, the ideal gaming chair is like the ideal office chair – it should incorporate ergonomic features for best-in-class adaptive comfort. Like office chairs, ergonomic gaming chairs promote peak performance over long hours. Herman Miller gaming chairs combine elements of ergonomic office chairs with sleek design cues and special colorways. From the Aeron Chair to Embody to Sayl, discover bestselling seats remastered for gaming.
Office Side Chairs
Office side chairs are an important part of a functional, productive office space. Designed to provide additional seating for guests or business colleagues in an office environment, office side chairs include office armchairs, office chairs without wheels, and side stools, among others. This type of seating can be used in various contexts, such as conference room chairs, waiting room chairs, reception chairs, and guest chairs. Pared-down design is often a hallmark of side chairs – they’re comfortable, but don’t feature the ergonomic benefits of bestselling office chairs. At Herman Miller, discover office side chairs in a wide range of styles, including sculptural molded plastic chairs and cushioned and upholstered seats.
Office Chair Features
Spinal Support
One of most critical elements of a comfortable office chair, adequate spinal support is the key to long-term comfort and productivity. Office chairs with lumbar support – including those with contoured seatbacks and those with lumbar inserts – target the lower back to help stabilize the spine and promote a healthful sitting posture.
Swivel Bases
Many office chairs feature a swivel base that allows the sitter to easily rotate from task to task. Swivel office chairs are a smart choice for collaborative workspaces where freedom of movement helps ensure a smooth workflow. They’re also especially useful in office setups with L-shaped desks or multiple monitors.
Rolling Casters
Office chairs with rolling casters further enable mobility. Most rolling office chairs have swivel casters, which can rotate 360 degrees for smooth, easy movement. Shop office chairs with casters designed for use on different surfaces, such as hardwood or carpet.
Adjustable Tilt
Like seat height, an office chair’s seat depth and back tilt have a critical impact on your comfort level while at work. To ensure you can fine-tune your sit to your body’s unique needs, shop tilt-adjustable office chairs that allow you to modify the angle of your seat. For dynamic support, choose office chairs with responsive tilt features that will adapt to your movements as you shift positions throughout the day.
Armrests & Headrests
Ergonomic office chairs cater to many aspects of the human body at rest, including the arms and neck. Many ergonomic office chairs feature padded armrests that help promote a natural, healthful posture from head to toe. Some office armchairs are equipped with height- or angle-adjustable armrests and headrests that broaden the inclusivity of the chair’s support.
Comfortable Materials
Comfortable padding and breathable fabrics are essential to your comfort over long periods of sitting. Upholstered office chairs should be plush but supportive, sturdy but breathable. Look for leather office chairs and cushioned office chairs with foam-filled padding. For breathability and temperature regulation, shop suspension mesh office chairs with ventilation.
How to Choose an Office Chair
Put your body first. The best ergonomic office chair should feature a human-centered design, but if that design doesn’t cater to your body’s unique needs, some of those ergonomic benefits may be lost. To get the most out of your chair, choose a computer chair suited to your body’s dimensions. Essential metrics to consider include seat depth, seat width, seat height, and weight capacity. Many office chairs, including the Herman Miller Aeron Chair, are available in multiple sizes to accommodate a diverse range of body types. Further, many ergonomic chairs have adjustable features that broaden their size inclusivity, such as height-adjustable and depth-adjustable seats, adjustable tilt, and adjustable armrests. Prioritize ergonomic features. Choose a chair with ergonomic features that support your body. Mitigate discomfort with an office chair with lumbar support or choose an office chair that offers total spinal support by helping stabilize the base of the spine. Working posture is not static, so look for responsive support features, such as responsive tilt and suspension seat backs, which enable an office chair to accommodate the body’s natural shifts in movement. Herman Miller’s ergonomic office chairs and adjustable office chairs are designed to last – and can easily adapt to provide the support your body needs even as it changes over time. Consider your environment and use cases. Your office space and work style can help inform the type of office chair that’s best for you. In active or collaborative spaces, prioritize mobility and choose a rolling swivel chair with casters designed to protect your office floors. If you work in a creative environment where it may be helpful to have an improved vantage point over your workstation, consider a drafting stool or height-adjustable office chair. If you anticipate hosting or attending frequent in-person or virtual meetings, consider an elegant leather office chair or executive office chair. For a sturdy place to sit and rest briefly between standing work sessions, a simple desk stool may be all you need.