The office chair mat, a key piece of furniture necessary for any work environment that often gets forgotten when purchasing new additions for the office. They are often perceived as a luxury purchase rather than a necessity, and as something that can be purchased at a later point in time if really needed. While you may have preconceived notions about office chair mats, they are actually a key piece of furniture that should be taken into consideration when purchasing new items for both your work and home office. Having one in any work environment is beneficial for a number of reasons including floor protection, appearance purposes, personal safety, ergonomic benefits, and ease of mobility.
The primary purpose of owning a chair mat is to protect the surface that you roll on with your office chair. No matter what surface your office chair currently sits on, such as hardwood floors, carpet, or linoleum, there are mats designed specifically for each of the aforementioned. Office chair casters can easily scratch hardwood floors, leave imprint marks in carpet, and also damage the quality of your carpet from the consistent rolling. In fact, many carpet manufacturers will void their warranty if an office chair will be used on it without the use of a chair mat. Carpet mats typically come with a set of cleats located underneath the chair mat that allow the mat to stay firm and in place when rolling across. Mats for hardwood floors or linoleum do not have the cleats underneath the mat, however their weight allows for the mat to stay in one place rather than sliding around as one might fear.
The addition of a chair mat to an office instantaneously creates an elegant and clean appearance. Many come with a clear finish making them less noticeable for those that are apprehensive about having your chair mat take attention away from the overall design of your office and allows the beauty of your flooring to show through. They can compliment your office design or stand out with the option for colorful and unique designs that are provided by some chair mat manufacturers. Some unique mat designs include bamboo, zebra print, a world map, peacock print, colorful circles, and many more. They are also available in different shapes and sizes depending on what your office needs; if you have smaller work area then you may opt for a smaller sized chair mat. If your work area requires rolling across a larger surface area, then you may want to opt for a larger mat or a mat that differs from the traditional rectangle shape and try an arc or ellipse shape instead.
Chair mats often bring up the concern for personal safety, for example, many people often do not look where they are walking and may be worried about tripping over their chair mat. The same can be said for walking in the dark at night in your home office and risking falling over from catching an edge on your mat. While cheaper mats do come with straight edges that can be a safety concern, there are plenty of higher quality mats available that come standard with rounded protective edges designed specifically so people do not trip over them. Rounded or beveled edges are also helpful for a smooth transition to the carpet or floor when rolling off the mat.
Chair mats are ergonomically beneficial in preventing leg fatigue and ease of movement. If you currently use your office chair on an unprotected carpeted surface, then you have most likely already felt the pressure and struggle that it takes to roll from once spot to another. With the help of a mat, gliding from one spot to another is a simple task rather than having to utilize your leg muscles to give you the momentum to move on the carpet. Repetitive pushing with one's leg muscles can cause unnecessary leg and back pain from over exerting oneself.
Purchasing a chair mat is a worthwhile investment for assurance that your floors and carpets will be protected and unharmed from your office furniture. While getting new flooring or carpets can put a huge dent in your budget, buying a chair mat is very affordable with even the highest quality of chair mats usually falling below the one hundred-dollar threshold. Your legs will also thank you from relieving the amount of pressure necessary to get from one place to another when rolling in your office chair. If anything, this useful addition will keep your floors clean and looking beautiful.