Where to Buy Office Chairs in Singapore: Going Beyond IKEA & E-Commerce Sites

Other articles will probably tell you the same old things:

Where you can buy office chairs in Singapore, what kind of office chairs you can buy for your home office, or which office chairs have the best price.

These articles are informative, but none of them will tell you exactly how you should be buying your office chair.
 
Should you buy your office chair via e-commerce or in a brick-and-mortar store? Should you try it out before buying it?

With the ongoing pandemic and tightened social distancing measures, is the time and effort needed to head down to a showroom even worth it?

The answer is yes, with proper hygiene and while abiding by safe distancing rules.

Here's why: 

Why Should You Visit Showrooms? 

An Office Chair that Works for Someone Else May Not Work for You 

Even if the chair has lots of good reviews, you should still try it out before purchasing it.

Some people buy gaming chairs to use as office chairs (which we do not recommend for ergonomic purposes – read more here), and some prefer leather over mesh. Some swear by a headrest, while others place more emphasis on back support.

At the end of the day, everyone has different preferences and needs.

By going down to try out the office chair, you can avoid making a huge mistake. After all, your opinion on a chair may change once you're seated in it.

Instead of wasting more time returning the chair and waiting for a refund, you’d simply be relaxing in your brand-new office chair that you tried out prior to purchasing! 

Pitfalls of Online Purchases  

We know that online platforms such as Lazada, Shopee, and Taobao are where you can find furniture at attractive prices.

There’s no denying that it's also convenient to shop on these online platforms since they have many different products available, and comparison of price is easy.

On the flipside, not all purchases are covered under warranty, you may have to pay for extra costs such as an agent fee, and because most online platforms charge for delivery based on parcel weight, you may end up with a rather hefty delivery fee.  

Sitting in an Uncomfortable Chair can Lead to Health Problems 

Try scrolling through forums on office chairs.

You’ll see comments from users lamenting their online purchase, regretful that their newly bought chairs were not as comfortable as they had expected. Yet due to the hefty price tag, they’ve decided to suck it up and use it regardless, to get their money’s worth.

But this is never the right solution!

By sitting in an uncomfortable chair over a period of long hours, your posture can deteriorate over time, and with it, your health.

We’re not exaggerating.

According to a 2018 study conducted by the Singapore General Hospital, 73% of office workers surveyed suffered from musculoskeletal disorders (MSD).

These MSDs are characterised by discomfort, impairment, disability, or persistent pains in joints, muscles, tendons or other soft tissues, and awkward postures, often aggravated by poor office ergonomics, can increase the risk of these MSDs.

Some other health problems caused by an uncomfortable chair include muscle fatigue, cramping and even a lack of focus at work! 

Annoying at best, MSD can be permanently disabling and interfere with all aspects of daily life at worst, so don’t take it lightly.

Don’t settle.

Take some time, spend some effort, and get an ergonomic chair that fits your body’s needs instead. 

What Kind of Office Chair Should I Look Out for? 

We’ve previously talked about what you should look for in a comfortable office chair here, so here’s a brief summary – you may read the rest in that article later.

Make sure to try out the office chair’s features like its headrest, seat, armrests, and lumbar support, and ask yourself these questions while doing so:

Does your back feel comfortable and supported?

Can you tilt the backrest to maximise your comfort?

Do your head and neck feel awkward when you lean against the headrest?

Are the armrests able to support your arms when you’re in a typing or writing position?

Is the chair’s height suitable for you or your desk?

We can go on and on and on.

Plus, you should also look out for the material of the chair – breathability and durability are very important, for 2 reasons.

1. With the hot and humid weather in Singapore, you wouldn’t want to sit for long hours in a chair that makes your butt uncomfortable or sweaty, right?

2. You'll also be sitting in this chair for days, weeks, months and years. It better last long so that you can make the most out of your purchase!  

What Showrooms Should I Visit?  

Now that you’ve understood the importance of visiting a showroom before purchasing your chair, what kind of showrooms should you visit?

From mainstream brands like IKEA and Courts, to even your humble neighbourhood furniture stores and specialised furniture stores, these stores usually have showrooms for visitors to try out their furniture.  

 General Furniture Stores 

Stores like IKEA, Courts, and Harvey Norman are popular names in Singapore's furniture industry.

These stores generally have a large variety of furniture ranging from couches to lamps.

There are many stores littered all over the island, so it’s also extremely convenient to head down to one when you’re in need of something ASAP.

However, there are pros and cons to visiting a general furniture store.  

On The Plus Side 

It’s no secret that general furniture stores are convenient and have a wider variety of furniture to choose from.

They can also offer much-needed inspiration on how to decorate your home office interior.

After all, a pretty interior is not only satisfying to look at, but it can also keep you motivated to work! 

The Downside 

Due to how generalised most of their furniture are, it may be relatively difficult to find something that can cater to your needs or offer personalised comfort or aesthetics.

Now, we don’t deny that some of these office chairs sold at generalised furniture stores are comfy.

Who doesn’t like comfy chairs at a low price?

But even so, these chairs were not designed to provide proper back support or help to relieve back pains! Sure, some of them may have the features of good office chair, but will they really help in the long run? They don't have ergonomic features like crazy adjustability or lumbar support!

If you're looking to correct your posture or relive lower back pains you may be suffering from, then sorry, these may not be for you.  

 Specialised Furniture Stores 

Whenever you have a problem, the natural course of action is to seek help from someone who’s an expert in that area.

If you’re suffering from a tooth ache, you’d go to a dentist and not a doctor. If your lock has issues, you’d call a locksmith and not a technician.

Similarly, specialised furniture stores like us, ErgoTune, sell a specific type of furniture to cater to specific buyers!

You can be assured that the product you are trying and buying is one that suits your needs, instead of a product that “fits all”.

Since we’re a special furniture store, we can guarantee that the durability and quality of our products are top tier. We know what our audience needs and wants – and we’re ready to deliver.  

Quality Assured by Us

We can’t speak for all ergonomic chair brands, but we’re confident enough to offer a whopping 12-year warranty on our chairs!

While specialised stores like ours will have a smaller variety of furniture to choose from, it should not be a problem if you’re looking for a chair to help with back pains or maximise your comfort while you work.

To find out more about how our ErgoTune chairs can improve your posture, comfort and even productivity, head here!

If you’re also interested in other ergonomic furniture to spruce up your home office, you can also look at our ergonomic height-adjustable desk and accessories here.