What home office wouldn’t look or function better with a furniture transplant? And certainly there's a wide selection in the big box stores that'll handle anyone's basic needs. But for those who don't always want to follow the crowd, there's no limit to what you can do. Or how green you can be. Or what you can spend.

The Chair

Good-looking office chairs aren't necessarily the best chairs, particularly at the sub-$100 entry-level price point. Products in this range probably won't support the lower back, likely won't stand the test of time and will undoubtedly squeak at some point. However, the choices become quite a bit more likeable and durable at the $200-plus mark.

Choose the type of chair for your specific needs and habits – for example, you'll be much better off with a "task" chair than a high-backed executive model if you're working the computer all day. Try to grab as much seat time as possible before you buy, check the lumbar support, explore the height and seat angle adjustments, and decide whether armrests are something you really need while you work. And don't forget, upholstery gradually wears out. Opt for a chair with a durable, guaranteed cushion, or take a look at those without upholstery – some are very comfortable indeed.

And don't limit your search to office-centric stores such as Office Depot – Ikea is home to one of the best-reviewed midlevel task chairs on the market. It's called the Joakim, and it features such the unusual perk of a sliding seat. ($299, www.ikea.ca)

But if you want the best, today's top-ranked chairs are ready to accommodate. From Steelcase (www.steelcase.com) hails the Leap, a marvelous creation that consistently scores the highest grades for its breathable fabric, supportive ergonomics, and extreme adjustability. Also from Steelcase comes the Think, a slim-designed chair notable for its seating position adaptability and feel-good 99% recyclability.

Humanscale's (www.humanscale.com) super-comfy Freedom and simplistically elegant Liberty look outwardly to have fewer adjustments than other models, but in reality adapt to the user semi-automatically. The Liberty isn't as plush as the Freedom, but its mesh seatback is streamlined, breathable, and much more comfortable than it looks.

And certainly no discussion of high-end office chairs would be complete without the granddaddy of the bunch, Herman Miller's (www.hermanmiller.com) celebrated Aeron. It's esthetically intriguing and durably built, and it features a comfy mesh seat and backrest that fits you like a hammock. All of the above will impact you to the tune of $800-plus, but they'll likely keep your back and joints happy for many, many years.

Obsessive gamers, meanwhile, may want to look into Ultimate Game Chair's Renegade Game Chair. It jolts you physically while you play, and massages you when you're not (via a dozen strategically-placed motors). It produces sound through a pair of head-level speakers, and features conveniences such as a cup holder, an MP3 input, and sound-triggered underside lighting. Sadly, it sits too low for a regular PC desk. ($299 US, www.ultimategamechair.com)

A better bet for anyone who seeks an all-in-one seating solution for both their working and their PC gaming hours is the PC Gaming Chair 2.1. It may look like a standard task chair, but it's wired for sound, baby, with two built-in, full-range speakers in the headrest, a subwoofer underneath, and a digital control pod in the armrest. Best of all, it's cordless. ($269.99, available at www.costco.ca as the Jimmy PC Gaming Chair 2.1)

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