How to Choose the Best Office Chair for Your Body Type

Body type, work style, and overall health all play a role in determining the type of office chair that is right for you. Here are the factors to consider when selecting your next office chair.

When it comes to health and productivity at work, it might feel like the cards are stacked against you. With limited breaks, artificial light, constant distractions, and hours sitting in front of a screen, it’s easy to see how burnout happens both mentally and physically. On top of that, the chair you’re sitting on was mass-produced in a factory, designed to be affordable and only somewhat comfortable for the average person.

The problem is, you’re not average, you’re unique, and sitting in a chair designed for someone else isn’t helping your health or focus; it’s actually doing the opposite. The wrong chair can create poor posture habits leading to further discomfort, distraction, and even long-term health problems.

So if you’re looking for a new chair, the first step is to change your perspective. Instead of viewing an office chair simply as a place to sit during work hours, see it as an investment in your health, productivity, and general well-being.

If your workspace were a football team, and the goal was comfort and productivity, your chair would be the quarterback. 

The question is, which chair do you choose to take you to the endzone? With every player on the bench claiming they have the best office chair, it can be hard to decide. Despite all the noise, one thing is certain: whether you’re tall, petite, or somewhere in between, the best office chair needs to be personalized.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the following factors to consider when choosing the best ergonomic office chair:

1. Body type
2. Posture
3. Comfort
4. Durability

1. Your Body Type: The Foundation of Comfort

As the title of this blog suggests, your body type is the most important thing to consider when it comes to finding the right office chair.

Think of your chair as you would your runners or football cleats: a shoe that’s too big and you’ll be floating around and have to adjust how you move, making it awkward and uncomfortable; a shoe that’s too small and you’ll be squeezed and pinched in pressure points. Similarly, if you pick a chair that’s too big you’ll be awkward in your positioning/posture. If you pick a chair that’s too small, you’ll be crammed which will create discomfort and distraction.

If you want to play at your best, the wrong sized equipment won’t only hold you back but will lead to long-term pain; an office chair is no different. Here’s how your size and shape should influence your chair choice:

• For Taller Individuals: Look for a chair with a higher backrest and adjustable seat depth to ensure ample legroom and neck support. Opt for models that offer adjustable lumbar support to accommodate a longer torso.

• For Petite Individuals: A chair with a lower seat height and a smaller backrest will help prevent discomfort compared to an office chair that’s too large and overwhelming. Make sure you can adjust the seat height and armrests so your feet remain flat on the floor for optimal circulation.

• Weight Consideration: Select a chair with a weight capacity that exceeds your own. This ensures the chair can provide proper support without compromising comfort or longevity. At LIFEFORM Chairs, we have a weight limit recommendation of up to 350lbs.

A chair that aligns with your body type and dimensions is the first step to creating a fully customized ergonomic workstation. Just like a pair of perfect fitting football cleats, the right size keeps you in control of your comfort and focus.

2. Posture: Chair and Body Communication 

A quarterback needs to have a clear communication with the rest of the team, to call plays and make successful passes. Your chair uses its specific ergonomic features to communicate with your body too. The right features in a chair will tell your body to stay in alignment, relieving you of slouched shoulders and a hunched neck. Correct posture is key to avoid long-term health consequences and to reach the comfort-focus endzone.

Here are the features to look for in an office chair that supports good posture:

• Lumbar Support: Choose a chair with built-in lumbar support that can be adjusted to fit the curve of your spine. This support is crucial for preventing lower back pain and maintaining a neutral spine.

• Seat Depth Adjustment: The right seat depth ensures that your hips are in contact with the back rest and that there is a small space between the edge of the seat and the back of your legs. This encourages a correct pelvic tilt, upright posture, and improves circulation.

• Adjustable Armrests: Armrests that adjust to your height and keep your arms at a neutral level helps reduce shoulder strain and a rounded back. Not to be overlooked, this simple feature can make a significant difference in comfort throughout the day.

A chair that communicates with your body and supports your posture effectively can help reduce fatigue and prevent musculoskeletal issues. With these ergonomic features in place, your quarterback will be at the top of their conference.

There’s just a few more items to address before the team is ready for the Super Bowl.

3. Comfort: Soft AND Supportive

A football player’s protective gear needs to be soft enough to move fluidly, but hard enough to support and protect the player under impact. A well-designed office chair is no different; it needs to cushion your body without being so soft that it lets you sink into more poor sitting habits.

Here are some features to look for when shopping for your next chair:

• Padded Seat and Backrest: Look for high-density foam or memory foam padding that contours to your body, providing relief from pressure points while you sit. A memory foam seat cushion that is soft but supportive will protect you from sit-bone pain, nerve pinches, and will allow circulation to flow naturally. If a seat is too soft, it will collapse under pressure, and you’ll feel the chair frame at the bottom after long-term use.

Our SmartCore Seating Technology is a two layer system, a high-density foam covering the frame to prevent bottoming out and to provide support, and then our proprietary LIFE-Foam™ memory foam layer on top to provide softness, reducing pressure on your sit bones and joints. It’s like sitting on a cloud.

