11 Most Comfortable Desk Chairs for Modern Decor – (They’re all under $200!)

Disclosure: This post contains mostly affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at NO extra cost to you.

Have you been spending days searching the web for the perfect modern, stylish chair to use at your desk, but can’t find anything that looks awesome, is in budget, AND will be comfortable? Well, I had this same problem after I got my new black writing desk from Target (Paulo Basic Desk – Project 62™), which I reviewed here.

I needed an awesome modern chair to pair with it, but most of the ones that looked trendy also looked extremely uncomfortable. So, I put a ton of time and effort to put a short list of my top 11 most comfortable desk chairs together, and thought I could share it with everyone else looking for the same thing.

This post will review 11 comfortable desk chairs to help keep your modern decor scheme intact while not breaking your back (or pocketbook).

First we’ll review the latest trends for modern home offices to get our style inspo, then I’ll tell you how we evaluated our list, and then we’ll get into the pro’s and con’s of each pick on our top 10 list.

Let’s get started…

Latest Trends for Modern Desk Chairs in 2020

First we need to know – what are the latest trends for modern desk chairs in 2020? What are interior designers and furniture houses using as desk chairs? This article by HomeDesigning.com gave me some great ideas. I also looked at popular interior design blogs (some found on my resource page).

I then went to my local high end furniture stores like Room & Board and Scandinavian Designs for inspiration IRL (in real life) and snapped a few pics of chairs I loved – unfortunately most were priced between $400 and $800 – way out of my budget.

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The trend, for modern home office design seems to be avoiding the typical computer chair that is black or grey mesh with wheels, that you would see in any corporate office.

I’m also noticing a trend with interior designers showing very minimalist chairs with hardly any cushions or padding, like the ubiquitous white plastic chair you see above. These chairs seem horribly uncomfortable, which I simply cannot put form over function in this case, since my butt is the one that is going to be sitting on this thing!

Do comfortable desk chairs have to look ugly?

Short answer is, no.

I had a little designer inspiration and ideas, now I just needed to search for some more affordable lookalike candidates which are actually verifiably comfortable. Here is how I compiled my list, and created a rating system.

Ratings Criteria

Comfort factor:

I did not sit on all of these chairs myself, but I did go and sit on a ton of chairs in the high end stores that I can’t afford, and know what to look for. That would be things like how “cushy” the seat is, lumbar support, how high the arms and back are, and if the height is adjustable.

So how will we determine if it’s a truly comfortable desk chair?

Reviews, Reviews, Reviews. My method is to make sure there are more than 5 reviews for a product, and I read them all so you don’t have to. I always read all of the negative reviews, and compile a list of pro’s and cons for each chair (no chair with legit reviews will have only pro’s). If they are all positive reviews it sets off a red flag that some might be fake.

Materials:

We looked at the product info for the type of upholstery covering on the chair.  At the price point we are looking at (less than $200), real leather is unfortunately out of the question. According to this article by BKA, PVC faux leather is slightly more durable than PU faux leather, so is a better choice if you want this to last. PU leather will typically be softer and feel more like leather. Fabric coverings are typically synthetic, but will breathe better than faux leather, although be harder to clean. Fabric might be the way to go if you live somewhere hot, without air conditioning, or sweat a lot when you are at your desk.

Specifications:

We examined which areas, if any, of the chair are adjustable – height, tilt, armrests, etc. The more adjusting you do, the more it can be fitted to your body in a more ergonomic fashion. Also, in this area you can look for the type of padding or cushion they use in the seat.

Return Policy:

This is really the key for comfort. Everyone’s body is different, so my idea of comfort may not be comfortable at all for you. ALL of the chairs in this list have FREE RETURNS according to their Amazon listing (as of the writing of this article).

This is super important since if you intend to use this to work at a desk on a daily basis – you will want to be able to return it if YOU don’t think it’s comfortable.

So, here we go…

The 11 most comfortable desk chairs to go with your modern home office decor, all under $200:

Review of Sauder Harvey Park Occasional Chair (link here to buy).

