Have a seat, but first do your homework

To Richard Vaughn, the chair is the most important piece of furniture in a home office. It is also the item most people are likely to push to the end of their shopping lists.

``They'd much rather have a nice-looking lamp or nice artwork," says Vaughn, president and chief executive of Peabody Office Furniture in Boston, a family-owned business that consults with and sells primarily to companies.

When they get around to it, consumers also are likely to select chairs based on how they look, not how they perform or how they will be used. While that doesn't mean you have to choose an ugly chair, Vaughn advises paying attention to function and comfort, especially if you'll be frequently using your chair.

``The chair should really support you for long periods of sitting," he says. A Chadwick chair by Knoll, for instance, is meant for 24-hour-a-day use, Vaughn says. It costs about $400 and was created by the same designer behind the well-known Aeron chair.

Though some consumers might be wooed by more knobs and levers, Vaughn believes only three main features need to be adjustable on any chair: the height, the amount of recline, and the resistance or tension of the recline. (One tip on the recline: You shouldn't have to push too hard to get the chair to tilt back).

The levers should be within easy reach. Look for pneumatic levers for height adjustment, Vaughn says, otherwise you'll have to spin the chair like a piano stool. A ``waterfall" edge at the front of the seat will keep the back of your knees from getting pinched. One popular choice at Peabody is the Presto by Now Seating, which comes in three sizes and sells for about $250.

Adjustable arm rests are another option to consider, Vaughn says. Your elbow should rest at a 90-degree angle.

The height of the seat back is not necessarily important, Vaughn says, but you should look for contour in the lumbar area to support your lower back. Wish Seating by Kimball Office, another popular choice at Peabody that sells for about $350, has an adjustable lumbar support.

As for material, leather is typically found in executive offices. Vaughn recommends fabric for a home office chair and notes that it is easy to replace if it tears or gets dirty. Some chairs, such as the Chadwick, also are made of mesh, which is more breathable and won't lose its density the way foam might.

Vaughn advises spending $300 to $450 for a chair, slightly more than what retail stores such as Staples, the office supply store, offer. They feature as many as 50 office chairs in their stores, ranging from about $40 to $300, said buyer Lynn Meltzer, and customers can order other styles from their website.

Peabody Office Furniture is a 106-year-old company that works with clients in the Financial District. Vaughn regularly changes the furniture in his own office; he recently had a leather chair by Knoll at his desk. He also had a few chairs and tables designed by the architect Maya Lin.

Ultimately, Vaughn says, what works for one person might not work for someone else. His most important advice is also his simplest. ``Don't buy a chair without first sitting in it," he says.

Emily Shartin can be reached at eshartin@globe.com.