Dining, Massage, Leather, Office

Finding Comfortable Office Chairs

Tom — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 19:40:19 +0000

If you work in an office, chances are you’ll appreciate the importance of comfortable office chairs. Eight hours a day in a poorly designed rickety old chair won’t work wonders for your back or your temperament, and it can leave you feeling uncomfortable and lead to RSIs and the like - particularly if you use a computer. Now, with modern health and safety legislation in place it’s becoming more and more important for employers to make sure you have comfortable seating throughout your day, although there are seldom any specific guidelines on what’s best for a given type of work.

Factors To Consider:If you’re self employed or just in the market for an office chair, here are a few things to bear in mind to help you on your way to choosing that ideal unit for you:

• Ergonomics - is this chair designed with you in mind?• Back support - particularly in the lower back, it’s crucial to find a chair with support

• Neck support - likewise, your neck can get tired quickly and can easily lead to strain

• Mobility - a good office chair will allow you to revolve and move on wheels to prevent stretching and manual lifting.

• Padding - padding is important, particularly if you’re seated for long periods

• Comfort - the overall comfort factor. How nice is the chair to sit in?

Computer Chair Vs. Executive ChairIf you work in an office cubicle, don’t expect anything more than a computer chair. It will probably be padded and may have decent back support, depending on the model and the budget of your employer. A well designed computer chair shouldn’t leave you reaching for the mouse or the keyboard and should have wheels to allow you to move and turn without having to stretch.

Executive chairs on the other hand are far more luxurious, and are generally well padded with comfortable leather to contour around your body. This kind of chair provides more back support and even neck support to help you through those stressful days, although their higher unit cost makes it less likely that you’ll receive one of these in your next office job. Of course, for the self employed this might be a worthwhile investment, as a comfortable seat to help take the pressure off your joints after a long shift.

The Pros and Cons of Recliner Chairs

Tom — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 19:39:49 +0000

Recliner chairs are becoming more and more popular, particularly amongst male consumers as the ideal item for relaxing after a day at the office. But to what extent are they a good idea, and could you really live with the downsides in your home?

Pros

• Comfortable - there’s nothing like kicking back with your feet up after a hard day at the office.• Ergonomic - recliner chairs allow you to take the weight off your feet which is good for you after working for long periods or having a busy day

• Personal Touch - a recliner chair can quickly feel like your own, moulding to your shape to enhance comfort in that most intangible of ways

• Stylish - many recliner chairs look stylish, and most are upholstered with leather for that extra fashionable look.

Cons • The Mechanism - recliner mechanisms are notoriously fickle, and that is usually the first part of the chair to give way• Space - recliner chairs, when fully extended, require far more space than vertical chairs which could prove a problem unless you have a fairly large room in which to use the chair

• Practical - recliner chairs tend not to be too practical for things like computer use; they’re more designed for chilling out.

Which Garden Chairs?

Tom — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 19:39:12 +0000

Garden chairs are ever popular - after all, who doesn’t like a comfortable seat in sunshine sipping pina coladas on those warm summer nights? The trouble comes in choosing the type and style of garden chair that best suits you and your needs. Obviously a family will require different seating to a bachelor, but nevertheless your situation will most likely require at least some form of seating for outdoor purposes. Generally speaking, there are a few main types of garden chair that prove popular year on year that you might like to consider:

• Plastic seating - cheap and easy to move but flimsy, and lacking in comfort• Loungers - the height of comfortableness but rather immobile and awkward

• Deck chairs - lack comfort and sturdiness but easy to move and fold to save space

• Benching - good for family requirements but not ideal for entertaining guests

Whilst one or more of these options might seem instantly appealing, it is possible to use a combination of both to create a comfortable, well seated outdoor environment - whatever your particular requirements.Plastic Seating vs. Deck ChairsPlastic seating was once upon a time all the rage - almost every garden nationwide had a set of plastic chairs for the summer. Easy to use and move, the plastic chairs could usually be found stacked on top of each other in a corner or the garden or a dark shed, just waiting for the right time of year to come around. Of course, plastic chairs are seldom very comfortable, and you don’t often associate them with the lap of luxury. However, practically speaking they do the job, if not causing minor storage issues because of their bulk.

Deck chairs are one solution to the plastic seating problem, but they a little more expensive. They solve the space problem by folding up for storage purposes, although the fact that they contain fabric means they need to be stored inside when they’re not in use. Of course, these too are a bit lacking in the comfort department, but can be better if you entertain guests frequently or enjoy having outdoor functions.

Loungers v. BenchesLoungers are often seen as the ultimate in garden seating. Of course their major drawback is the price factor, not to mention the fact that the padding must be kept indoors to avoid weather damage when not in use. Coming with a reclining motion in most cases, these can be great is you like to bathe in the sunshine, but might be a little anti-social. At any rate they are also quite difficult to move around and carry, but they are right up there in the comfort stakes.