• Recline Feature: A tilt mechanism that allows you to recline or shift positions throughout the day can help prevent stiffness and promote better circulation. Some chairs even have adjustable tension, so you can control how much resistance you get when leaning back.

• Headrests: If you often find yourself leaning forward or experiencing neck strain, a chair with a built-in headrest can provide much-needed support to reduce neck and shoulder pain. An adjustable headrest option is a great addition to a mid-back office chair model.

Ultimately, the more comfortable your chair, the longer you can work efficiently without distraction or discomfort. But remember, long-term comfort doesn’t just mean soft; it also means supportive.

4. Durability: Quality That Lasts

Last and definitely not least is durability. A top quality football player needs to have a long-term mind set. Without longevity, their legacy is short lived and their team will have to find a new quarterback, setting them back years of progress.

When we look at an office chair as an investment, it’s important to choose one that will stand the test of time. A high-quality chair can endure years of daily use without compromising its comfort and structure, ensuring you meet your goals with minimal hiccups and replacement players along the way.

Here’s what to look for in a durable office chair:

• Sturdy Materials: Look for chairs built with precision steel mechanisms, reinforced bases, and premium upholstery that resists wear over time. High-quality materials, from performance textiles to heavy-duty casters, ensure your chair delivers comfort and reliability for years, not months.

Don’t forget, the best performing players aren’t cheap…you get what you pay for.

• Warranty and Support: Reputable manufacturers offer warranties on their products, ensuring that you’re covered in case of defects or malfunctions. Always check for a warranty before making your purchase.

Each part of a chair plays an important role. A reliable manufacturer will help you make appropriate replacements when parts reach the end of their lifetime.

• Eco-Friendly Options: Many modern office chairs are designed with sustainability in mind, using recycled materials and environmentally friendly manufacturing practices. Opting for eco-conscious chairs not only benefits your comfort but also the natural environment and local communities.

Quality chairs are built to last. When building your team, make a wise investment that pays off in the long run, saving you from making a new purchase every few years.

A Custom Office Chair is the Perfect Office Chair

You wouldn’t pick a quarterback for your team from a catalog, so why would you for your office chair? Instead, look for the features and customizations that align with your unique needs and body type. Whether you suffer from back pain, want to improve your posture, or simply need a more comfortable place to work, LIFEFORM has a chair for you.

We’re committed to offering custom ergonomic office chairs, tailored to your body and built to last. With options for every body type and work style, we help you create a healthier workspace so you can win the Super Bowl of comfort and productivity.

Take our chair finder quiz to find your perfect LIFEFORM chair.

Add a feel-good dopamine splash to your office decor.

What do Strawberries & Cream and an Electric Blue Pantsuit Have In Common?

One single molecule is the common thread that runs between many things we would never (normally) associate with each other. Delicious food. Bright Fuschia pants. A walk through the forest.

The list is long…

This molecule is produced by your brain. And it’s so powerful, you can’t escape its influence. In fact, it’s probably driving your behavior right now.

It’s called dopamine.

You’ve heard of it before, but you probably know it as the pleasure molecule.

When you’re comfortable and life is good, your brain releases chemicals like dopamine and serotonin, which lead to happy feelings. And of course, these chemicals have all kinds of healthy effects on us like improving our digestion, memory and focus, and allowing us to sleep better.

On the flip side, when you’re uncomfortable or unfamiliar with a situation, you can experience negative feelings, such as anxiety or fear.

Now, before you become worried we’re going to get all scientific and gloomy on you, relax! We’ve had enough negativity and doom over the past few years. We’re here to embrace positivity, playfulness, and pleasure.

Blissful Buzz for 2022

Pinterest is predicting this year will be the year of feel-good dopamine blasts. While they’re mainly focused on how we dress – electric blue pantsuits and rainbow dresses – we thought it would be wonderful to show you how WE at LIFEFORM® add dopamine to our world.

Because the trend is all about having fun – we extend that enthusiasm to include our office chairs. Specifically, expressing our personalities through creating a fun, unique chair that includes splashes of color. Or perhaps you’re more about creating a unique pattern that makes you smile every time you catch a glimpse of your chair. Something that sparks a conversation.

With the wide variety of beautiful texture and fabric options, we thought perhaps we could try the addition of a flashy embroidered flower or two-tone leather.

And if you’re looking to extend the experience past the chair, the design for your office could also include mixing bold colors and patterns with neutrals so it’s not too overwhelming. There is a fine line between revelry and regret. Eclectic art pieces and decor in bright colors can be combined with bold lighting, rich wall tones, and colorful accents.

Feeling Good By Doing Good

While color and texture are a few ways to have a Dopamine hit, many of us are happy when we know we’re doing good – for ourselves and the planet. Like using responsibly sourced, local products.

Did you know about our upholstery?

• Our beautiful leather is responsibly sourced through our partnership with Moore & Giles, a family-owned business, headquartered in Virginia since 1933. Their practices meet or exceed standards of government regulations for environmental responsibility
• We use Brisa Ultrafabric, which is odorless, skin-friendly, and allergen-free. These materials are PVC-free and do not contain POPs, formaldehyde, heavy metals, or phthalates
• DreamWeave produces little to no waste during production. Most patterns are made with 100% Post-Consumer Recycled Polyester and are Certified Carbon Neutral. All Dream Weave fabrics are proudly made in the U.S.

