Working from home should feel just as comfortable and productive as being in a well-designed office. The right ergonomic setup can make a huge difference to how you feel while working and at the end of the day, helping you stay focused, energised, and free from unnecessary aches and pains.
That’s why it’s worth investing in a chair from a specialist ergonomic chair provider, where qualified ergonomists are an integral part of the team. Posturite expertise ensures you’re not just buying a chair, but choosing a solution that properly supports your body and the way you work. Knowledge of back pain prevention from your ergonomic chair supplier is key.
In this blog I’m going to compare two bestselling office chairs ideal for working from home:
Both WFH chairs are affordable, both chairs are genuinely ergonomic. Which will be best for you and your team?
Does the Homeworker Ergonomic Chair have the essential features of a comfortable desk chair?
Yes! The comfortable Homeworker Ergonomic Chair with a 5-star base offers all the essential adjustments to achieve a suitable working posture and meets Display Screen Equipment (DSE) requirements.
The adjustments in seat height, backrest height and independent backrest angle ensure carefully-designed contact in the essential areas of the body, as well as optional armrests to suit your preference.
The fact that a long warranty is provided can reassure you that you can expect this chair to be long-lasting:
- 5 year warranty on structural parts
- 2 year warranty on moving parts and fabric
It conforms to the BS EN 15373:2007 standard for furniture strength and stability.
All-important home office chair adjustability
The adjustability of the Homeworker Ergonomic Chair is a key benefit. Here’s the video showing you how to set up and adjust this home office chair – also giving a great visual overview of the features:
91% of the 551 reviews for the Homeworker Ergonomic Chair are 4 and 5 stars as I write. A 5-star review from Kris commented that:
“I hadn't realised how unsuitable my old chair was for me until I had this one.”
Which features does the Homeworker Plus chair have additionally?
The Homeworker Plus is an upgrade on the Homeworker chair, and offers a higher level of adjustability. This means you can fine-tune the seat and backrest angles to suit your posture and tasks. In a homeworking setup especially, this flexibility helps ensure your chair works with you, promoting both enhanced comfort and productivity.
The high quality ‘Plus’ model has all the features of the entry-level model, and more.
Here are the important additional seven features that the Homeworker Plus Chair has that the lower-priced Homeworker Chair does not:
- Adjustable and inflatable lumbar support (pictured above left)
- Lumbar depth adjustment
- Tension adjustment
- Seat tilt adjustment
- Seat depth adjustment
- Central tilt
- Ratchet back height adjustment
The further important differences are:
- Homeworker Plus has a free float mechanism; Homeworker has a fixed mechanism.
- Homeworker Plus has a slightly wider seat pan and backrest.
I’ll explain all these nine differences in the next section.
You can also use our Chair Comparison Tool to help you choose from the whole ergonomic chair collection.
What is ‘adjustable lumbar’ on an office chair and will I need it?
Adjustable lumbar support lets you change the contour of the chair backrest in the lower back to suit your spine. On the Homeworker Plus Chair this comes in the form of inflatable lumbar, where you can increase or decrease the support using the built-in air cell. You simply squeeze the ‘bulb’.
It’s worth having if you want more tailored back support, especially if you sit for long periods or experience lower back discomfort.
You can see how to use the clever inflatable lumbar support at the 2.38-minute mark of the helpful Homeworker Plus Ergonomic Chair video:
The video is presented by Posturite Consultant and Member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, Debbie Pettitt.
What’s a ‘free float mechanism’ on an office chair?
A free float mechanism allows the seat and backrest of a chair to move independently, encouraging natural, continuous movement rather than locking you into a fixed position. This supports ‘dynamic sitting’, and helps to:
- reduce strain
- improve circulation
- keep your body more active throughout the day.
The Homeworker Chair offers a fixed mechanism to provide the essential seated position for working at home whereas the Homeworker Plus offers this ‘free float mechanism’.
What’s ‘tension adjustment’ on an office chair?
The Homeworker Plus also offers tension adjustment which controls how easily your chair reclines. It lets you increase or decrease the resistance of the backrest, so you can lean back with the right level of support for your body weight and preference.
Will I need a ‘seat tilt’ on my office chair?
Seat tilt lets you angle the seat base slightly forward or backward to better support your posture. It’s useful if you want to vary your sitting position or reduce pressure on your thighs, but not everyone needs it. It depends on your comfort and how you like to work to determine if you would benefit from a seat tilt.
Is it a good thing to have ‘adjustable lumbar depth’ on an office chair?
Adjustable lumbar depth lets you change how far the lower back support of the chair is positioned towards your spine. This can be especially useful if you need to fine-tune comfort and maintain a natural sitting posture. It’s a good feature to have if you want more personalised support, particularly for long periods of sitting. As Ergonomists we are looking to mimic the natural curve of the spine with the backrest to ensure full contact with the spine.
What are the size differences between the Homeworker and Homeworker Plus?
The Homeworker Plus suits a slightly wider spectrum of sizes of people. It has a marginally wider backrest and wider seat than the Homeworker Chair. The Homeworker Plus also has a slightly shorter seat ideal for shorter people - yet with the useful seat depth adjustment it is also ideal for taller-than-average people.
The user weight limit is 150g (around 23 stone) on both chairs, and baratric chairs are the alternative for anyone who needs them.
What's the advantage of the ratchet back height adjustment?
The ‘ratchet’ adjustments gives you easier incremental step adjustments up or down.
Do these office chairs both have armrests?
Yes there are optional armrests on both chairs and they are height-adjustable. On the Plus model, the armrests are also depth-adjustable.
Final buying decision on Homeworker vs Homeworker Plus chairs
The Homeworker Ergonomic Chair provides the essentials for home working whilst the Homeworker Plus goes a step further with additional comfort and back care features. At the time of writing this blog, the Homeworker Plus Ergonomic Chair costs just 35% more than the Homeworker Ergonomic Chair and many people consider the small extra investment well worth it.
The adjustable lumbar depth is a valuable additional feature if you choose the ‘Plus’ model and it can make a noticeable difference to comfort during long periods of sitting, especially if you’re working from home full-time. Just remember to take plenty of breaks away from your desk, no matter which chair you choose!
For those who prefer a breathable mesh option for the office chair, the Homeworker Mesh Back Ergonomic Chair is also available. It combines a supportive mesh back (not all mesh is created equal!) with practical adjustability, helping keep you cool while still maintaining good postural support.
If your budget allows, it’s worth considering a chair like the Positiv Plus Ergonomic Chair. It offers an even higher level of adjustability and is designed to provide more sophisticated ergonomic support.
Pairing a well-adjusted ergonomic chair with a sit-stand desk can further improve comfort and wellbeing when working from home. The small KOJI desk is popular with homeworkers and is easy to use because the transition is electric. Alternating between sitting and standing throughout the day helps reduce static posture, supports circulation, and keeps energy levels more consistent.
I hope this explanation of what the chair features mean has been useful, but remember that you are welcome to ask your own questions about ergonomic chairs on the Posturite Online Chat. My colleagues who are ergonomic product experts are ready to help you!
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