Recommend me a home-office chair?

[ElfAndSafetyInspector]

Working from home has bloody knackered my back, mostly because I'm sitting on a bog-standard dining chair while in virtual meetings all day and the chair is slightly too short for the desk.

I did have a super posh office chair early last year but it was desperately uncomfortable because I am short - the Invisible Women problem! - and I couldn't sit back in it.

Any recommendations for an office chair suitable for a 5'3" woman which won't break the bank?

Would you get a foot rest with it?

Also have a look at the adjustability of the seat. You can also fit a back rest.

I can't recommend as I got one from Viking that was the same as what we have in the office, was not cheap. I tried a cheap one from Staples and it broke.

Others I know bought pricier ones from Ikea.

We had to do a work fitting once at a very high end funky office - the office chairs were things of beauty and having sat on one for an hour, I was hooked. However, they were made by Orangebox and eye wateringly expensive new.

When I got back to work, I sat and googled for a bit - and found one on Ebay, reconditioned for £100. I've had it 3 years now and never ever feel remotely uncomfortable on it.

I am 5" 1/2 and got a chair short enough for me to put my feet on the ground.
Unfortunately that meant the desk was too high and I either raised the chair and relieved my neck shoulder pain, or kept it low and back was fine but neck and shoulder very sore.
I'm now using a balance board as a footstool and it is quite good.

What's your budget? Any issues beyond height which means you need specific adjustments? I'd recommend something with an adjustable seat pan so you can sit properly into the backrest without the seat pressing into the back of your legs and yes a footrest would definitely be advisable

I have aeron chair which is great.

the key feature is to have an adjustable height DESK which can go about 5-10cm lower than the standard desks. A basic IKEA table+legs does this. Then you can also have the chair lower and everything works out.

Budget - probably up to £250, it looks like I'm going to be doing at least some home working indefinitely. I had a google and there were a load coming up for £1k and more! No issues beyond being a shorty mcshortarse.

Foot rest with it sounds like a good idea.

You may be able to find a refurbed one for around £250 as a pp suggested.

DH has a Herman Miller Aeron and I have the Embody. The Embody is brilliant for me as it’s very configurable - like you, I’m quite short so a chair in a ‘standard’ size won’t suit me.

Agree with the previous comment about the desk too - I have an IKEA one where the legs can be adjusted to suit my height. Game changer.

If you can find a refurbished RH Logic 300 within your budget that would be my recommendation as they are fully adjustable including the seat. Not a fan on the Aeron's as recommended by others but if you go for this you'll need the smallest size (I think it's an A) otherwise the seat will be too deep for you.

also, does your work have a fund to pay for ergonomic furniture at home? some workplaces do if you ask.

I've got an Orangebox operator chair, I think new they are pretty expenisve but this was second hand. It's really helped my back problems and is comfortable to use all day. A footrest is a good idea.

I like a good operator chair with arms, I have a staples one that I got a new one from eBay.

I bought the Ikea Flintan office chair and the Ikea footrest last November and have found them great. I am also 5ft3 and had been using a dining chair since March; my back was getting more and more stiff and sore.

Agree with RH Logic. You’ll probably need a foot rest as well if your desk is a standard height.

@parietal

also, does your work have a fund to pay for ergonomic furniture at home? some workplaces do if you ask.

Sadly, I'm self employed!

These are brilliant suggestions - thank you everyone. I'm enjoying my virtual window-shopping!