Explore Different Types of Chair Seat Materials for Your Modern Office

Picking the right chair seat material is one of the most important things you will have to do if you want to enjoy all the benefits of having an ergonomic office chair. With the wrong choice of material, you will find it very hard to clean your chair, make it fit in with the rest of your office furniture, or sit in it for long hours.

As such, before choosing a particular material for your office chair seat, think long and hard about what you need from your office workstation and the kind of environment you will be working in.

If your office usually gets stifling hot during summer, an office chair mesh seat is probably the best option to go for rather than a fancy-looking leather option. You may also want to consider adding an ergonomic office chair seat cushion to make those long office hours more bearable.

These are some of the little details that will have a significant impact on your work-life experience. As such, you need to always remember the importance of the right chair seat material as you do your shopping.

Exploring Various Types of Chair Seat Materials

Spending so much time choosing the right office chair seat is probably not something you ever thought you would have to do. However, from an ergonomic and aesthetic point of view, it is a very important decision.

This article will give you all the information you need. If you are wondering which type of material to use on your tall desk chair, consider any of the following options:

1. Wooden Chair Seats

A wooden chair seat is one of the most classic options you can choose for a modern office. It is robust enough to last you a long time, while the clean natural look will remain fashionable for many years to come.

If you are looking for a good posture chair, you will find that a well-shaped wooden seat can provide a lot of lumbar support for your lower back regardless of how long you sit in it. While it might not be the most comfortable option, a wooden chair seat is strong and good-looking enough to be a worthy option.

Pros 

• Robust
• Classic looks
• Easy to clean
• Good lumbar and posture support

Cons 

• Does not handle excessive moisture or humidity well
• Wood is heavy and expensive
• Not the most comfortable option

2. Upholstered Chair Seats

Upholstering is one of the best ways to add aesthetics and comfort to an ordinary chair regardless of the underlying material or office chair dimensions. You can choose to upholster your seat using a wide range of different materials, such as fabrics or wool.

If you choose the upholstery well, you can give an old and worn-out chair a new lease on life. Upholstering also adds a lot of comfort and aesthetics to your chair’s seat.

Pros 

• Adds comfort and durability
• Gives you more design options
• Protects the underlying materials

Cons 

• Poor breathability
• Not easy to clean
• Adds weight to the chair

3. Mesh Chair Seats

If you work in an office that gets hot during summer, an office chair mesh seat is one of the best options to go for. You will enjoy how the added airflow to your body will help you keep cool and sweat-free even on the hottest of days.

Such a chair seat is also light and affordable compared to other options, such as wood. It will feel like you are sitting on air, and the material is easy to clean too.

Pros 

• Breathability
• Affordable
• Light material with a modern appeal

Cons

• Limited design
• Uncomfortable and sagging sitting position

4. Plastic Chair Seats

One of the simplest and most widely available office chair seat materials is plastic. You can find plastic chairs in almost any working environment you visit. Another great thing about this type of chair is that it is very easy to clean. No matter what you spill on it, just a simple wipe is all you need.

Plastic is also a very light and robust material, which is great if you are looking for a portable option. It is also very easy to mold into different shapes, meaning you will find a lot of unique designs.

Pros 

• Water resistant and easy to clean
• Light and portable
• Affordable
• Wide choice of colors and designs

Cons 

• Heat sensitive
• Can look cheap and tacky at times

5. Metal Chair Seats

While metal may not be the best ergonomic chair option because of how hard and uncomfortable the material is, it is still a very robust and popular option. If you want a chair seat that is guaranteed to last you a lifetime, metal is the best option to go for.

Metal chair seats are not very popular in modern offices because they lack some of the ergonomic features that customers are looking for these days. However, when functionality is the most important thing, you can never go wrong with a well-designed and strong metal chair seat.

Pros 

• Robust
• Easy to clean and maintain
• Widely available
• Heat and moisture-resistant

Cons 

• Not very comfortable
• Prone to rusting after some time
• Adds a lot of weight to the chair

6. Cushion Chair Seats

As more people start to realize the importance of office chair seat ergonomics, adding a few cushions to office chairs is becoming a popular trend. Therefore, if you already have a chair, you can simply add an ergonomic office seat cushion to make it more comfortable and productive.

A chair with cushion seat features will allow you to sit comfortably for longer periods without feeling any pain or strain on your muscles. There are also so many different types, shapes, and sizes of cushion chair seats available that you will easily find one that is suitable for your needs.

