The humble office chair has been helping us get through our 9-5s for almost 200 years now, but it didn't just come into being as you see it now. With many iterations and modifications made over the years to reflect societal values and further research into the importance of posture, there's no shortage of fun facts about office chairs. Check them out!

Fun facts about office chairs

1. An NFT (non-fungible token, which is a unique unit of data, such as a photo, video or audio, that can be traded for sole ownership and usage rights) of an office chair designed by Andrés Reisinger is priced at $25,000.
   
   
2. In the 1840s, Charles Darwin was the first person to create an office chair on wheels, when he attached cast-iron bed legs on casters to his chair so he could move about his lab easier. Now that's a life hack we can get behind.
   
   
3. In 1851, the Centripetal Spring Armchair was hugely popular when launched at the world chair as it was one of the first adjustable office chairs. However, it didn't make it far out of the US after it was decided that it was so comfortable it was deemed immoral, as sitting on an uncomfortable chair was seen as a sign of virtue, refinement and willpower in the Victorian era. Can you imagine what the Victorians would have thought about the Ergohuman?!
   
   

   The ABBA chair by Andrés Reisinger via dezeen.com
   
   

4. Before the 1990s, the chair you sat on in the office showed your rank. The more expensive, high-backed chairs belonged to executives, chairs with armrests were for mid-level management and basic seating was given to secretaries and administrators.
   
   
5. Unsurprisingly, people are 17.7% more productive when they are able to adjust their office chairs to suit their needs. An ergonomic office chair lets people focus on their work rather than being distracted by discomfort.
   
   
   Keep your body and mind comfortable with our tips for organising your home office.
   
   
6. The average office chair for a regular nine to five job (taking into account holidays and weekends) gets around 1920 hours of use per year. Well, maybe not so much anymore with more people working from home!
   
   
7. ​The mid-19th century saw businesses hiring more reception and administrative staff who needed seating, and it was German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck who ordered hundreds of custom-built office chairs to meet this need in his parliament. It's believed this decision popularised office chair design.
   
   
   Make sure your home office is set up for success with our tips.
   
   
8. In the 1990s, Herman Miller's Aeron chair brought mesh backs into the game, designed to allow air to flow more freely and prevent backs from getting overly hot and sweaty. Considering how hot Australian summers get, thank goodness for Herman Miller!
   
   
9. Early office chair design didn't feature armrests, as they were seen as hindering workers from getting close to their desks.
   
   
10. Thomas Jefferson is credited with inventing the first swivel chair. We wonder how often he had a little spin in the Oval Office...

​

Don't let a little chair bumping turn into an argument. Check out our tips for setting up a home office for two so everyone's happy.

Find the right office chair to maximise your productivity here.