No matter how you get your hit of dopamine and all those feel-good emotions, whether you create a beautiful color palette or (and!) you choose responsible products to do it, we believe it’s time to express yourself and your individuality.

Who knew you can improve your health simply by wearing your vibrant electric blue pantsuit and eating your delicious dessert too?

Get Pain Relief With Our Discreet Coccyx-Cut Out (tailbone) Posture Cushions!

Does this sound familiar?

• You need to get up and walk around during the day to relieve pressure in your tailbone area
• You recently had a bad fall backward and you still feel pain and throbbing in your tailbone every time you sit down
• You’ve asked to stand during meetings because sitting is just too painful
• You’re pregnant and have begun to experience tailbone pain when you sit down
• You can’t take long car rides without constantly fidgeting to reduce the discomfort

When you have Coccyx pain, it may feel like you can’t get any relief. It is often a sharp and very specific pain.

Sudden onset of tailbone (coccyx) pain is usually associated with trauma, externally – such as from a fall backward onto the bone, or internally – such as in childbirth. However, onset can also be gradual; commonly related to sustained pressure from sitting or localized force or impact on your muscle. Similar pain can also come from your Sciatic muscle, which is found near your buttock area, very close to your tailbone.

So how can you reduce Coccyx pain?

Sitting in a position where the pelvis is rolled back places more load (i.e. weight) on the sitting bones and Coccyx. With the right support, like a specifically-designed cushion to hold your pelvis in the correct forward position, it takes the pressure off the coccyx and the pain is reduced. When there is less pressure, the area has a chance to heal. And you can get back to focusing on other things – other than the pain and discomfort.

So what do Coccyx Cushions look like?

Coccyx cushions are designed to look like a large U or a wedge – with an area on the back of the cushion which has been cut out. Because of this “missing” piece of cushion, the pressure is removed. As mentioned above, a coccyx cushion alters the pelvic position to redistribute your body weight further forward on your buttock area and sit bones, which can be particularly helpful.

The best cushions are made with supportive memory foam; a cushion with enough support so it doesn’t collapse when you put your weight on it but soft enough that you can sit comfortably without numbness.

The LIFE-Foam™ temperature and pressure-sensitive memory foam reduces pressure and improves circulation, conforming to your body and returning to its original form when not in use. Our material is also easy-to-clean and breathable for additional comfort.

How can you use our Coccyx support cushions?

We’ve spent years listening to our customers. As a result of your feedback, LIFEFORM® understands the pain and discomfort Coccyx injuries can create. You can’t concentrate on your work, you avoid concerts and sporting events, you can’t sit in the car for long periods of time. It takes a toll on your quality of life.

We are here to help.

We have designed both a portable posture seat cushion (with an optional Coccyx Cut-Out) you can take with you wherever you need to sit. So you can now – comfortably – go to that important hockey game, finally enjoy the next in-person concert or take that family trip you’ve been putting off.

In addition, we’ve engineered a special Coccyx cushion as part of our ergonomic office chairs. These exclusive cut-out cushions allow you to customize your chair and make you as comfortable and ergonomically supported as possible.

If you’re looking for Coccyx (tailbone) relief, look no further than LIFEFORM®.

An already individualized chair becomes even more ‘bespoke’

Monogramming your office chair shows your chic and unique style

In a world where so much is mass-produced through assembly-line technology and designed for easy disposal, there is something incredibly personal and timeless about monogramming important items.

Handbags, wallets, and stationary are traditional pieces personalized through embroidery, embossing, or illustrations.

However, we want you to think about another item to be elevated to that unforgettable stature.

Your custom-built and handmade LIFEFORM® Chair.

Why monogram?

Monogramming started out as a practical method of identifying property. Today, it’s evolved into an excellent branding tool for your personal (and company) identity. Adding a monogram to your LIFEFORM® Chair (which is customized to suit your ergonomic needs) makes it more unique, telling people who you are or who you aspire to be.

An already individualized chair becomes even more ‘bespoke’.

Whether you want to express your personality (will you choose flowing script or block-style letters?) or you want to create an heirloom piece handed down to the next generation (create memories of curling up for storytime), monogramming is one more way to create an original experience. May we suggest that either the 2490 or the 2390 is the perfect canvas to help you stand out…

And if you’re purchasing a LIFEFORM® Chair for a loved one as a gift, adding a monogram is a wonderful way to make them feel incredibly special. That touch of individual customization shows how much thought you’ve put into your gift and adds dramatic flair.

Are there any monogramming rules?

“Guidelines” might be a better word. The rules are much looser these days, making it easy to add a fun and personal touch to items. There are so many modern ways to make this trend work; there is truly a monogram style for everyone.

After all, the purpose of monogramming in the 21st century is to have fun with it!

Let your monogram tell YOUR story.

Which Initials and in what order?

A monogram usually consists of a person’s initials — usually a variation on the first, middle, and last name. We’ve included the traditional monogramming guidelines, along with a few modern ones.