The Harvey Park chair comes in gray and is around $165 (check price via link).

Loving this chair due to the retro/mid century modern design and the fact it does NOT have wheels – which seems to be very on trend these days. Also I have a toddler so the thought of having a wheeled chair for him to roll around our living space has me scared senseless.

Pro’s

• Thick seat and back padding should be comfortable for long stretches of sitting.
• Fabric covering will be durable and cool to sit on in the summers.
• 20 Reviews on Amazon and 4.1 out of 5 stars.

Con’s:

• A few reviewers complained of a few parts being defective, but seems they were sent replacement parts by Sauder.
• Upholstery may not withstand lots of stains since it’s fabric and a light color.

Link for the Sauder Harvey Park Occasional Chair on Amazon here. (affiliate link) or directly from Sauder here.

Flash Furniture High Back Office Chair in White

It’s only $95, and looks almost the same as the one from Scandinavian Designs (photo above) that was over $300!

Pro’s:

• The seat padding is very thick, it has a high back, and it has much-needed lumbar support.
• It’s adjustable in a lot of placed including tilt/lock and pneumatic height adjustment.
• Comes in 2 colors – white or black, and you can choose between chrome, gold, or rose gold metal.

Con’s:

• Upholstery is PU Faux leather, which won’t hold up like real leather, but reviews say it’s super easy to clean.
• You have to do some assembly yourself, and it sounds like it can be a little rickety if you don’t know how to adjust it correctly.

Link to the Flash Furniture High Back Office Chair on Amazon here (affiliate link).

Review of Elle Decor Ophelia Bentwood Task Chair.

Priced at $159.99 (but check listing for latest price). Available in French Ivory, French Gray, and French Pink.

This is so cute, modern/mid-century, and looks so cushy! I also like that it comes in 3 colors.

Pro’s:

• Fabric upholstery will be softer to sit on, and will wear better than fake leather.
• Adjustable height to help w/ ergonomics.
• Armless so should fit well under any desk.
• Over 56 Reviews and a 4.5 star rating.

Con’s:

• A few reviewers say it’s a little squeaky – WD 40 might be a fix?
• The fabric cushion can lose it’s shape over time.

Link to the Elle Decor Ophelia chair, on Amazon here. (affiliate link)

Review of Rivet Alfred Mid-Century Modern Wide Curved Back Dining Room Chair.

Available in both an Ash Gray (darker) and a Felt Gray (lighter), for around $169 (check price on listing).

I love these barrel type chairs since the seem so comfy, and this one would look great with a walnut desk.

Pro’s:

• Plenty of padding all around.
• Hardwood legs
• Very sturdy

Con’s:

• Some reviewers claim they did not receive an instruction manual for assembly.

Link to the Rivet Alfred Mid-Century Modern Wide Curved Back Chair (affiliate link).

Review of Armen Living Summer Chair.

This baby comes in charcoal, green, and blue, for only around $105 (check listing for latest price).

Mid Century Modern vibesssssss all day here folks. I love how it’s a little masculine too.

Pro’s:

• Highly rated for both comfort and easy to assemble.
• 283 customer reviews and a 4.4 out of 5 star rating.

Con’s:

• Doesn’t swivel or have any ways to adjust the height/tilt/etc.
• Some folks complain of the seat cushion getting compressed.

Link to the Armen Living Summer Chair here (affiliate link).

Review of Armen Living Monte Dining Chair .

The Monte comes in black or gray faux leather, and is around $86.43 (check listing for latest price). This is very minimalistic chair if you have that type of minimal modern vibe. I think it also can be masculine or feminine and would look on point with a wood and dark metal desk.

Pro’s

• Many reviews say the chair is both comfortable and sturdy.
• These are very easy to clean – so great if you have kids!
• Looks fairly simple to assemble.
• 34 reviews with 4.4 out of 5 stars.

