Have you ever wondered what amount of time you spend on your office chair?
As per a recent survey, a person working in a managerial or accounting business spends at least 7 hours on the office chair.
The number increases to 10 and more for the people working on technical services like IT and software.
Even the least amount of time an employee spends is more than 5 hours a day in the government office rooms.
There have been prolonged studies showing the negative impacts of sitting in an ideal position with minimum movements for ages.
The most common impacts that an average person would face include back pain, neck, and bodily pains, and headache, all due to an unsupportive or unfavorable office chair.
Several types of chairs are available in the market for typical office usage. But, mesh and leather chairs are considered the best for comfort for long periods.
If you are up for chair shopping for your official usage, these are the most common options enthusiasts will offer you. So, you must be clear about the chair’s requirements and expectations.
This guide will help you choose the best option in a mesh vs. leather chair that suits your requirements and meets your expectations. We assure you that you will return with a clear choice by the end of this guide.
So, let’s dive in!
Mesh vs Leather Chair: Compared
Reasons why people prefer Mesh Chairs (Advantages)
Mesh office chairs appeared as a boon in the office furniture, thus leaping over the standard chairs with typical features. It was the real change that most working persons were looking for.
Mesh chairs were the best possible alternatives for the fabric and leather ones that were already used in the offices.
Although mesh chairs weren’t perfect in every sense, there are specific pros to them that made them preferable for working people. Here are some of them
Great Ventilation
As the name suggests, Mesh chairs were made of mesh upholstery which facilitated good ventilation for the user. As a result, they brought relaxation and comfort to the people who spend a lot of time on office chairs.
They allowed better air circulation between the body and the chair’s seat and back and had enough free space for free airflow for the skin to breathe.
Ventilation was the main reason why those models got the eyes and interest of the people struggling with the heat accumulation of fabrics and leather.
Lightweight
Second, to the ventilation, the ease of transportation was the main point of interest for the office usage. Compared to all other office chairs, those were the lightest ones with minimalistic designs.
Thus, a mesh office chair can easily merge with any desk and can be carried anywhere without any inconvenience.
For an office with many employees, chairs can be damaged easily due to several reasons. Thus, this chair’s freedom of movement turned into a benefit over leather and fabric models.
Well Engineering Construction with less Maintenance
Most of those mesh chairs were well engineered to ensure great ergonomics not only to sit but also to favor the office needs.
It was easier to clean the stains and spills on them, even with a simple wipe.
As most of the chairs were made from metals, mesh chairs also supported the cleaning solvents, even the alcohol ones, thus making them extremely easy to maintain.
Cost
Mesh chairs are cheaper than any other upholstery of the time when they emerged.
Besides, it has a more professional look than the fabric ones, thus making it the best choice for any room in any office.
So, even the premium models came out; users were happy to pay the price due to the benefits over other options.
Easily Available
Last but not least, people were fond of those chairs as they were easily available in any furniture shops out there.
Besides, one can find several options in mesh chairs, varying in design, accessories support, customizable options, etc.
So, the choice of such easy-to-find office furniture made it a compelling choice for the companies.
A Few Drawbacks of Mesh Chair (Cons)
Although the Mesh office chair comes along with many benefits that people look forward to, there are some minor flaws in it. Some of such drawbacks include
Less durable
The meshes used in those chair helps to support the body contours but they start sagging quickly. So, you may need to change the mesh if used regularly.
It is not that the chair is not durable at all, but when compared to fabrics and leather upholstery, this is surely a drawback of mesh office chairs.
Lack of long-term comfort (User Preference)
Breath-ability increases the comfort of sitting on an office chair to a great extent, but the mesh seat doesn’t allow the user to sink.
So, chances are some people may feel a kind of inconvenience when used for longer periods. The mesh allows a good flow of air but being sturdy and less flexible makes it uncomfortable for most users.
Limited Models and customization
The mesh style design influences the whole chair to a great extent. As those meshes are primarily available in black and grey colors, one won’t have as many options as fabrics and leather in Mesh office chairs.
The same goes for the customization, with a typical design requiring high-end engineering to ensure better ergonomics.
Reasons Why People Go for a Leather Chair (Advantages)
Leather chairs are known for the professional look and elegance that complements most office cabins at ease.
Well, being made of thick padding, these chairs are pretty durable and provide excellent support to vital places like backbones and spinal curves.