However, don’t feel confined by what you see as old-school; it’s about expressing your personality.

One Initial Monogram

• While Last name has been most common, First name is gaining in popularity
• Try your One initial in a large, contemporary, or colorful font for extra impact

Example for John Smith:

S
*LAST*

J
*FIRST*
——————

Two Initial Monograms

• Two-initial monograms combine the first and last initials.

Example for John Smith:

JS

*FIRST *LAST*
——————

Three Initial Monograms

• Probably the most classic of monograms, the three-letter monogram has the most options.

Examples include:

Traditional Women
First, LAST, Middle.

Example for Jane Rose Smith:

JSR

*First *LAST *Middle*

Traditional Men
First, MIDDLE, Last.

Example for John Arthur Smith:

JAS

*FIRST *MIDDLE *LAST*
————

Opt for words instead of initials

If initials aren’t really your thing, don’t run away just yet! One of the best things about modern monogramming is that it doesn’t actually require initials at all. For a personalized touch that is more cheeky and customizable, try a full word instead of letters.

*His* and *Hers* (or *His* and *His*, of course)
*John*
*Jane*
*Dad*

In a shared office space, it might just save some arguments over who actually owns it!

—————

For more options on monograms, please refer to our LIFEFORM® Monogram Guide

Customize your chair even further

Now that you’ve decided on WHAT the monogram will be, go a step further and choose a font and thread color that suits your personality and taste.

Here’s an example of some of our font choices:

LIFEFORM® Chairs offers a range of options to choose from, along with many gorgeous thread colors to add the perfect finish to your monogram. Visit our LIFEFORM® Font Guide to see our complete selection of fonts.

Show pride of ownership and express your individuality with a monogrammed custom-built LIFEFORM® Chair!

Visit our website @ LIFEFORM® Chairs for more information, or call us anytime @ 403.720.3966 or Toll-Free 1.800.661.8568 to discuss how to personalize and build your dream chair!

WANTED: A Unicorn

Finding a chair everyone can agree on is important for a marriage. And your relationship with your interior designer.

That’s what happened to Bob Duncan of the Relax The Back store in Birmingham, AL. Relax the Back is a national chain of stores that offer specialized spinal health and support products. They’ve been the primary U.S. distributor for LIFEFORM Chairs since the mid 1990’s.

A franchise owner since 2016, Bob knows chairs and how to match customers with the right one to meet their needs. So, when Candace Reynolds came in looking for a comfortable – but beautiful – ergonomic office chair, she was in good hands.

This is her story…

Candace and her husband had their home redone in 2015 and she has a beautiful home office. We’re talking work-of-art beautiful. Which makes sense since Candace is an artist. She had worked with an interior designer and at the time, they had found a beautiful chair to fit the space and she loved it. Except there was one major problem.

The chair was very uncomfortable.

Candace says she could do short stints in the chair but when it came to her extensive reading time, having meetings or even paying bills, she couldn’t sit in it comfortably for long periods.

She laughs when she talks about her husband’s opinion.

“Every time he would get in the (old) chair he would say ‘I hate this chair. I hate this chair, it’s so uncomfortable,” she laughs. “I thought ‘I’m going to walk (into the office) one day and he’s going to have just bought some ugly office chair and stuck it in here and we’re gonna have a fight over it. I can already feel it, I can just feel it’s about to happen. So I got busy.”

The COVID Conundrum

She was motivated to buy a new chair, but she had learned her lesson about fit. After her experience with the much-maligned chair, one of her major criteria for buying a new one was that she HAD to sit in it beforehand.

As many of us who have tried to buy goods online in the past year have found out the hard way… #COVID.

Quality, ergonomic office chairs are few and far between in local stores. People forced to work from home have realized the power of a good, comfortable chair. And online, the waiting times for getting one custom-made have been growing steadily.

Quality, ergonomic office chairs are few and far between in local stores. People forced to work from home have realized the power of a good, comfortable chair. And online, the waiting times for getting one custom-made have been growing steadily. During her search at other retailers, Candace was told she had two options: wait almost three months until a chair arrived in her local area store OR she could travel from Birmingham to Nashville, TN, to a big box store warehouse to try out their in-stock chairs.

Thing is, Candace knew exactly what she wanted. Her gorgeous home office is already complete. With simple, classic lines, and white and neutral colors throughout, her chair HAD to fit this space. But she also needed a good quality, adjustable chair that both her AND her husband could be comfortable in.

Almost at her wit’s end, Candace googled “office chairs with good back support” and thankfully, Bob’s Relax the Back store popped up in the results.

She couldn’t believe her luck. After weeks of searching – she says she spent a solid day on the phone calling local retailers – she discovered there was an ergonomic chair store only 2 miles from her house. Enter Bob, her new best friend.

Once he understood what Candace needed – for her back, her husband’s size and her esthetic – Bob knew the LIFEFORM® Ultimate Executive ergonomic office chair was for her. As one of the most customizable chairs available, he knew it would meet her needs for reading, paying bills, and emailing while her husband could also use it for his meetings.