Con’s:

• The pad on the seat is thin but dense.
• Sounds like a couple of people couldn’t get the holes to line up during assembly – luckily there is a free return policy if that were to happen.

Link to the Armen Living Monte Dining Chair here (affiliate link).

Review of the Sauder Park Occasional Chair in Emerald Green.

Comes in Emerald Green Velvet or Black and White checks/houndstooth. Price is around $139 (check website for latest price).

I just love this chair. The velvet. The color. My hubby likes it too. I think it would go great with my black desk, what do you think?

Pro’s:

• No wheels, which is a pro for me since I have a toddler and this will be on our main floor.
• Swanky velvet fabric will make you feel like a boss.
• Has a lot of cushioning for extra comfort.

Con’s:

• No reviews on Amazon. What’s a girl to do?
• There is the same named item on Amazon (above) in grey. The reviews were good and that it’s comfortable.
• Would the legs/feet scratch a laminate or hardwood floor?

Link to the Sauder Park Occasional Chair in Emerald Green here (affiliate link) or directly from the manufacturer here.

Review of Rivet Modern Tufted-Back Dining Chair.

The Rivet Modern Tufted-Back Dining Chair is available in blue for around $125 (check listing for current price).

Pro’s:

• The blue fabric will make any room uber classy.
• The legs give it a mid-century modern feel.
• Fabric will breathe better than faux leather.

Con’s

• Only 6 reviews – 4.3 out of 5 stars.
• No arms or wheels if you are into that kind of thing.

Link to the Rivet Modern Tufted-Back Dining Chair here (affiliate link).

Review of the OFM Core Collection Modern Fabric Upholstered Office Chair.

This chair is available in a light grey for $167, as well as a black faux leather for $218 (check listing for latest price). This one looks SO similar to the beige one from Room & Board in my inspiration photos. I think it would be a great add to any modern office.

Pro’s:

• 3″ Thick coil spring cushion adds to the comfort of the seat.
• Arm rests will also make it more comfortable.
• Height is adjustable.

Con’s:

• Only 5 reviews, but 4.7 out of 5 stars.
• It is pretty large so may not work for small office spaces.

Link to the OFM Core Collection Modern Fabric Office Chair here. (affiliate link)

Review of AmazonBasics Modern Adjustable Low Back Armless Ribbed Desk Chair.

This beauty is available in Brick Red (pictured), Black, Grey, and White, for a price around $75 (check prices via the link). I had to include a cognac/saddle leather-like chair since that seems to be the rage lately to warm up any room. The brick red seems to be more like a cognac or reddish brown, versus a red.

Pro’s:

• Slim design without being bulky, fits under any desk.
• Very easy to assemble.
• 4.6 out of 5 stars out of 440 ratings.

Cons:

• Seat is a little firm, although most reviews say it’s comfortable.
• Does not recline or have many adjustments other than the swivel and pneumatic height adjustment.

Review of Rivet Contemporary Dining Chair

Colors include Ink Blue (pictured), Forest, and Grey. Pricing is around $179 but check the listing for the latest price. Note the back does have a channel-back pattern on the back of the chair.

This chair has almost the exact same shape as the Room & Board Cora chair I took a photo of on my inspiration trip. That one was priced starting at $699, and had wheels, which won’t work for my room (or budget).

Pro’s:

• Looks very padded and has super soft fabric for breathability.
• Solid Wood Frame
• Comes fully assembled

Cons:

• Only 6 customer reviews, but a 4.8 out of 5 rating.
• On the higher side for price, but still under $200, way cheaper than our inspiration chair at Room & Board.
• May not have much lumbar support but the seat looks very cushy.

Conclusion

Well, that’s my roundup of the most comfortable modern desk chairs under $200. Remember – they (almost) all are sold on Amazon, AND offer FREE RETURNS. I hope this list helps you quickly find the perfect affordable chair for your modern home office, which will bring you joy!

Leave a comment below if you bought any of these chairs and let me know what you think!

Disclosure: The above post contains mostly affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at NO extra cost to you.