The best office chairs can be fairly expensive, as can the type of hardwood flooring found in home offices. In other words, you may want to think about purchasing a high-quality mat to place underneath your office chair, to protect your floor and the chair itself.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Placing an anti-glide mat underneath your office protects both the chair itself and your flooring setup.
- These mats are available in a number of different shapes and sizes.
- Modern floor mats feature an anti-fatigue sit-to-stand design, offering superior comfort to those who use standing desks.
Selecting a Mat for Underneath Your Office Chair
Taking care of your office chair not only involves using a lubricant to oil your office chair but can also involve protecting your floor. There are a number of different floor mat design styles, each offering protection against accidental scuffing and floor scratches. These mats are typically made from polycarbonate materials, nylon, acrylic resin, polyester, and similar components. Which kind of mat should you choose to put underneath your chair? That’s where we come in.
- Related Post: How to Find the Best Office Chair Cushions for Your Office
- Related Post: How To Choose a Great Office Cushion with Back Support
Learn About Different Mats
Floor mats that are intended to sit under an office chair come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and designs, offering benefits in a number of different scenarios.
Size
Before you purchase any mat, be sure to measure your work area and make note of the overall dimensions of your office chair. These floor mats are available in just about any size you can think of, so you should have no problem finding one to match. If a standard size is not an option, you can find a local retailer who will design one specifically tailored to your workstation. This includes L-shaped mats and the like.
Warning
Before you purchase any mat, be sure to measure your work area and make note of the overall dimensions of your office chair.
Shape
As previously mentioned, mats come in a number of different sizes. These mats also come in a variety of shapes. You can find circular mats, square-shaped mats, L-shaped mats, and more. No matter the peculiarities of your home office, you are likely to find a chair mat to suit your tastes. Some mats can also be cut by the consumer, using traditional scissors or an X-acto knife. Just make sure you learn how to trim your work chair mat properly before trying it yourself.
Grip
The whole point of a floor mat underneath a chair is to prevent slipping and sliding, in addition to offering some protection to your flooring setup. Make sure your preferred mat offers a fair amount of grip. Additionally, if you have carpeting, be sure to double-check the thickness of this carpeting and whether or not the mat is designed to match. Many floor mats are made with particular carpets in mind.
Insider Tip
Some mats can also be cut by the consumer, using traditional scissors or an X-acto knife.
Sit-to-stand Mats
Anti-fatigue sit-to-stand floor mats offer an efficient grip while catering to the needs of consumers who use standing desks. These ergonomically designed mats provide comfort while both standing and sitting. Beware, these mats may not be designed with heavier users in mind, so be sure to check on the maximum weight allowance. That said, it is first important to know your office chair seat height before picking a sit-to-stand mat.
- Related Post: The Best Memory Foam Cushions for Your Home Office Chair
F.A.Q.
Are chair mats bad for carpet floors?
Modern chair mats can be made with carpet floors in mind. Be sure to read the fine print to make sure your preferred mat will integrate into your pre-defined carpet thickness.
How do I choose a chair mat for carpet?
Make sure the studs on the mat match the pile height of your carpet. You should not have to measure the thickness of the mat itself, as the item’s documentation should indicate a preferred carpet pile height.
How do I get a new chair mat to lay flat?
Sometimes brand new chair mats arrive in a tube, so it can be frustrating to lay them flat. We recommend leaving them out in direct sunlight during a sunny day, as this will help speed up the flattening process.
STAT: Rolling your chair over a chair mat takes 80 percent less work than rolling it over a carpeted surface.
REFERENCES:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mat
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_chair
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0003687002000273r
- https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=8zPRk5xMH7AC&oi=fnd&pg=PA159&dq=floor+mat&ots=hQ3-dPcnoh&sig=jRGngFMvsn6MOTYuxST_dOONFpE#v=onepage&q=floor%20mat&f=false
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ju7MCwEiVNk