The WOW Factor

Luckily, Bob had a chair in-store which was exactly what Candace needed to match her office decor perfectly. Our exclusive Ultimate Executive mid-back chair, with beige Brisa fabric, quilting and matching stitching was exactly what she was looking for. When we upgraded the standard black base to chrome, it became exactly what she (and her designer) wanted as well.

“The floor model was perfect. I love the buttery creaminess of this color,” explains Candace. “It would compliment my room but it wasn’t overpowering. And I love the fact that the stitching is the same color as the chair.”

When asked what he loves about LIFEFORM®, Bob simply said:

“At Relax The Back, we sell a lot of chairs to help a variety of people. But when you tell me you’re going to sit for extended periods of time, there is no other chair manufactured in the world that’s better than the LIFEFORM® Ultimate Executive Office Chair.”

“I can fit that (Executive Office) chair like a glove to any person’s body,” Bob continues. “It’s the only chair where the back actually opens and closes. It’s the only chair that’s made with that much supportive memory foam in the seat. And it’s the only chair that has the saddle pommel that helps the pelvis align properly.“

Candace seconds that.

“One of my favorite features (of the chair), is that the arms fold in… so you can get right up to the desk and you can even rest your arms on the arms,” says Candace. “It gives you support as you’re typing on your computer or paying your bills. I just love all the different adjustments.”

Although she loved the functionality and customization of the Executive Office chair, she knew it had to work for both her and her husband. So she texted him to come try it out.

“There is no way I’m taking this chair home and spending this amount of money without you sitting in it,” she wrote him. “We’ve been down this road. I’ve bought every other chair in the house because it looks good and it’s comfortable to ME. And I want it to be comfortable for him. And when he sat in it, he said ‘oh this is the chair’. So we are thrilled with it.”

Unexpected Benefits

“I did not realize I was doing it, but I had moved all of my activities – my reading, my bill paying – into the kitchen area to do them in a padded kitchen chair that fit better,” Candace remarks. “So now I can actually use my office for all that it needs to be used for. I’m able to come into the office and be comfortable. I pay the bills, read, or Zoom, do anything that I need to do on my laptop, I’m able to do it all in one location. Then all of my paraphernalia can stay in the office instead of scattered all over my kitchen.”

“Now I can come to the designated office area in the house – where the laptop is to be used, where the reading is to be accomplished and writing and anything else I need to do. And I can do it in this one beautiful room.”

We’re so happy she can do it in a beautiful ergonomic chair that is comfortable for both her AND her husband… and we checked to make sure her designer liked it too!

Our Makeover Contest Created a Household of Happiness

Our Makeover Contest Created a Household of Happiness

We wanted to follow up with our Home Office Makeover Contest winner, Dave Smith, to see how he’s feeling about his new office space, his LIFEFORM® chair and how (if any) changes it made to how he works from home.

When we ran the contest last spring, our main goal was to help people understand the importance of a good work-from-home space. And, most of all, we wanted to provide the chance for people to HAVE a proper home office set up. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have a dedicated space to work from home. COVID was (and still is) a thing and many of us never expected to be working from home as long as we were (and are). At the time, many who were still working from home were feeling various negative effects. These can be emotional but, also importantly, physical. A dedicated space allows you to focus better, mentally gets you into work mode, minimizes distractions, and helps create an emotional work/life difference while physically working from home.

We felt so strongly about how important a proper workspace is, we wanted to help someone who might not be able to purchase new office equipment or someone who didn’t even realize it was possible to be more comfortable. So the idea for our contest was born. Because we wanted to provide the full makeover experience, we chose to partner with 660 News, Bracko Brothers Quality Furniture, which provided a new desk, and Durango Developments who supplied some renovation support with new flooring.

After months of sitting at the kitchen table, on the couch, or at an old (or in Dave’s case, ancient) office chair, we wanted to help people be excited about working from home – and relieve their pain.

So, here’s our conversation with David:

How did you find out about the contest and what made you enter?

Dave: “I came across it on Instagram. I’ll be honest, I wanted the [LIFEFORM] chair. The other stuff (the desk from Bracko Brothers and the flooring from Durango Developments) is a bonus. I’ve got an office chair that’s about 20 years old, it’s OK but not anything special. Our backup is a chair I had when I was 10 years old, so it’s about 40 years old now.”

Are you sharing your new office with the rest of the family?

Dave: “My wife and I run (volunteer) a local Little League, so we spend a lot of time on the computer. Every evening we’re online dealing with coaches and the players’ families. I have a larger desk, with all of my stuff, so no one really uses it except me. My wife loves the new (Bracko Brothers) desk and she shares it with our son.

It actually turned out to be awesome because shortly after winning, my son got put into quarantine again… He’s in high school and he spent most of the year doing school at home. It’s great that we can share the two desks. I won’t let him claim the new chair, he tried.”

Pull Quote: “I was so happy…. Just like very happy.” [When he won.]

Were you having issues with back pain or did you just want a comfortable ergonomic office chair?

Dave: “I have a bad back. I have baseball injuries and I still play, even at 50. I don’t know my age when I’m on the field. And I’m actually coaching Little League three or four nights a week. I twisted some vertebrae in my back a few years ago.