Most people prefer leather chairs due to the customizable options for armrests, backrests, headrests, etc.
They are highly durable with long-lasting leather upholstery and durable metal support to the padding.
Here are some advantages due to which most people go for the leather office chairs.
Premium and Elegant Design
Leather chair reflects the prestige of an organization which is why most office chairs these days opt for those models.
It gives the visitors an impression of classiness, which is not possible with any other upholstery. Most organizations consider these leather office chairs the worthiest investment to add up to their look of the firm to make it look compelling to the clients or customers.
Comfort
One will undoubtedly go for the leather chair if the priorities are to look along with comfort.
The padded sear and tons of customization make the leather office chair way more comfortable than any other model.
These are also designed in such a way that they can stay cool for a long time when they are used in AC rooms.
Leather chairs can absorb perspiration, so they can grab the body heat to maintain good thermal balance and provide a cozy feeling. Thus, there is no wonder that leather chairs are made keeping users’ comfort in mind.
Extreme Durability
You can forget about repairs and replacements by buying a genuine leather office chair.
Leather lasts longer than any other upholstery by maintaining the same feel for a long time. Long-lasting performance in leather office chairs is what people pay for.
Well, one should make sure that it is pure leather with good customization to merge perfectly with the body dimensions.
Less Maintenance
Leather office chairs can protect themselves from adverse conditions that other upholstery are not possible.
There are many favorable and appealing features of the leather office chair that makes it favorable. You can wipe up the spills and stains from the beverages with one wipe as the leather won’t allow the liquid to go inside.
On top of this, you can remove debris and dust particles using just a vacuum cleaner. Ease of cleaning and maintenance makes it highly preferable.
A few downsides of Leather Chairs
Like any other chair, leather office chairs are also not perfect. Along with many advantages, they come with some downsides as well. Some of them include
Expensive
A Leather office chair made with pure leather padding is way more expensive than any other option. The luxurious feel of the chair comes with a cost that means other upholstery won’t come with it.
Although the expensive price is reasonable due to the quality, you should check whether the leather is the naturally available material and whether the features complement it well.
Scratches are easy
Although leather office chair seems premium, they are not for rough usage.
The leather surface is pretty durable, but it can show scratch marks easily. So, it is essential to be careful with sharp objects when using the chair.
Chances of Crack and Bleaches
A leather office chair is meant to last longer than any other upholstery, but exposing them to sunlight results in the crack and bleach out.
Keeping on sun can also change the natural color of the leather materials to a great extent.
Availability
A leather office chair is pretty easy to find in any furniture store, but finding the real leather is a challenging task.
If you are new to the leather chair, chances are you can be misled with any other materials similar in look and feel.
Which option is right for you?
Both the mesh and leather come along with pros and cons, which may or may not be suitable for every user out there.
But, here are some factors considering which the selection task can be simplified to a great extent.
Comfortability
Mesh chairs have a sturdy back design with breathable upholstery, making them perfect for people with back pains.
But leather chairs can be a good option for people who prefer comfort for a short time than a long-lasting advantage.
Mesh chairs are specially designed to maintain proper airflow to support consistent long-time tasks.
Customization
Leather office chairs come with tons of customizable features like adjustable height.
You can change the height easily with the lever present below the seat.
Even the reclining back and headrest provide excellent support to the users. Mesh chairs are available with limited features and limited designs as well.
Design and Style
If the design is your topmost priority, leather office chairs are a step above any other upholstery.
They reflect the premium quality and classiness from all aspects and thus can be a great addition for offices that interact with clients.
Mesh chairs are more about a task companion that enhances comfort and productivity with good support.
Price
Leather office chairs are way more expensive than mesh chairs being quite luxurious with a cozy feel.
Mesh chairs are pretty affordable and are designed to support long-lasting tasks.
If you are looking for a luxurious chair, leather can be a smart choice, whereas mesh chairs can be the best choice with breathable upholstery.
Final Verdict
On summing up all those features, pros and cons of both mesh and leather chairs, you can surely get the chair of your requirements.
But you need to consider the factors like customization, height, weight adjustability, padding quality, and pure materials before choosing a chair.
More customizable features make a chair favorable for all kids of body dimensions, even in adverse conditions, whether it is a mesh or a leather chair.