Nicola Elliott
If you’ve been scrolling through TikTok lately, you might have seen some office chairs that have gone viral — the kind that make you want to sit cross-legged like a contented cat, perch like a monk, or spin like you’re auditioning for a wellness-themed fairground ride. And sure, a viral office chair can look like the answer to every ache, every slump, every “I’ll just answer one more email” that turns into three hours and a frozen spine.
But before you rush to buy, are they actually good and supportive for your body?
Nick Smith, Product Design Engineer at ergonomic office chair and desk brand, Slouch, advises: “While viral chairs might look amazing online, they’re often missing the most important thing an office chair can give you – proper support. They might be great for doing your makeup or catching up on some emails, but problems arise when they’re used for hours every day.”
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And here’s the rub: most people don’t just dabble in desk time. They live there. Which means the chair you choose isn’t décor — it’s equipment.
Slouch has partnered with Professional Pilates instructor, Eloise Skinner who adds: “Good posture when working from a desk should involve both feet placed firmly on the floor with your hips level and at a 90-degree angle.
“Make sure your spine is in ‘neutral’ – this is its natural position, making sure to avoid arching the lower back or rounding the upper back. Ensure your neck is aligned with your spine (avoiding the chin moving forwards), the desk providing a 90-degree angle for your elbows, and computer screen at eye height.”
Nick goes on to share the three viral office chairs that could do more harm than good plus he shares his advice on what to look for in your office chair instead…
3 viral office chairs to avoid
1) The cross-legged office chair
Nick says: “Sitting cross-legged is a popular working position for many people. So much so, a special chair has been designed that is wider and deeper so you can purposefully cross your legs all day long.
“However, sitting with your legs in such a position can actually restrict blood flow, increase your blood pressure and compress the nerves in your legs. When this is maintained for long periods of time, it can lead to poor posture, spine and hip misalignment and increased risk of circulation issues.
“While the chair, which went viral on TikTok and had almost 500 million views, looks lovely, it’s not designed with ergonomics in mind. Its seat is much deeper than a regular chair and so the backs of your knees will catch on it, preventing you from sitting further into the seat and using the back support correctly.
“If you want to cross your legs while you work, we advise you do this with an ergonomically designed office chair instead.”
What this means in plain English: the chair is designed around a pose that your body might enjoy for a minute, but resent for an afternoon. If your knees can’t sit comfortably and your back support becomes ornamental, your posture tends to negotiate a surrender.
2) The kneeling chair
Nick explains: “The kneeling chair is angled slightly forward with a rest for your knees to sit on. It has no back, so the idea is you’re using all of your back and core muscles correctly to gain good posture.
“This chair was designed to balance the pelvis and spine, and therefore it can be ideal for anyone who works at a desk for long periods but it was not designed to be used if you stay in the same position for hours on end.
Nick warns: “The idea of a kneeling chair is to use it occasionally, not necessarily all day or for hours at a time.”
The key point: it’s a tool, not a throne. Used in short bursts, a kneeling chair can change positions and wake up posture. Used as your all-day office chair? That’s when “active sitting” can become “why do my knees hate me?”
3) The meditation chair
Nick says: “The meditation chair is another one that’s done the viral rounds on TikTok, with around 50m views and 6m likes on one video alone. It’s sort of like a kneeling chair, only it has a backrest and a rest for your feet and legs that spin round.”
What to watch for: viral doesn’t equal supportive. A spinning base and unusual sitting positions can feel freeing — right up until your day becomes a marathon of micro-compromises: neck forward, ribs flared, pelvis tilted, shoulders climbing toward your ears like they’re trying to escape.
What kind of office chair should you choose instead?
If you’ve seen a viral office chair on TikTok or want to buy one simply because it’s a trend, it might be time to take a step back and think about what you actually need.
Nick advises: “The best choice is a proper ergonomic office chair that’s fully adjustable. Ergonomic chairs are designed to support you where you need it most, including your neck, shoulders, arms and back.
“Adjustors are necessary to ensure the chair fits you instead of the other way around. This might include height adjusters, seat tilts, seat depth adjustors, lumbar support, arm rests, neck rests and more.”
A quick “non-negotiables” checklist for an ergonomic office chair
- Seat height adjustment so your feet can sit flat and your knees aren’t higher than your hips
- Seat depth so you’re not jammed against the back of your knees
- Lumbar support to stop your lower back from doing unpaid overtime
- Armrests that support without forcing the shoulders up
- Backrest support that encourages neutral spine, not sofa-slump
Because the best office chair doesn’t make a splash on your For You Page. It makes your working day feel boringly, beautifully normal — no fidgeting, no numb legs, no “why do I feel 70” at 3 pm.
