Settle the client positions and room layout before choosing a chair, bed or armrest. The right comparison is the exact item in your intended working positions: its footprint, adjustment range, maker's load information, cleaning instructions and how it can be serviced. Ask your council about the proposed furniture before committing to a purchase.
Choose the support for the work
Write down the positions your sessions require and where the artist needs to sit or stand. A client chair or bed may need to cover several positions; an armrest solves a narrower support problem. Compare how much adjustment you need with the space and time available to reset the workstation between clients.
| Decision | Compare |
|---|---|
| Chair or bed | Working positions, adjustment controls, footprint when fully extended and whether the artist can reach the work area comfortably |
| Separate armrest | Range of positions, base stability on your floor, adjustment method and where it stores between uses |
| Shared or guest space | Setup and pack-down steps, delivery dimensions and whether the item can be moved without blocking the working route |
Mock up the room first
Measure the route from delivery entrance to treatment space, including doorways, turns and stairs. Mark the furniture's full working footprint on the floor with tape, then place a stool and task light where they would actually sit. Check access to the client's intended positions and whether adjustments remain reachable.
With the room empty, rehearse moving the furniture through its planned positions. Note anything that catches a wall, blocks a route or pushes the artist into an awkward reach. Use the notes to refine the plan or ask the supplier a precise question.
Check the exact model's documents
Ask the maker for assembled and packed dimensions, adjustment range, stated load limit, care instructions, warranty terms and replacement-part availability. Do not transfer a limit or cleaning method from a similar-looking model. Leeds' guidance is one local example of expectations for furniture that can be cleaned effectively; ask your own council which requirements apply and confirm that the maker's care instructions fit your procedures.
Before ordering, record the model, source of each specification, delivery route and any unanswered questions. Compare lighting and storage in the studio equipment list.
Sources & further reading
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