As working from home seems to be the new normal for the foreseeable future, we've rounded up the best design office chairs to make your home workspace as comfortable as possible. Our homes feature some of the most iconic chairs in the world, from the Wassily in this New York home to the Eames lounge chair in our mid-century haven in LA. So, safe to say we're pretty clued up on the topic. From ergonomically designed desk chairs to super-sleek kneeling seats, these chairs promise comfort and style, allowing you to focus on the task at hand. Whether that's work or browsing Plum Guide's collection of homes – we're not judging.
Autochrome, Plum Guide home in New York
Floating in Mid-Air, Plum Guide home in Los Angeles
Adelaide Chair
Adelaide office chair lamp desk windows work
Swathed in quilted blue velvet, this stylish twist on BoConcept’s classic Adelaide chair adds a touch of sophistication to your home office setup. The modern desk chair has a curved back with rounded armrests shaped to fit the sitter’s body and a dipped hem for leg comfort, while the slender swivel base allows for seamless turning for easy access around the room, taking the pressure off your back. We prefer the legs in a lacquered matt black, but the polished aluminium adds an industrial touch.
HÅG Capisco 8106 Ergonomic Office Chair
Originally created in the 1980s by Norwegian designer Peter Opsvik, the Capisco design office chair has been consistently enhanced and finessed before arriving at the 8106 Ergonomic model. With a saddle-shaped back, it may not look like the most comfortable of seats – but that is precisely the point. The shape encourages you to experiment and find your own ideal posture, without feeling restricted by the chair itself. Inspired by a horse rider's saddle, the HÅG Capisco promotes an active posture, keeping you fit and focussed as you concentrate on your work. A final plus: all of the desk chairs in the collection are environmentally friendly, made from recycled car bumpers and waste plastic.
Sihoo M57 Ergonomic Office Chair
This chair brings together all the necessary features of a home office chair for a fraction of the price. Its minimalist design fits in naturally with most home office setups, offering a range of colours to suit your preference (although the sleek M57 grey is our favourite). The chair has a mesh back to allow for airflow, several adjustable options, including headrest, armrest and seat height, lumbar support, and tilt possibilities, while the seat of this design office chair is designed to reduce pressure on your legs and hips. If you’re looking for an effective, ergonomic office chair that won’t break the bank, this is your best bet.
Higgs Office Chair
Want a chair that prioritises style over specificities? (You'll find a few of those in our most design-led homes.) The Higgs office chair is the one to go for. Upholstered in soft, pine-green velvet, this office chair brings a touch of old-world glamour to your home workspace. The revival-style chair has intricate piping detail around the edges, and a strong, chrome swivel base on wheels, perfect for either days spent focussed on new tasks or evenings holed away in the office, plotting far-flung escapes, whisky in hand.
Steelcase Amia Air Office Chair
The Amia office chair has been tried, tested and preferred for years – but it was its latest design upgrade that brought it to our attention. The Amia Air retains the reliable comfortability of the original (soft cushion, upholstered leather, height-adjustable arms), but with added technology. New LiveLumbar and LiveBack mechanisms mean the chair reacts to your positioning, constantly adjusting itself to keep your posture aligned during the day. The Amia Air comes in different colours so you’re sure to get a stylish office chair that looks as good as it feels.
Wing Balans Kneeling Chair
Veering away from the ‘typical’ desk chairs, kneeling chairs have recently been recognised as one of the best ergonomic designs for your home office set up. Scientifically proven to promote healthier seated habits, the kneeling chair encourages an upright position and an active stance to strengthen back muscles and better align your spine. The Wing Balans chair has adjustable features, and the soft fabric guarantees a comfortable seating position, a great purchase for those looking for an option that combines ergonomic and orthopaedic benefits with affordability.
John Lewis & Partners Gerard Office Chair
If you’re after something with solid support features but perhaps not as pricey as other ergonomic options, John Lewis’ Gerard office chair could be the answer. The soft fabric upholstering and subtle back curve provide comfortable, supported seating, with fixed armrests promoting balanced posture and a gas-lift mechanism to adjust the chair to your desired height. While the Gerard chair does not provide as much customisation as the Humanscale or Herman Miller Aeron, the pull is in the affordability, simplicity and the minimalist design, allowing the chair to slot easily into any home office setup.
Modern Office environment with chair and plants
Humanscale Freedom Desk Chair
One of the most coveted design office chairs on the market, the Humanscale Freedom chair may be a jump in price – but you get your money’s worth. This ergonomic chair is designed to adapt to each unique user with features such as weight-sensitive recline and adjustable seat, back, arm and headrests. Described by The New York Times as “the gold standard in office seating”, its complexities and intuitive technology are subtly hidden in the chair’s sophisticated design. Suited to those willing to branch out for something long-lasting, this desk chair is worth every penny (and there are certainly lots of them).
Varier Thatsit Balans Kneeling Chair
Maybe the thought of a kneeling chair intrigues you, but you’re not sold on the idea of purchasing a one-trick pony... Enter: Varier’s Thatsit Balance, the kneeling chair that offers the best of both worlds. Creating balance in all seated positions, Thatsit is designed for those who prefer to move around as they work. With varied seating options, you are able to recline as in any normal desk chair with an adjustable, concave backrest; lean forward in a kneeling position onto padded shin supports; or swivel round completely to lean your torso on the winged back. For the worker who needs change to spark inspiration, this kneeling chair is an ergonomic curveball to add to your home office.
Herman Miller Aeron Office Chair
Perhaps the most popular of all desk chairs, the Herman Miller Aeron is designed to ensure you can work productively while remaining supremely comfortable. The design office chair has a tilt mechanism which responds to body weight, providing you with support no matter what position you take. Comfort takes precedence: the chair has sensitive spine support and a suspension system that reacts to your posture, with easy-to-use adjustments for height, lean and range of motion, and a bouncy, mesh fabric that allows airflow, keeping you cool and alert on warm days. Still need convincing? Really? The original desk chair is on show at The Museum of Modern Art in New York, flaunting its excellent ergonomic design.
Chair in Desert Skies, Plum Guide home in Joshua Tree
If you're looking for a home away from home full of designer pieces, from chairs to lamps, then start browsing our collection. Whether it's the striking Eames lounger in Desert Skies, or something more neutral like the gorgeous study chair in Desert Wave, we've got so many design pieces you'll love.
Study chair in Desert Wave, Plum Guide home in Coachella Valley