Pros 

• Comfortable
• Ergonomic support
• Many designs available

Cons

• Difficult to clean
• Adds weight to the chair

7. Combination Chair Seats

If you cannot decide on the best office chair seat option for your office, why not go for a combination of your favorite materials? Imagine combining a wooden seat with an office chair seat cushion. You will get a classic-looking design that is also comfortable and ergonomic.

Combination chair seats make use of different materials so that you can easily customize your office furniture. If you have any special requirements, such as support for lower back pain, for example, a combination chair seat may be the ultimate solution.

Pros 

• Easy to customize
• Plenty of options to choose from

Cons 

• Makes cleaning complicated
• Can be very expensive

8. Leather Chair Seats

A leather chair seat is one of the best options to choose if you are looking for an executive look for your office. It will be a perfect centerpiece that will immediately draw the attention of anyone who walks in.

However, if you regularly experience hot summers, a leather seat might not be the best desk chair for long hours. The material does not allow any breathability or airflow, meaning you will soon be sweating through your office clothes.

Pros 

• Great executive looks
• Robust material
• Easy to clean with the right materials

Cons 

• Poor breathability
• Expensive

Considerations When Choosing Chair Seat Materials

These days, with so many great office chair options available online, it can be very difficult to know which choices to go for. You need to always keep in mind the most important considerations so that you do not get easily distracted by various sales tactics.

The following are five things you need to consider before choosing any type of office chair seat materials:

Durability

Ideally, a good type of chair seat material should last at least as long as the product’s warranty. Durability is very important, especially when buying a chair that you will use often. That is one advantage robust materials such as wood and metal have over upholstery.

You need to consider how well the chair material will handle being sat on for long hours each day. The last thing you want is a chair that will not be able to withstand the normal wear and tear that ordinary office seats are exposed to.

Maintenance 

How do you plan on cleaning and maintaining your chair? Some materials are easier to maintain than others. A metal or plastic chair, for example, may only require a bit of dusting now and then, while an office chair mesh seat might need a lot more work to keep the material looking fresh and clean. 

Color

Some materials come with a lot more color options than others, which will affect your decision if, for example, you were hoping to buy a chair that matches your brand colors. Leather chair seats will have a lot fewer color options than materials such as fabric, plastic, or painted metal.

Pattern and Design 

When you choose an office chair seat cushion, for example, you will usually want something that matches the design and décor of your office. As such, you have to carefully consider the pattern and design of your chair seat. Some materials, such as leather, will work well with an executive and luxurious look, while plastic and metal may be better suited for a more functional office.

Ergonomics and Comfort

One thing you cannot afford to compromise is ergonomics. It is very important that whatever choice of material you go for, you make sure that you are buying an ergonomic office chair with lumbar support.

If, for example, you buy a wooden or metal chair that is uncomfortable, you can add an ergonomic office chair seat cushion to make it easier to sit in that chair all day.

Tips for Maintaining and Caring for Different Types of Chair Seat Materials

Whichever type of chair seat material you end up choosing, you will need to make sure you care for it as best as you can. A well-maintained office chair will continue to serve you well for a long time, which is a great way to save money by avoiding buying new furniture every couple of years.

However, each type of material has its own cleaning and maintenance recommendations which you need to keep in mind. Also, the following tips are worth remembering no matter what type of chair seat material you are using:

Clean Stains or Spills Right Away

Regardless of the type of chair seat you have, if you spill anything on it, it is best to clean it up as soon as possible. The longer you leave spills soaking into the material, the harder it will be to clean up. With materials such as wood, once the stains are completely absorbed, it may be impossible to remove them without damaging the chair.

Follow Proper Cleaning Instructions

Any reliable and trustworthy manufacturer will always provide a detailed list of instructions regarding how to care for and maintain your chair. Follow these instructions as carefully as possible whenever you decide to clean your chair seat.

Pretest Cleaners on a Small Area First

If you are unsure about how certain cleaners will interact with your seat materials, always pre-test on a small area before cleaning the whole chair. That way, if any adverse reactions occur, it will only be on a tiny area that is not easily visible. You can then switch to a more favorable type of cleaning product.

Seek Professional Help

If your office chair seat cushion needs significant cleaning, it might be best to leave it to the professionals. It is a good idea to hire a cleaning company once or twice a year to come and clean your office from top to bottom, including your seat cushions.

Get the Right Chair Seat Material for a Better Office Environment

A well-chosen office chair seat will make life a lot easier for you if you are one of those people who spend long hours in the office. There are lots of different types of materials to choose from at Autonomous, so you are bound to find an option that is well-suited to your needs.