Guest Chairs Buying Guide | School Outfitters

You'll want to make sure visitors and employees stay comfortable during meetings in your office, so here are a few things to consider when shopping for guest chairs:

Seat & Back Material
Leather seats and backs give your office a sophisticated look, so they're a good choice for executive offices and meeting rooms. Leather chairs are easy to wipe clean and generally offer thick padding, so visitors will stay comfortable through long meetings.

Fabric-upholstered seats and backs look good and make for a soft, comfortable place to sit. Most manufacturers offer a good selection of fabric colors, so you can match your guest chairs with your office décor.

Vinyl-upholstered seats and backs are both comfortable and easy to wipe clean, so they're a great choice for busy reception areas and student-heavy areas. Plus, they usually come in a variety of colors.

Mesh – Mesh fabric is one of the trendiest guest chair materials. You'll find some guest chairs with a back made entirely of mesh, which allows for air flow to your back. Plus, it's quite durable and provides good support.

Some mesh and leather guest chairs have inserts with tiny perforations that provide good breathability without sacrificing aesthetics.

Frame Material
You'll want to consider strength and durability, plus how often your guest chairs will be used.

Tubular Steel – Guest chairs with tubular steel bases stand up to heavy use and offer good support. They have a polished aluminum or powder-coat finish that prevents rust and gives your chair a finished look.

Wood – Frames made entirely of wood give your office a classic, sophisticated look. They are usually made of durable beech wood, hardwood, birch wood or maple with sleek finishes.

Nylon – Although less common than steel or wood, nylon frames are durable yet somewhat flexible and are ideal for occasional visitors and light use.

Base Style
Guest chairs have either standard four-leg bases or sled bases. Sled bases are a good choice for carpeted floors, because there are no legs and feet to snag the carpet. Some people prefer the traditional look of a standard chair with legs, and these models almost always have a wood frame.

Ergonomic Features
Many guest chairs offer one or more of these features to keep visitors content and relaxed during meetings.

Adjustable Arms – Arms that adjust in width and/or height accommodate users of all shapes and sizes.

Waterfall Seat – A waterfall seat refers to the slope at the front edge of the seat. This design allows for better blood flow to legs, as opposed to a flat front edge that can pinch blood vessels behind the knees.

Contoured Seat Cushions – These cushions encourage proper posture and provide good support to both your legs and back.

Lumbar Support – Some chairs feature adjustable lumbar support bars to position the back of your chair just how you want it. Others have built-in lumbar support that fits most body types.

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Want advice about which guest chair is right for you? Give our friendly sales team a call at 1-800-260-2776. We're happy to answer questions or take your order by phone.

Buying Guides