Second, when you’re picking out your chair the first thing you should do is throw vanity straight out the window. Weigh yourself. Be honest (wrote the woman to whom 285 lbs is the best she gets after steady gym attendance. Let’s not dwell! ) Then be sure to look at the weight rating for your chair. If you are heavy and there is no weight rating, it’s probably too light. No it won’t collapse under you. But you’ll spend the money and it will “fail” after about six months. Office furniture places will usually tell you. Believe them and, if you are right at the top of the chair’s range, get the next bigger size. We move a lot on those chairs. Sturdy is better. I myself (6’2″ and weight around 300) go for the 400 pound rating.

Where to find them: there are places on line for big and tall (usually men, but who cares?) If you don’t like to sew with handles on your chair, don’t install them (or take them off). Simple screwdriver (and possibly allen wrench) are the only tools you need. Problem solved.