How to choose a chair mat for your home office

Many people are working from home due to the coronavirus lockdown. An office chair on wheels makes it easy to get into a comfortable working position at a desk or table, but it can damage carpets. The solution is to place a protective mat under the chair.

According to Tom Scalisi, writing for the home advice website bobvila.com, the most practical under chair mats are made from polycarbonate plastic. These have bottom studs of different sizes suitable for the carpet pile height. The studs help keep the mat in place without moving around. Mats for high pile carpets have longer studs than those for shorter piles. Mats without studs are suitable for hard surfaces, including wood, vinyl and tile.

Polycarbonate plastic mats are very durable, transparent and remain flat when the chair is moved. For extra hygiene, a mat with antimicrobial protection can be selected.

The mat needs to be large enough for the chair, and at least 36 inches by 48 inches for a standard-sized desk. Some mats have an extended lip that fits underneath the desk to protect the carpet from the front wheel of the chair.

Choose a mat between three to five millimetres thick, as this provides enough strength to withstand the wheel pressure. Thin mats tend to bunch up or sink under the weight of the wheels.

For workers who work in rooms with carpets in the Chester and North Wales areas, it makes sense to have protective mats under office chairs.