I get really stiff in the lower back and in the hips, and I wouldn’t say it was my chair that was causing it but sitting in that position eight to twelve hours a day makes it worse. I was also looking more for comfort; my old chair wasn’t exactly comfortable. So it is a bonus to have a better chair.”

Do you find a difference now, with the LIFEFORM chair?

Dave: “Huge, yes actually. It’s so comfortable. I still get a stiff back when I sit for too long. But it’s nice because it’s got all the angles and movement and you get more flexibility. My old chair was set in one position. 

I’m on the computer all day. And when I have spare time I’m usually on the computer – looking up things – like chair contests!”

What was your experience with LIFEFORM after the contest?

Dave: “LIFEFORM was just amazing, a definite 10. Not only the quality of the product but their service; it’s really enjoyable dealing with them. It wasn’t stuffy or formal, they were very relaxed but you could see they were enjoying their business. They were quick and super friendly. As soon as the contest was over, they wanted to arrange an appointment to come down (to my home). 

They made sure they upgraded me on everything they could. They talked us into going with the higher-end stitching and it was like, “Well this is awesome! I don’t want to use all your money, I’m happy to just have the chair.” Chris was really good, he said, “No, let’s get everything on it for you.”

I want to mention Melissa who was really really great throughout the whole project. She was just awesome and made the whole experience really exciting and fun. She tried to keep everybody on track. Through the pandemic, there were delays and schedules to arrange.”

Pull Quote: The LIFEFORM team is very excited about their product, which was nice. Chris was really good. You could see he has a passion for what he’s doing. 

LIFEFORM: Would you enter another contest?

Dave: “Yes, Absolutely. It was great, I started off just wanting the chair but it turned out the flooring (from Durango Developments) is awesome. My wife hates carpet so this was great. 

It was the chair that motivated me but it really turned out the desk was equally as important, especially with my son being home. My wife’s extremely happy because she also has a place for her computer now.”

How has your new home office setup changed the way you work?

Dave: “We’re all much more productive now. Having the new flooring, with the new desk and the chair makes our bonus room look much nicer and more functional. It has definitely helped us be more organized and a little more comfortable.

It’s been, as everyone says, a difficult year when you’re stuck in the house. And especially for my son, he really has had, it’s his first year of high school, and we’ve really had challenges with him in terms of motivation which we’ve never had before. I think this being home has affected him emotionally.

The desk coming was so exciting for him. We took him to Bracko Brothers and had him help select the desk, which is why he’s now claimed it as his own.

Now seeing him having the desk – he ordered a desk pad for his mouse and computer – so he’s really motivated to come home and get on with his work.”

So, for Dave and his family, what started out as just wanted to win a comfortable chair really did create a win-win-win situation for every member of their family!

We’re so happy we were able to make them more comfortable, productive and – maybe a little addicted to contests!

How can we help you become more productive & motivated? 

The Best Gift to give for 2021

Looking for the best Christmas gifts for 2021? What about the hard-to-buy-for people on your Nice List? How do you find the best UNIQUE Christmas gifts this year? Look no further than LIFEFORM® Chairs to provide you with some inspiration for beautiful gifts to put under the tree this Holiday season. We’ve included some great stocking stuffers on our list too!

Get ahead of the festive season (and the post office backlog!). Order before November 3rd to be sure that Santa gets it under the tree!

Here are a few reasons why LIFEFORM® should be on your list of must-have Christmas gifts in 2021:

Customization. Give a unique and beautiful gift of wellness this Holiday Season. A LIFEFORM® chair can be customized to fit their life – and work – style, personality and give them support where they need it. So they can go from the office to the office party without missing a Fa La La La.

Monogramming. How do you let your loved ones know you were specifically thinking of them when you purchased their gift? (No regifting here, we promise). Show them how much you care by creating a beautiful conversation piece, unique to them, by monogramming their LIFEFORM® office chair.

Accessories. What’s smaller than a bread box but still packs an ergonomic punch? Try our Executive Footrest to create that comfortable rocking movement right down to their fuzzy holiday socks. While it might not be the sexiest thing under the tree, we think personal well-being is magical.

Looking to explore smaller gifts to fit in your stocking or under the tree?

Browse the Moore & Giles leather goods. We offer a beautiful selection of premium leather goods from our partners at Moore & Giles. Stylish and beautiful, these products are a sure way to get on the Nice list.

Upgrade your chair casters. Increase the design bling for your loved one by buying them colour coordinated chair casters to match their office chair and their decor.

Leather moisturizing kit. Maintain your leather upholstery. Although leather looks better with age, we can help you keep it feeling like you bought it yesterday. Look after your investment with the leather moisturizing kit.

Don’t forget. For delivery before Dec 25th, 2021 order before November 3rd to get your gift in time for the Big Day.

Create your own luxury: a personalized, built-for-you office chair

Designing a custom-made office chair – meticulously hand-crafted to your exacting specifications – should be beautiful and feel like it was created just for you (because it was). Like a made-to-measure suit, simply imagining it’s welcoming comfort inspires you. Sitting in it brings you joy and gives you amazing support.

