I Finally Caved In And Bought The Viral Cross-Legged Chair That's All Over TikTok

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As a home editor, I'm constantly on the hunt for new trends to try and cute products to buy — which means I'm no stranger to saying "TikTok made me buy it." So, of course I've been eyeing the viral criss-cross desk chair that's been popping up on my FYP for months. Finally, I caved in and bought it.

It's hard to say which brand was the OG cross-legged chair on TikTok, as Amazon and Walmart sell a number of dupes. PUKAMI seemed to be a favorite among TikTok users, so that's the brand I decided to go with.

My first impression: The TikTok-famous chair arrived at my doorstep well-packaged, and was surprisingly easy to assemble. The instructions were easy to follow, taking less than 10 minutes to build. I will say that, because the seat back and seat cushion have some weight to them, it's best to have another person on hand to help you hold these two pieces together while you put the screws in.

Once it was put together, I thought the chair looked gorgeous—and I found it way more spacious than expected. The seat cushion is an impressive 25.5 inches wide, which allows for various seating positions (the options aren't limited to criss-cross applesauce!). As someone who has a hard time sitting still and tends not to conform to conventional seating positions, I love that the armless desk chair allows me to switch positions throughout the day.

As for style, the polyester upholstery feels soft (I chose the beige color), and it looks chic paired with my distressed wood desk and dark hardwood floors.

It's worth mentioning that the desk chair I purchased from Amazon features a five-inch adjustable height, 360° swivel and 108- to 130° tilt angle (although I personally find the tilt function unimpressive). I love that the seat cushion is wide and deep, providing plenty of space for my legs. Just keep in mind that it can be a little challenging to reach your feet to the floor when sitting all the way back in the chair (note: I'm 5'6").

While I'm a fan of my PUKAMI, there are a variety of similar versions of this chair out there, so feel free to choose a style that pairs best with your space and budget. Some may be slightly smaller, have thicker seat cushions or feature different tufting styles. There are also faux leather cross-legged chairs and others with wheels.

Cross-Legged Armless Chair

Armless Desk Chair With Wheels

Cross-Legged Chair

Of course, while there's a lot to love about this viral office chair, the main selling point is the ability to sit cross-legged. But you may be wondering, Is it healthy to sit cross-legged on a chair? Keep reading: I spoke with an expert to discuss the health considerations associated with the popular "criss-cross applesauce" position.

What to Consider Before Buying the Criss-Cross Chair

• You shouldn't sit cross-legged all day. Many of us—myself included—find it most comfortable to sit cross-legged, or positioned with one leg up and one leg down. "The problem is, when your feet don't touch the ground for a long period of time, there's not enough circulation in your thighs," explains Calista Yong, a physician assistant for Premise Health. "If your body is putting all of that pressure onto your legs, you're going to end up losing circulation in the lower legs."

• The chair doesn't have armrests. When sitting in a chair without armrests, we all have the tendency to lean forward, which can cause back pain. "I recommend pulling your chair all the way into your desk, so you can rest your arms on it," says Yong. "Make sure that you're not leaning forward and be extra careful about keeping your back straight."

• It's not ideal to sit in any one position for extended periods of time. "Aches and pains are going to occur with almost every chair if you're sitting in one position for a long period of time," says Yong. "Make sure that you're standing up, changing your seated position, and just keep your body moving."

The bottom line: No matter what type of chair you're sitting in, try standing and stretching every 20 to 30 minutes throughout the workday to minimize aches and pains.

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