As a writer, I spend a lot of time working at home on my laptop. But because I don’t have the luxury of my own office, I tend to flit between the kitchen table and bedroom to try and find a comfortable position.
Admittedly, my posture is terrible (I blame having to lift and carry two kids, and the fact I’m 6ft) so you’ll often find me hunched over my laptop. Then I’ll wonder why my shoulders and back are so achy.
I bought my daughter a desk for her bedroom so she has a place to do her homework and crafts. But recently, I’ve been sneaking in there to use it while she’s at school. The hard, metal foldaway chair she uses was doing nothing for my back, though.
The benefits of an ergonomic chair
I decided to get a comfortable desk chair for working from home. I’m by no means an ergonomics expert, but my experience of working for a health and safety company taught me that ergonomic chairs can help resolve aches and pains, and even prevent musculoskeletal issues (providing you use them correctly, of course).
Even though I know the best position for sitting at a desk, I still find bad habits creeping in like slouching in the chair and not keeping my feet flat on the floor.
I looked at Posturite’s range of home office chairs on their website and, after speaking to Product Specialist Gareth on Live Chat about the difference between the Homeworker and the Homeworker Plus chairs, I ordered the Homeworker Plus Ergonomic Chair.
Although it’s slightly more expensive, the Plus has extra adjustments such as:
- Seat angle
- Seat depth
- Inflatable lumbar support
I knew these were exactly what I needed.
If you’re in a quandary about which ergonomic office chair to opt for, drop the Posturite Live Chat team a message – they’re really helpful and friendly.
Posturite’s home chair set-up service
I also chose to add on home installation, set up and support for my new office chair in the delivery option. It didn’t cost much extra and meant I got an experienced installation technician to set up the chair to my exact needs, rather than me fiddling around and guessing the best position.
Delivery was quick and I was able to choose the day I wanted it delivered, so I could work it around other commitments like my work and the kids’ activities.
On the day of delivery, I was kept informed by text message of when Stephen, the Posturite technician, would arrive to set up my Homeworker Plus Ergonomic Chair. He arrived on time and I directed him to my daughter’s bedroom, which we had a laugh about, especially when he accidentally stepped on one of her toys and made it leap into song!
Features and benefits of the Homeworker Plus ergonomic chair
Stephen gave me a demonstration of all the features of the chair and how they work. He asked me to sit in the chair and adjusted the height so my hips were slightly above my knees with my feet flat on the floor.
Then he asked me to get into a comfortable position for working so he could see how close I was to the desk, and adjusted the depth of the chair to leave just enough room between me and the desk. He also adjusted the armrests so they were at the right height for me to use my laptop.
He showed me how the seat could be tilted and explained that by allowing myself to tilt back in the chair slightly, I can have a bit of a stretch even when I’m sitting down, and avoid my limbs seizing up, which has happened before if I stay in one position for too long. The back of the chair can also be locked in place to prevent tilting if you prefer.
The best feature, and the reason I chose this particular chair, is the inflatable lumbar support (pictured below), which comes ready to use. I could really notice the support it gave to my lower back.
Bespoke set up and expert advice
Stephen explained everything about the ergonomic chair really clearly and gave some great advice on how to find the best position to work from at a desk. Sure, I could’ve just watched the videos on the website about how to set up the chair. But I found it valuable for someone to explain it face-to-face and tailor the installation to my needs.
During the set-up, Stephen pointed out that my laptop wasn’t at eye level, meaning that, even though my chair was set up correctly, I’d end up straining my neck and could cause myself a lot of pain. He recommended getting a laptop stand and separate keyboard to lift my laptop to the right height.
Thanks to Stephen’s expert knowledge and advice, I now know better and will be making positive changes to the way I work. I would definitely recommend paying that little bit extra for the home chair installation and set-up service from Posturite. That way, you can be confident your home office chair has been set up correctly for your needs.
It doesn’t take long, and they can take your old chair away to be recycled, so you don’t have to worry about it clogging up the hallway or making a special trip to the tip.
The ‘new chair smell’
It’s hard to find any negatives to the Homeworker Plus chair. Since it arrived, I’ve really noticed a difference in my posture when I’m working and I’m suffering fewer aches and pains.
However, my daughter was quick to point out she doesn’t like the smell of the new chair! I guess it’s like the ‘new car smell’ you get when you buy a new set of wheels.
I can’t say I’ve really noticed a strong smell from the chair, but her nose is a lot more sensitive than mine. At least it’s on wheels so it’s easy to wheel in and out of her room when I need to!
Here's a video showing you how to set up your Homeworker Plus chair yourself, and it's also great for showing you the chair features and adjustments in action:
Take a look at the entire collection of home office chairs from Posturite.