Benches on the other hand are ideal for family seating requirements. With a few strategically positioned benches you can sit the kids for breakfast, or quickly use it as a table when it’s time to apply the sun screen. They’re not too comfortable but can be handy as a fall-back when seating space is of a premium.

Taking Care of Leather Chairs

Tom — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 19:38:37 +0000

Leather chairs are the height of fashion but they should come with a health warning: leather is very easy to rip, and very difficult to repair. On the whole, leather seating is more expensive than its fabric counterparts. That said, leather chairs tend to be of a higher quality than many other fabric chairs and sofas which can present an obvious problem, particularly for family buyers.

Whilst there is no outright solution to this dilemma, there are a number of easy care tips for leather chairs that can help keep them looking fresh and free from damage for as long as possible to ensure you get your money’s worth.

Repairing RipsThe trouble with leather is that it tends to rip and tear with sharp points. Applying the slightest bit of pressure with a sharp heel or with a buckle can see your hard earned money disappear with the appearance of your sofa or chair. What’s worse, repairing leather isn’t something you can do on your own - it’s going to demand some careful reparation work from a leather repair specialist which can prove costly, particularly when you factor in the call out charge, replacement leather, colour matching, labour, etc.

The best cure is prevention, which means taking good care of your leather upholstery from day one. Avoid contact with footwear and sharp items of clothing. Instead, remove your shoes and belts before lounging, and take care not to sit on anything sharp that could pierce the leather. Whilst this may seem somewhat pedantic, it is important to avoid causing the problems in the first place if you’re looking to save money and preserve your leather chair.

Treat ‘Em Mean, Keep ‘Em CleanChances are your leather sofa or chair will take quite a beating. If it’s used on a day to day basis or you smoke, your chair could become dirty very quickly which will leave it looking lifeless and tired. There’s no better way to age a leather sofa, particularly a cream coloured sofa, than smoking and day to day wear if you’re not careful. To avoid gathering dirt, wipe down your chair on a regular basis with a warm damp cloth to remove any grime that has built up with usage - that way, you can keep your leather looking in top condition for longer.

One of the best ways to keep your sofa free from trouble is to keep it locked away for special occasions. Of course that isn’t practical, and you’ll want to enjoy your sofa or chair after spending so much money on it in the first place. That means it’s a case of weighing up both extremes - protection vs. usage - to achieve the optimum level of enjoyment for as long as possible.

Choosing Dining Chairs

Tom — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 19:38:08 +0000

Dining room chairs are so often a focal point of the room and when combined with the dining table, they make up the main functionality of the dining area of your home. Of course it would be easy to throw together any combination of chairs and stick them under any old table, but that lacks flair and taste and will readily decrease the potential resale value of your property should you look to sell. An investment in quality dining room furniture can be good for both your enjoyment of your dining space, as well as the future prospects for your home.

Choosing Chairs: A ChecklistIn choosing a set of chair for your dining room, it’s important to firstly make sure your selection checks all the boxes.

• Is it a matching set, or are you required to buy each chair separately?• Is the upholstery suitable for dining? Is it easy-wipe?

• Are the chairs sturdy enough to comfortably seat the entire family?

• Do the chairs fit nicely around your existing table, or will that require to be replaced as well?

• Are the chairs warranted or guaranteed for a period? What does the warranty cover?

• Is the upholstery likely to rip or stain?

• Do they match your existing interior?

• Are the legs firmly secured?

• Is the upholstery of a satisfactory finish?

Of course this is by no means an exhaustive list, and there are plenty of other perfectly valid questions to be raised over whether or not a particular chair or set of chairs is right for you. Most importantly, make sure you feel comfortable with the selection you’ve made before buying - if you’re at all unsure, it’s probably best to stay away.Warranties: The ScoopWarranties are vital in case anything goes wrong with the chairs you buy and the money they can save on the repair bill can come in really handy. However they are also a prime opportunity for buyers to get scammed out of that little bit extra cash. What people often don’t realise when buying chairs is that whilst the manufacturers warranty is handy, the extended warranty might make very little financial sense. Say, for example, the extended warranty takes the chairs up to five years of cover - the likelihood of claiming on the warranty versus the cost of a replacement makes paying for further guarantees nonsensical.

Consider Their PurposeAs an overriding rule for dining chairs, consider what they are to be used for. The dining room chairs will be used to seat the family and friends and will thus require to be hardwearing yet also stylish. The practical impact of the chairs is significant - make sure whatever you opt for is easy to wipe, hard to stain (even with red wine) and hardwearing overall, to get the best use out of your chairs.