Are you tired of having a chair mat underneath your chair that does not look aesthetically pleasing? Chair mats do help you prevent damage to your flooring but they do not always match your interior. They also tend to be expensive, hard to clean, and before you know it, you need to replace them once again.
We have some great news for you! There are alternative options out there for you to choose from. These options work on different surfaces, they are easy to clean and they tend to match your office better than a random mat on the floor.
Today, we are going to share with you different alternative options for you other than your traditional office chair mats.
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Is A Chair Mat Necessary?
To an extent, a chair mat is needed. It helps protect your floor from indentations, scuffs as well as other marks and spills. The mats allow you to move within your workspace with ease. You do not have to worry about slipping on a laminated floor or getting your chair caught in your carpet.
Research has shown that it takes around 80% less effort to roll your chair on a chair mat than it does on a carpet? Turns out that rolling your chair on a carpet can cause back pain as well as give you leg strain.
Why Should You Consider Using A Chair Mat Alternative?
As we said before, the goal of using a chair mat is to protect your flooring however, they are not the perfect solution. Some mats are designed for specific flooring material and if you use the wrong mat on the wrong floor, you could end up causing more damage to your flooring than your chair does.
Chair mats also tend to collect a lot of dust underneath the mat itself. If you do not clean under the mat properly, it could leave long-term imperfections on your flooring.
Chair mat alternatives help you save money due to the fact that some chair mats can be expensive and the alternatives are often more cost effective in the long run. They are more design-friendly and are easier to clean. This will save you time and help you preserve the quality of your floor for longer.
What Can You Put Under Your Carpet Chair?
Carpets might keep the room warmer than tiles and wooden flooring does but office chairs and carpets do not like each other so much. A chair is difficult to maneuver on a carpet, they damage your carpet and you almost feel like you are stuck in one place.
Below are some ideas that you can put on your chairs if you happen to have carpets.
A stylish rug
Rugs are a great styling addition that you can add to your office. They are cost-effective, you can change them with ease, and are designed to help your office chair glide better.
The only downside to the rug is that your chair could possibly cause damage to your rug over time. The fact that they are cheaper than buying a new carpet, might be a better, cheaper option for your short term.
You also need to keep in mind that even though a rug looks nice, it does not always cover a lot of surface area. You will have to get up from your chair to move around instead of gliding around on your chair.
Felt pads for your chair legs
If you love how comfortable your chair is but just do not like the way the legs damage your flooring, you can install felt pads. These pads attach to the bottom of the chair legs and help protect your floor from damage.
Keep in mind, these pads do not work for chairs with wheels. They keep your chair stable and are a discreet alternative to your in-your-face chair mat.
The pads are easy to install and are cost-effective. You won’t be able to move your chair around but for some people, that is not an issue. Another downside is that the pads only last for about 6 months. With that being said, it is cheaper to buy felt pads once every 6 months than replace your flooring.
Piece of Tempered Glass
You can purchase a piece of tempered glass that is designed to protect your carpet from damage caused by office chairs. It is an alternative to a chair mat but just like the rug, it does come with a limited surface area that gets covered.
That being said, a glass mat will last a lot longer than a rug or regular chair mat. It does cost more in the beginning but long term, you will end up saving money. Tempered glass tends to work better on the carpet as they are less slippery and offer a smooth surface for you to roll on.
Other Alternative Options to Chair Mats
Now that we have given you a few ideas of what you can place underneath your carpet chair, let’s take a look at some other alternative chair mat options that are out there.
A Chair Without Wheels
Rolling around your floors with wheels will cause wear and tear. By eliminating the wheels, you will reduce the amount of damage that is done to your flooring. These chairs come with a lot of benefits such as affordability, stylish designs, easier to assemble, and low maintenance.
A chair without wheels tends to be a bit more affordable because they are mass-produced. More often than not, these chairs already come with floor guards so they cause less damage.
Ergonomic Standing desks
Ergonomic standing desks have become more popular in recent years. They have even made appearances in TV series such as Chicago Fire. This is a healthy alternative to office chairs in general.
Turns out, research has shown that standing instead of sitting might reduce your risk of shoulder and back pain. Professionals also believe that standing desks allow you to be up to 45% more productive than if you were to have a normal desk and office chair.
It will take some getting used to but a standing desk is healthier for you in the long run. You will not have to worry about a chair damaging your flooring because you will no longer need a chair with your new standing desk.
Plastic office chair wheels
Plastic office chair wheels tend to be lighter and less destructive. They glide well on almost any surface so you no longer need a chair mat. The only downside to plastic office chairs is that they do not glide so well on carpets.
You will need to clean the wheels and the floor around your chair often. This will help ensure that your wheels roll around with ease. They are an ideal option for someone who has an office at home because they are easy to install, they look simple and they can last for home use.
Rollerblade Style Caster Wheels
These wheels are ideal to give your chair a stylish and modern look. They cover less surface area which means less damage to your floor. They are often made from a durable polyurethane material which is a type of rubber.
The design of the wheels, reduces the wear-and-tear defacement that could happen to on your hardwood, vinyl, laminate, and other types of flooring surfaces with different wheel designs.. The wheels easily glide over surfaces and will help you get from point A to point B efficiently.
Classic Bell Glides
When in doubt, you can always turn to the trusted bell glides. They work on most surfaces including thick, industrial carpets. They attach to the bottom of your chair’s wheels. The bell glides are designed to increase the surface area.
That means that the pressure you put in the chair when you are sitting gets distributed over a larger area. They cause less impact on your flooring which will cause less damage to your floor.
The downside, you will no longer be able to roll around on your office chair. If you do not mind having a chair that does not glide along your floor, this is a simple and affordable solution that will protect your flooring from damage.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a lot of alternative options out there for office mats. These options are more pleasing to the eye instead of the mats, they are affordable and you have an enormous amount of stylish options for you to choose from.
In our opinion, the best alternative option will depend on your flooring as well as the style that you like the best. You need to think about your budget, do you want your chair to move around or be stationary? Are you a health fanatic and want to try the standing desk because of the health benefits?
We believe that the best chair mat alternative is either the chair bell glides or the rollerblade style wheels. You can either have the bell glides to keep your chair stationary and comfortable or you can go with the rollerblade wheels that will allow you to move around as you please. Both options can work on most flooring materials, they are safe to use and easy on the wallet.
My name is Vance, and I am the owner of To Ergonomics. Our mission is to improve your workflow by helping you create a supportive and welcoming environment. We hope that you’ll find what you’re looking for while you’re here.