A generation ago, most school chairs took on the same basic shape, size and feel. In today's classroom, you'll find a variety of chairs that are designed to better fit each individual student's learning needs.
As you shop for school chairs, consider some of these differences:
Deciding on a material for your classroom chairs comes down to comfort, price and durability.
- Wood School Chairs - The earliest school chairs were made of wood and the classic style can still be found in some classrooms and libraries. Ladder-back hardwood chairs have a certain sense of nostalgia in the classroom and the style is easy to clean and maintain. Wood school chairs are usually more expensive than plastic chairs.
- Hard Plastic School Chairs - Teachers like hard plastic chairs because they are easy to wipe clean between classes. Hard plastic chairs also resist scratches and stains as well as any other material so they stand up to wear and tear for years in the classroom. High-quality hard plastic chairs are heavier and less flexible than soft plastic chairs so kids may feel they are less comfortable for long periods of sitting. When it comes to affordability, hard plastic chairs are usually more expensive than soft plastic chairs.
- Soft Plastic School Chairs - In the past few decades, soft plastic chairs have become the most popular choice for classrooms. Unlike wood and hard plastic chairs, soft plastic classroom chairs flex with the student's movements, creating less pressure on the back and legs. They are easy to clean, resist scratches and stains (although not as well as hard plastic chairs) and come in a big variety of hues to match any school colors. Soft plastic chairs are the lightest of all materials so they are easier to move and stack. While they are typically the least expensive of chair materials, they are sometimes not as durable as wood or hard plastic.
- Vinyl-Covered Foam School Chairs - While it is certainly not your typical school chair material, foam soft seating is becoming increasingly popular in classrooms. The vinyl-covered foam seats bring comfort and a relaxed feel that many educators are striving for in their schools. Soft seating isn't as durable as the other chair materials, but it is easy to wipe clean.
Do you prefer the look of a traditional, four-leg school chair or something completely out of the box? Classroom chairs now come in countless configurations to suit many needs.
- Four-Leg Classroom Chairs - These chairs have the classic look and usually include a chrome or powder-coat paint finish on the legs.
- Cantilever School Chairs - This frame style looks like an L from the side and provides a more stable base and increased legroom. Cantilever chairs typically cannot be stacked as easily as four-leg chairs.
- Rocker School Chairs - These chairs look similar to cantilever chairs but have a special design that allows the chair to subtly rock with movement. Such motions have been shown to decrease stress and create a better learning situation for some children.
- Ball Chairs and Wobble Stools - Remember when yoga balls were all the rage in seating? While those styles do still exist, many have taken on a more refined design for the classroom. Wobble stools and ball chairs provide the motion kids like with the structure teachers need - no more balls bouncing across the classroom!
- Mobile School Chairs & Stools - As classrooms focus more on collaboration, flexibility and motion become increasingly important. Most brands now offer mobile options when it comes to their most popular school chairs.
Finding the right school chair height is important, enough so that we have dedicated an entire article and video to the topic! Check it out before your purchase new classroom chairs.
Shopping for school chairs can become overwhelming, but our sales team is here to help you research, plan and design your classroom. Give us a call at (877) 839-3330 and we will gladly assist you.
