Ergonomics seems to be one of the latest buzzwords, however the scientific field has been informing the design of our workplace for years. With a wide range of office furniture now on the market, you can find solutions that cater to every requirement - from budget friendly to bespoke materials to suit your brand. 

However, ergonomically designed furniture takes a different approach: it places the user’s needs as most important. As individuals, employees will have different needs for support, both for body types and how they personally like to work. Coordinating this with your budget, brand requirements and office space available isn’t always easy. 

Here’s everything you need to consider when choosing ergonomic furniture for your office or home workspace…

What counts as ergonomic?

When we choose furniture for our ergonomics range, we specifically look for elements of  comfort and efficiency that enhance your working environment. Differing from traditional office furniture, ergonomic furniture ensures the user’s body is kept in a safe and upright position to reduce stress on the body. 

People normally think about chairs first when they hear ergonomics. It’s understandable as this is the piece of equipment with the most personalisation and has the most impact on your comfort during your working day. Ergonomic chairs typically have more supportive features to help with correct placement of your neck, hips and spine. With features like a headrest to support neck and shoulders or an adjustable backrest to support the natural curve of the spine. 

Ergonomic furniture in the office

For some offices that have strict brand guidelines, having individual chairs chosen by the user isn’t always possible. Mis-matched furniture can throw off the design of some offices. The best way around this is to buy a chair with lots of adjustable features so that your team can set them up in the best way for them. With adjustable height, arm rests and lumbar support, every individual in your team should be able to find a comfortable working position. When you don’t have fixed workstations, the adjustable features of the chairs allow for easy set up when hot desking. 

Accessories can be useful too as a way of allowing your team to personalise their space. Footrests, laptop and monitor stands, supportive mouse mats and keyboard wrist rests are among the most common and easiest accessories to use. They can also be the most beneficial for alleviating pain and preventing long term injury. 

Ergonomic office furniture for the home

With the rise of remote working during the pandemic, people found themselves in a situation where they had to work in their home space. Not everyone has free space for a designated home office or working area, so many work at the kitchen table, or on the sofa! Also, not everyone wanted to create a home office as they saw it as temporary measures, but now find themselves with permanent work from home roles. 

For those who have a home office, having the freedom to design it in a way that you like - away from the restrictions of brand guidelines - means you can invest in pieces that you want. Choosing a chair that works for your body or even investing in a height adjustable desk can do wonders for your comfort during your working hours. 

If you don’t have the space or desire to invest in office furniture for your home, making some clever purchases can help your overall comfort and productivity. A pop-up desk is a great fix for those who don’t have the space for a designated home office, and it folds away to a very compact size so it’s easy to store. While not recommended for the long term, lap desks can help with working on the couch and double up as a monitor stand for when you’re sitting at the kitchen table. It’s amazing what some simple accessories can do to improve your working life. 

For more ideas on how to make your working space more comfortable, get in touch: furntiure@fenns.co.uk