An office chair that expresses your personality perfectly, in your favorite color and in a style that suits you and your space, might not exist outside of your imagination. But let’s face it, we spend too much time sitting at work (which might now mean your new home office), to settle for that less-than-ideal chair.

Stop hunting through endless catalogs and disappointing websites, trying to find what you want. If you’re dreaming of sophisticated butter-soft leather, quilted seat comfort, and superior lumbar back support, we have what you need to help create your perfect office chair.

At LIFEFORM®, it’s all about you. That’s why we’re dedicated to making a custom chair that is not only designed by you, but it fits you perfectly. The process is obviously very different than walking into a shop and picking out a chair on the storeroom floor, but don’t be intimidated.

We support you in the creative process: you bring your wish list and inspiration and we’ll bring our expertise and innovation to realize the chair of your dreams.

First thing to consider

Before you begin to think about the physical office chair you want to design, there are several essential steps to consider so you get the most out of this project – and you don’t waste time or money.

• Look at the space where you want the chair to go and decide if you want/need to change anything. Are you repurposing the space or just remodeling? What does the office chair need to work with – a desk, credenza or maybe built-ins? Even floor rugs can play an important rule in the custom design of a chair.
• Measure your room. Determine what size of space you have and what will fit. You don’t want to overcrowd the room. Your new office chair will be a finely-crafted expression of your personality; you want to show it off, not hide it in a space full of stuff.

A good starting point for determining the size of your new chair is the overall size and critical dimensions of the other existing pieces of furniture in the space.

• The chair style and fabric you choose will be determined by your budget and lifestyle. For more of a luxurious experience, we have premium upholstery options. Depending on the work you will be performing, chair size, features and price will also change.

Does it need to be pet and child-friendly? Will scratches to your leather be traumatic or will they add to the character of the piece? Just in case, we also offer innovative fabrics for durability and ease-of-care.

• What other considerations do you need to think about? Do you have any neck discomfort or back pain? LIFEFORM® has many designs with various ergonomic options, in a range of prices. We can help you assess the style and design of your chosen chair to make sure the ergonomic adjustments you need are available on that model.
• What’s your timeframe? As an investment, you want to have this one-of-a-kind, personalized chair for a long time. And you want to love it every time you sit in it. So, take the time to reflect on your needs and review your design decisions with no pressure. Be prepared to put something on huld until you come up with a design you like, or you may kick yourself later for ruining your chair. Just remember that depending on your level of customization, final construction may take several weeks.

Still have questions?

Get inspired by visiting our website to begin your design brainstorming. Define your personalization options: these allow you to create a chair unique to you through everything from choice and culour of fabric to piping and embroidery.

Then decide on what your individual customizations will be: depending on if and where you need ergonomic support. You may need the added support of a headrest or padded armrests to relieve pain. A Core Flex seat helps alleviate tension on pressure points and improves circulation.

Take a look at some of the styles in our gallery to see what makes sense for you and your lifestyle. As a guide, our High-Back (model 2390) and Mid-Back (model 2490) offer the most customization options.

What can you do to prevent injuries and avoid healthcare costs?

Healthcare costs and serious injuries are avoidable: what can you do to stay out of the system?

Painful injuries from repetitive strain or long days of sitting in our office chairs are common. Most of us know someone who has been to physiotherapy or chiropractors to help them with pain in their back, strain in their wrist, or tightness in their hips.

These injuries can sneak up on us. We’ve often worked long hours with no pain or discomfort. How does it happen? Perhaps we noticed (and ignored) a small tweak before the pain? It also might have gotten worse over the last few months of working from home in uncomfortable chairs or sitting on the floor. In some, more severe cases, it may take pain medication to get us through the day.

Recognizing warning signs and preventing injuries – called Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) – can be complicated.

LIFEFORM® can help. We’ve been listening to our customers for almost 50 years. They tell us about their pain – when it comes, where it’s located, and how they manage it. Learning from these experiences, we design office chairs, adopting new and innovative technologies to identify solutions to issues before they become chronic. One such example is the Core-flex^® split seat; encouraging a small range of natural motion by actually splitting the seat. Core muscles are stimulated, allowing for improved comfort and increased circulation.

Learning the basic but important stats

MSD in North America accounts for the most lost-time injuries, the highest lost-time claim costs, and the most lost-time workdays of any type of injury. In Canada, Workers’ Compensation Board figures from various jurisdictions across the country indicate that MSDs account for 25% to 60% of total annual compensation claims. Statistics are very similar in the U.S.

Often painful and disabling, they can also interfere with all kinds of tasks at work, at home, and at play. Even in the early stages, recovery from MSD often requires months or even years of treatment. In severe cases, there may be a permanent disability. Promoting a preventive care program to avoid injuries before they develop seems like a smart decision for everyone involved. This can be large-scale, like creating an ergonomic program in your company. Or they can also be simple – with the purchase of a quality ergonomic chair to give your employees the support they need.

