Why Sitting Comfortably Is More Important Than You Think

Belgians aged 15 and older sit an average of 5 hours and 56 minutes per day; in Flanders, that figure rises to 6 hours and 9 minutes. Anyone who sits that much will notice the difference between a chair that’s simply soft and one that provides support and moves with you. Comfortable sitting comes down to three things: a good fit, support where you need it, and the freedom to change your posture.

We sit at the table, at our desks, in the car, and on the couch in the evening. Sitting is so commonplace that we only think about it when something starts to bother us. Yet the chair you sit in determines how you feel after a long dinner, an evening of TV, or a day of working from home. In this article, our advisors explain what seating comfort is really all about—and how you can test it for yourself.

How many hours a day do we actually spend sitting?

According to Sciensano’s Health Survey, Belgians aged 15 and older spend an average of 5 hours and 56 minutes per day sitting. In the Flemish Region, that figure is 6 hours and 9 minutes; in Wallonia, 5 hours and 44 minutes; and in Brussels, 5 hours and 21 minutes. These figures have hardly changed since 2018.

You spend a large portion of those hours at home. The same survey shows that 7 out of 10 Belgians over the age of 15 watch at least 2 hours of TV or video every day. Add to that mealtimes at the table and a day of working from home, and you’ll quickly rack up several hours a day spent in the same few chairs and sofas. That’s reason enough to choose them with as much care as you would a good mattress.

Source: Sciensano, 2023–2024 Health Survey, report on physical activity and sedentary behavior.

Is a soft chair also a comfortable chair?

No. Softness is what you feel in the first minute; comfort is what you feel after an hour. A chair that feels very soft often causes you to sink slowly into it. Your pelvis tilts backward, your lower back loses its support, and after a while, you’ll naturally start to shift or end up sitting on the edge of the seat.

True seating comfort is a combination of fit, support, and freedom of movement: the seat is neither too deep nor too short, the backrest supports your lower back, and the chair allows you to change your posture without losing that support. That’s why, in a Stressless chair, the cold foam is poured directly into a mold over a steel frame, with comfort zones that retain their shape and a top layer of polyester wadding for softness on the surface.

Why is it so important to move while sitting?

Because your body isn't designed to stay in one position for hours on end. Even when you think you're sitting still, you're constantly moving a little: you lean forward to pick something up, you turn toward the person sitting next to you, you lean back during a conversation. A chair that follows those movements feels more natural than one that locks you into a single position.

Stressless is based on that idea. In the recliners, the Plus™ system automatically adjusts the support for your lower back and head when you lean back, and BalanceAdapt™ provides a subtle rocking motion. The dining chairs feature the Balance&Glide™ system: when you lean back, the seat slides forward and the backrest moves backward, preventing you from sliding down.

Which chair is best for which seating situation?

There is no such thing as a universal “best chair,” because every seating situation requires something different. At the table, you sit actively: you sit up straighter, lean forward, and turn around. In a recliner, you sit passively: you want to lean back, rest your head, and put your legs up. A chair that’s perfect for one situation is rarely perfect for another.

Let’s be honest: a Stressless isn’t the right choice for eight hours a day of intensive computer work. For that, we recommend a full-featured ergonomic office chair, such as those available at our other store, Sit & Sleep. You can read more about this in our article on Stressless as an office chair.

How do you test whether a chair is truly comfortable?

By sitting in it the way you would at home, and for long enough. A photo or product description won’t tell you anything about how a chair feels after ten minutes. Ask yourself these questions while you’re trying it out:

• Are my feet relaxed and flat on the ground?
• Can I feel the backrest against my lower back, and not just higher up?
• Can I move freely, bend forward, and turn around?
• Does the seat still feel as comfortable after five minutes as it did at the beginning?
• Can I relax without having to constantly correct my posture?

That last question might be the best test of all. You forget about a chair that fits well; you can feel a chair that doesn't.

Why does one person sit differently than another?

Because body types and preferences vary. Some people prefer a firm seat, while others prefer a softer feel. Someone with long legs needs a different seat height and depth than someone with a long torso. A chair that’s perfect for your partner might be just a little too deep or too high for you.

That’s why most Stressless recliners come in three sizes—S, M, and L—and the Stressless Laurel is the only dining chair available in both M and L sizes. Read our article on how to choose the right recliner to find out how to select the right size.

Do you have to choose between comfort and a beautiful interior?

No. A comfortable chair doesn’t have to look medical or heavy. At Stressless, you can customize every sofa and chair with the upholstery, color, and wood finish that matches your interior: there are 124 upholstery colors for the recliners and 121 for the dining chairs.

It’s worth prioritizing comfort first and then considering the look. If you do it the other way around, you might end up with a beautiful chair that no one wants to sit in for long. To learn how to combine comfort and style in your living room, read “A Recliner in Your Home.”

Come try it out for yourself in Leuven or Antwerp

You can only truly appreciate comfort when you sit down. In Leuven and Antwerp—the only official Stressless stores in the Benelux—the full range is available, and paramedically trained consultants will work with you to find the right size and model.