Advantages and Disadvantages of a Mesh Office Chair

Whether you work in an office or at home, the right chair can significantly improve your productivity. There are many types of chairs on the market ranging from full mesh back chairs to fully upholstered ones. Mesh has become a popular choice for chairs because of its ventilation qualities, comfort and durability. While mesh back chairs have become extremely popular, it is important to understand that the quality of a mesh chair can vary widely. You should choose a chair with a high quality mesh that is soft and smooth compared to coarser meshes found in cheaper chairs. This will help reduce the chance of abrasions to the skin and damage to clothing such as dress pants.

Mesh has a tendency to sag over time. This is especially true if the chair has a lower quality mesh that lacks elasticity. A sagging mesh will result in your body coming into contact with the chair frame and creating discomfort.

In addition, a sagging mesh can cause your clothes to rub on the chair and create abrasions. This will shorten the life of your seat cushion and may also result in a permanent mark on your seat surface. It is recommended that you avoid sitting in a mesh chair for extended periods of time to prevent these issues.

Another disadvantage of a mesh chair is that it can be harder to clean than other upholstered chairs. Cleaning a non-padded mesh chair is difficult because using paper products such as napkins, toilet paper or paper towels can shred the mesh fabric. If you choose to use a cloth towel and water, it is important not to get the upholstery wet as this can also cause fraying. A padded mesh chair will be even more difficult to maintain because it can trap large particles of dirt, dust and food in-between the mesh and seat foam. These particles will be very hard to remove without breaking down the seat foam or possibly causing abrasions to the user.

Since there are a limited number of design options available with mesh, the chairs themselves tend to be a bit more utilitarian in appearance than a fabric or leather chair. Most are black or grey in color and usually have a chrome or moulded plastic base. These chairs are a good fit for offices that have an open look and feel to them.

Although mesh offers several benefits, it is not as durable as other chair upholsteries. While the mesh can be cleaned with a vacuum, it is easier to clean fabrics and leather. A mesh office chair is not recommended for industrial, manufacturing and warehousing environments because the fabric can act like a net, trapping small materials that can be difficult to remove such as metal shavings or chunks of plastic. A mesh chair is also not recommended for areas where there is a lot of foot traffic because the snags in the mesh can be abrasive to shoes and socks.