With over 20 ergonomic options to build our office chairs, LIFEFORM® designs each one to be easily adaptable to individual needs. If there is pain or discomfort in the wrist, we have an armrest for that. Need more back support? Our adjustable lumbar support goes where you need it most. Have a neck issue? Our built-in or add-on headrests will save you a lot of headaches. Literally.

The cost of MSD injuries

Ergonomics provides a means for adjusting your work environment and work practices to do just that; prevent injuries before they occur. If effective, these ergonomic programs are a cost-saving opportunity and the right thing to do for employers and employees alike. Considering injuries cost millions of dollars every year in direct and hidden costs, companies need to start asking if they can afford the price of not incorporating ergonomic practices into their operations.

And while there is a large burden to companies, and to the healthcare system in general because of MSD, the other side of the issue is more personal. What do MSD injuries cost the person affected by the injury itself? They are often left with pain, stress, loss of productivity, time off for medical appointments, and less time with family.

The Benefits

The scope of ergonomics is very broad but mainly refers to assessing work-related factors that may pose a risk of MSDs and recommendations to relieve them. Examples of these risk factors are found in jobs requiring repetitive tasks; typing and prolonged awkward postures; sitting for long periods of time without the proper support.

Good ergonomic design in the workplace can improve productivity, help avoid illness and injury risks, and lead to increased satisfaction among workers. Investing in injury prevention programs saves money on injury management.

It’s not just enough to HAVE these programs. Preventing injuries before they get to the debilitating stage needs involvement and buy-in from everyone involved. Support and active engagement is required – certainly from the company leadership, and also from the employees.

There are serious risks involved in sitting for long periods of time and performing repetitive tasks. However, we can prevent becoming a statistic, whether it’s a business or an individual employee. It’s essential to make sure your chair provides the right support to keep ergonomic alignment. And always reinforce to employees how important this alignment is. Keeping employees out of the healthcare system is a huge win for them and your company. If they’re paying attention to smaller aches and pains, these can be dealt with before they become a real problem that can cost money, time, and productivity.

Want to learn more? Call LIFEFORM® to get more details on how we can help your company with ergonomic office chairs and accessories.

Why is having an ergonomic chair for your office so important?

Now that many people are going back to the office, at least part-time, they may be spending more time working undisturbed, sitting in one spot, than they have in the past several months. If they haven’t experienced any pain or discomfort so far, that’s a good sign. But without having the proper office chair for ergonomic support, problems can begin for the lower back and neck. These issues reduce productivity, amplify lack of focus, and (research has shown) could lead to increased absenteeism.

There are several reasons why purchasing ergonomic chairs for your office is a good idea:

1. Support your body
When sitting at a desk for extended periods of time without the proper support, your body becomes fatigued and you may start to experience pain or discomfort, often in the lower back. Having a quality, a well-designed ergonomic chair will allow most users of different sizes – including big and tall – to achieve good support where you need it.

2. Achieve a neutral posture
Superior ergonomic office chairs have different adjustments to make sure you have the ideal neutral posture alignment to prevent many long-term health issues. For example, LIFEFORM^® chairs have over 20 ergonomic options, like adjustable lumbar support and seat slider depth, to fit your individual needs. Our unique contour seat design distributes your weight evenly and decreases pressure points on the back of the thighs and tailbone.

3. Reduce neck problems
Issues with the lower back are discussed most often, but your neck and shoulders are also at risk for long-term issues if you have an office chair without the proper neck support. Some ergonomic chairs have built-in headrests (like the LIFEFORM^® High-Back chairs) or they can be added to the design (Executive Mid-Back chairs) to help improve blood flow, which increases concentration while reducing neck muscle strain and stiffness or injury that may occur.

Mitigate wrist issues
Having armrests that can be adjusted to appropriately support the weight of your arms reduces muscle strain in the shoulders and upper arms. As well, armrests are beneficial when using the keyboard or mouse, to prevent strain which can lead to long-term wrist issues. Ideally, your armrests have a swivel function and a height adjustment so they can be positioned where and when you need them.

4. Identify unique solutions for back pain
not all ergonomic office chairs are created equal. Innovations need to be made, grounded in science-based evidence, to improve our work lives. At LIFEFORM^®, we pride ourselves on keeping your comfort and your health top of mind.

That’s why we were so interested in the Core-flex^® technology, created right here in Canada.

Most back pain and discomfort is caused by the inability of our body to move naturally. The ultimate solution is to re-engage postural support muscles by providing natural motion to the legs, pelvis, and core. When the core muscles are engaged through motion, the back is in a healthier posture. Research also shows that movement is important for thinking and creativity, spinal fitness, and the maintenance of a healthy metabolism.

With LIFEFORM^®’s Core-flex^® unique split seat design, the motion of the alternating sides stimulates natural movement. This “dynamic sitting” increases circulation in the largest muscles of the body, especially in those we sit on. Sitting with one leg slightly lower than the other off-weights the opposite ischia, or tail bone.

Improving the working lives of the people in your organization is a wise investment. There are numerous benefits that quality ergonomic office chairs bring to your bottom line and the future health and productivity of your workforce. Please contact our Customer Service representatives, who will be happy to offer help or advice on the types of ergonomic chair or posture supports we offer.