21 of the best desk chairs

As summer draws to a close, many of us are turning our thoughts towards work, and there’s definitely a back-to-school feeling about this time of year. So, it seems like a good point to share a round-up of the best desk chairs, with a focus on designs that offer a balance between form and function.

It’s well-known that our working environment and posture can have a huge impact on our productivity and wellbeing. And, with many people shifting towards home-working on a permanent or semi-permanent basis, it’s worth taking the time to create a comfortable set-up. But that needn’t mean compromising on style, as the below selection demonstrates. I’ve trawled hundreds of chairs and picked out 21 models that offset minimalist looks with practical features and good support. These aren’t the kind of chunky, utilitarian eyesores that you’d normally associate with office chairs – they’re elegant, pared-back designs that will complement rather than dominate whatever space they’re in. As always I’ve tried to include options for a range of budgets, and there’s a variety of base types, materials and shapes to suit different needs. You’ll also find a few tips on choosing the right desk chair for you at the end of the post.

1. ‘LÅNGFJÄLL’ office chair (available in beige, blue, dark grey or brown-pink, with a black or white base, with or without casters, and with or without armrests), from £90, IKEA
2. HAY ‘About A Chair’ (available in numerous upholstered and non-upholstered options, with a black, chrome or white base, with or without armrests, and with or without casters), from £279, Utility Design
3. ‘Radoni’ grey swivel office chair, £225, Perch & Parrow
4. ‘Fernanda’ grey and ash-veneer office chair, £199, MADE.com [AD – affiliate link]
5. &Tradition ‘Rely’ office chair (available in numerous upholstered and non-upholstered options, with a black, chrome or bronzed base, with or without armrests, and with or without casters), from £280, Nest.co.uk
6. ‘Keira’ office chair (available in ‘Steel Bouclé’ and black, ‘Marl Grey’ and brass, ‘Pine Green’ and brass, or ‘Warm Caramel’ and brass), £199, MADE.com [AD – affiliate link]
7. Humanscale ‘Liberty’ office chair (available in grey or black), £729, John Lewis
8. Vitra ‘Rookie’ office chair (available in numerous fabrics, with a black or grey base, and with casters for hard flooring or carpet), from £413, Utility Design
9. ‘FJÄLLBERGET’ conference chair (available in white-stained oak veneer and beige, or black-stained ash veneer and grey), £150, IKEA
10. Viccarbe ‘Aleta’ beige and black swivel chair, £849, Nest.co.uk
11. ANYDAY ‘Nova’ grey office chair, £70, John Lewis
12. ‘Beck’ mesh office chair (available in grey or black), £70, Habitat
13. &Tradition ‘Elefy’ swivel chair (available in numerous upholstered and non-upholstered options, with a black or aluminium base, and with or without casters), from £325, Nest.co.uk
14. Herman Miller ‘Aeron’ grey and polished aluminium office chair (available in several sizes), £1,499, John Lewis
15. Vitra ‘Eames EA Aluminium’ chair (available in numerous upholstery options, with a swivel or non-swivel base, with or without armrests, and with or without casters), from £1,500, Nest.co.uk
16. AM.PM ‘Suliac’ oak-veneer office chair, £285, La Redoute
17. Muuto ‘Fiber’ office armchair (available in several upholstery options, with a grey or black base, with or without armrests, and with or without casters), from £555, Nest.co.uk
18. ‘Knox’ office chair (available in ‘Soot Grey’, ‘Retro Orange’ or ‘Rosa Weave’), £109, MADE.com [AD – affiliate link]
19. ‘Shell’ office chair (available in grey or green), £179, John Lewis
20. Grey faux-leather office chair, £300, Cox & Cox
21. ‘HATTEFJÄLL’ office chair (available in grey, beige, brown-pink or black, and with or without armrests), £179, IKEA

Above: two different versions of Muuto’s ‘Fiber’ chair, which comes with or without casters and upholstery

Here are a few tips to help you find the best desk chair for you:

• Consider how long you’ll be sitting at your desk. If it’s only for an hour or two here and there, then you can probably get away with a standard fixed or swivel design. If it’s all day, every day, then it’s worth investing in a fully adjustable ergonomic chair
• Similarly, an ergonomic chair is ideal if you’ll be sharing it with someone else, as each person will be able to set it up to suit their own preferences
• Make sure the chair is compatible with the height of your desk – you don’t want to be slumping over or reaching up to type. Many of the above designs have height-adjustable seats, but if you have your heart set on a fixed chair then check there’s a gap of around 30cm between the seat and the desk. You could even buy your chair first and choose a desk that fits, rather than the other way round – it might sound counter-intuitive, but the chair will have a much bigger impact on your day-to-day comfort
• You also need to take your own height into account. You should be able to sit with your feet flat on the floor and your thighs level or very slightly angled downwards (anything else will put pressure on your lower spine)
• Ensure the seat isn’t too deep – ideally, you should be able to lean against the backrest and still have a gap of at least 3cm between the edge of the seat and the back of your knees. Anything less could restrict your circulation and cause discomfort
• Think about what kind of base you want. If you tend to move around a lot, a chair on casters will be ideal. I particularly like IKEA’s ‘LÅNGFJÄLL’ model, whose pressure-sensitive wheels brake when you stand up and release when you sit down. Also very clever is Vitra’s ‘Rookie’ chair, which has a choice of castors depending on whether you have hard floors or carpet
• If you tend to get hot and sticky leaning against a backrest, consider a design made from breathable mesh. The Humanscale, Habitat and Herman Miller models above are good examples
• If you choose a chair that doesn’t have full lumber support, you might want to buy a special cushion to aid good posture and prevent back issues. Posturite has a good range

Above: IKEA’s ‘LÅNGFJÄLL’ and &Tradition’s ‘Rely’ chair

Please note this post contains affiliate links (all clearly marked), which means I will receive a small commission on any resulting sales. You won’t pay any more by clicking on these links than you would by visiting the websites directly.

All images via the respective brands above