Functionally fashionable

Chairs are seen mainly as functional objects but they have also become fashion items now that they can be made from so many different materials in so many forms. It was only with the launch of the bentwood chair in the 1850s that chairs took on a form of their own rather than relying on craftsmanship for decoration. Bentwoods e society and marked the start of cheaper more accessible chairs. In the 1920s, Marcel Breuer began to use tubular steel as a low-cost, strong and lightweight material in chairs. Alvar Aalto, Charles and Ray Eames and Arne Jacobsen began to use plywood innovatively. The Jacobsen chair almost took on a human form and was such a simple, sexy, light design. Robin Day's bright polypropylene 1960s chair (now sold in Habitat) brought designer chairs to a mass audience.

Choose a collectable

Every truly original idea, every innovation in design, every new application of materials, every technical invention for furniture seems to find its most important expression in a chair, said American designer George Nelson. Chairs do cross over with sculpture, art and architecture and your choice of chair will reflect your taste for good design. You shouldn't be swayed by fashion but choose something that you like as the next generation will only change the fashion anyway. Have the confidence to mix pieces that you like in a room. Blend items from different periods, such as Arts and Crafts, Art Deco and Georgian, just as you would with collections of art and music.

Maintain your position

Sitting is basically a human invention - a compromise between standing up and lying down, said chair designer Hans Wegner. Comfort is so important. After choosing a chair that you like, sit in it in different positions and for quite a long time, if possible. Because we are all of different shapes and sizes you need to find a chair that suits you. Make sure that it is strong, made from quality materials and get a care and maintenance guide from the seller. For instance, if your chair is made of leather or suede you need to know how to clean it properly and also whether to keep it out of sunlight. Get a warranty if possible.

An eye on the future

Certain post-war chairs (including those by Eames and Jacobsen) have become highly collectable and are expensive as a result. Designers such as Eames had a good eye and an understanding of technology. We have a collection of classic chairs in our workshop and they inspire us. They just don't date. But it is important to buy furniture from young, upcoming designers.

Stay grounded

When sitting on a chair your legs should hang downwards and your feet should be flat on the floor. You need to choose a soft seat if you're going to sit on the chair for long periods.

Stack 'em high

If you're choosing stacking chairs, to save space, make sure that they stack easily and have good strength in relation to their weight and size (they shouldn't be too flimsy or heavy). Ask the person selling the chair about this or go by your own instinct, although this usually takes time to acquire - it's like knowing that a horse has a good temperament or that an art work has a nice balance.

Safety first

Office chairs need to comply with health and safety regulations so if you are buying one, ask the salesperson whether it does. These requirements include height adjustment, tilt mechanism, five-star bases and a fire rating.

A tailored approach

Commissioning a chair may seem expensive but it will give you value for money in the long term because it will be tailored to your needs. It will suit your posture and your taste.

Search for quality

Things to look for when you are buying a chair are well-balanced design, good detailing and finishes, quality fabrics and firm foam. All feet should have plastic protectors on them and the joints should be clean. Joints that don't meet properly will create movement which will eventually make the chair fall apart. If you look under the seat of some of the cheaper copies of the Jacobsen plywood chair, for instance, you'll see plastic fittings that aren't fixed to the metal tubes that support the seat. If these move out of place there will be more play where the tube meets the wood and this will eventually wear out the chair.