A chair pillow, or seat pad, adds a cushioned, soft feel to chairs that may otherwise be stiff and uncomfortable. Whether your chair is at work or at home, you can greatly improve the comfort of your seating with a pillow that fits snugly under your back and between your legs. A chair pillow can also help you correct your posture, so that you don’t slouch while you sit.
You can find seat pillows made from a variety of materials, to include woven cotton, braided wool and microfiber. Woven cotton is the most popular option, as it is less expensive and can be easily wiped clean. Many of these chair cushions can be machine-washed, too, and still retain their shape.
There are also a variety of sizes to choose from. A small cushion can be placed under your knees to keep your legs straight, while larger ones are perfect for sitting with your feet up on a recliner or chair. Some of the more expensive chair pillows are filled with urethane foam, which conforms to your body and keeps its shape over time.
For added support, consider a chair pillow with a cut-out design for coccyx relief. This type of cushion relieves tailbone pressure and redistributes the compressive force that can cause pain in your hips. Another great benefit of seat cushions is that they can help with circulation, particularly if you have varicose veins or peripheral artery disease.
When selecting a seat pillow, it’s important to think about the size of your chair, and how thick you want your pillow to be. Too thick a pillow can be difficult to fit under your furniture, and it can also make the chair harder to sit in comfortably. A good rule of thumb is to select a pillow that’s about the same width as your chair seat.
Aside from comfort, a seat pillow can also improve your posture and lower your risk of heartburn and gastrointestinal reflux. The reason for this is that slouching in a chair can put pressure on the wrong areas of your body. Proper posture can relieve this pressure, and by supporting your back and legs with a chair pillow, you can prevent the acid from flowing upwards into your stomach.
Some chair pillows attach with ties, and can be loosened or tightened as needed. Other models, especially those used on rocking chairs and gliders, have slip-resistant latex bottoms that grip the chair, so the cushion won’t slide under your legs. For extra comfort, look for a seat pillow with a built-in gel heating or cooling pad, which can be turned on and off as needed. This can help you stay comfortable during the long hours of a day in your chair. For those who need additional lumbar support, a neck support pillow is a great choice to consider as well. This type of pillow can be used in conjunction with your chair or bed pillow for added support, and it comes with a removable cover for easy cleaning.
