Where to Buy Ergonomic Office Chairs for Your Study, Budget to Premium

Sitting down shouldn’t be a pain in the back.

Although most of us in Singapore are now on hybrid arrangements and no longer fully WFH, it’s safe to say that the pandemic has taught us the importance of having a good, ergonomic office chair at home.

If you’re on the lookout for one, you’ve come to the right place. We break down the things to consider as well as shops you can buy one from, ranging from wallet-friendly to the ultra-premium.

Note: Prices are correct as at time of writing, with several items on sale.

What to look for when buying an office chair

Ergonomic support

At a base level, your chair should provide proper lumbar support, a comfortable seat depth and armrests (preferably adjustable). Depending on your posture, a headrest might also be necessary.

Material

The most common materials for office chairs are mesh, leather, PVC and fabric.

Aside from how it feels to the touch, the material you choose should take into account factors like maintenance and whether you’ll be turning your AC on while working/studying.

For instance, you may want to think twice about getting an expensive leather chair if you’ve got pets that may end up scratching it. Meanwhile, mesh would be a more ‘breathable’ choice for those who don’t use the AC.

Whether it suits your interior

Light coloured (neutral) fabrics are said to be more suited for wabi-sabi interiors, while warm and dark leather tones are characteristic of the mid-century modern look. The list isn’t exhaustive though, so it’s best to check in with your ID or have a look at reference images online to see if a given chair would suit your interior decor.

Explore: Discover your interior design style with this quiz

Cheap office chairs under $200

JIJI.SG

On a budget but want an office chair that won’t give you a back/neck ache?

JIJI.SG prides itself in affordable and practical furniture, and that includes a wide selection of office chairs under $200. Plus, they’re also available on Shopee, so do look out for promotions like 6.6 and 11.11 where you can stack platform vouchers on top of store discounts!

TakeASeat.sg

While TakeASeat.sg does have a pricier range of “Ergonomic Chairs” that go up to $829, its entry level office chairs start from under $100. As a whole, the brand’s tagline is that of “ergonomic lifestyle”, so we’d wager that even the latter would give you the basic spinal support necessary.

Pukami

Pukami’s Criss Cross Chair is probably not what you’d expect in a list like this and, to be fair, we’re not entirely sure how ergonomic it is as well. For one, it doesn’t seem to provide much lumbar support. For another, there aren’t any armrests.

Notwithstanding, it’s gone viral on TikTok, said to be especially comfortable for those who like to sit at their desk cross-legged (because of its width). In fact, a writer for Yahoo! Life opined that it’s a piece of furniture that she’d buy again after using it for 6 months straight.

Ergonomic office chairs under $1,000

Ergotune

Known for their quality and reasonable price point, Ergotune will likely be one of names that pop up when you ask your friends for ergonomic office chair recommendations. Like other shops in this list, they sell a range of home office products including standing desks and workspace accessories to maximise comfort and productivity.

Hinomi

Rooted in the belief that ergonomics extend beyond office environments (and into our homes), Hinomi started in Singapore but now ships to 25 countries worldwide, with showrooms in Paris and London following their local success.

Notably, the company has chiropractor endorsements and a line of ergonomic furniture designed specifically for children.

SIHOO

Despite being relatively new to the office furniture space, SIHOO has been gaining in traction locally, with many positive reviews on forums like Reddit and HardWareZone. In particular, the SIHOO M57 is said to be super breathable (i.e. ideal for Singapore’s humid weather) with adjustable lumbar support for users of different heights.

TTRacing

In recent years, many homeowners have opted for gaming chairs in their home office setup, given that they’re likewise designed for users to sit comfortably over long periods of time. But regardless of whether you prefer the ‘traditional’ office chair aesthetic or find gaming chairs more comfortable, TTRacing has choices for both.

P.S. If you’re a fan of Star Wars or the Avengers, you’ll also be pleased to know that they have collaborations on both fronts (and more).

SecretLab

On the topic of gaming chairs, of course we couldn’t go without mentioning homegrown brand Secretlab. Grounded in a philosophy that you shouldn’t buy a chair just for one task, the company believes that a good chair shouldn’t place limits on your posture. It also posits that movement is necessary to alleviate strain on the body.

As such, their chairs let you switch between multiple activities (be it work, Netflix, gaming) and support natural posture changes effortlessly.

Premium/designer office chairs

Flokk

Boasting Norwegian design that remains relevant even after 30 years since it was first launched, Flokk’s HÅG Capisco 8106 is classic in the world of designer office furniture.

Its standout (read: unconventional) form isn’t just for vanity’s sake though. It’s meant to be versatile such that its armrests support you whether you’re sitting facing forwards, backwards or sideways.

The HÅG Capisco 8106 and other Flokk office chairs can be purchased locally at ergokid.

Herman Miller

Last but certainly not the least, the gold standard of ergonomic office chairs: Herman Miller. Designed by world renown designers, their chairs have a timeless appeal and are uncompromising in quality.

According to people who work long hours and happen to have Herman Millers at the office, you can tell the difference when sitting on one compared to a regular office chair. Plus, it’ll last you for years, making it worth the investment if you’re considering getting one for your WFH setup.

Herman Miller chairs can be purchased from their official partner in Singapore, Xtra. Alternatively, consider secondhand pieces for a fraction of the price from online marketplaces like Carousell.

One last note

Our bodies were not designed to remain in the same position for long. No matter how ergonomic a chair may be, don’t forget to stand up and/or stretch every 20-30 minutes if possible!

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Got other ergonomic office chair recommendations? Let us know in the comments below! 👇