7 Tips For Choosing A Rocking Chair

7 Tips For Choosing A Rocking Chair

Do you ever wish that your favorite TV chair could also double as a rocking rocker? Is there a new baby in the family that you wish you could rock to sleep while sitting comfortably in your chair? Do you like to unwind after a hard day at work by reading a book by the fire in the winter or simply admiring the beauty outside in the summer?

You are not alone if you answered yes to any of these questions. A rising number of Americans either own or are considering purchasing a rocking chair as a family member.

In the late 1700s, someone had the brilliant idea of attaching skates or rockers to the bottoms of adult furniture, comparable to a child’s rocking cradle or rocking horse.

Since then, owning a rocking chair has become a distinctly American pastime, with most Americans, including some of America’s most famous presidents, expressing great affection for their rocking chairs – whether they are the elegant Sam Maloof creations with the elongated curved runners or the homely white wicker rocking chair that has typically been with the family for more than 30 years.

But how do you select a suitable rocking chair? Here are some pointers on how to pick the best rocking chair for you.

Advice on selecting a rocking chair

1. The first question to consider is where you will place your rocking chair. A padded or wood rocking chair made of light maple or yellowish oak can be used indoors by the fireplace or in the family room. If you want to use it outside in your garden or on your front porch, pick a beautifully fragrant cedar, a painted Brazilian cherry wood, or teakwood that can survive the weather.

2. When it comes to rocking chairs, comfort is a top consideration. John F Kennedy’s rocking chair is a renowned illustration of how rocking chairs have been utilized for therapeutic purposes. This Appalachian oak rocker, with a steam-bent curved backrest and woven seat made of Malaysian rattan, is claimed to have provided hours of respite for President John F. Kennedy’s poor back.

The answers to the following questions may assist you in determining if the rocking chair you are considering will provide you with the amount of comfort you require.

• – Is the rocking chair comfortable and supportive to sit in?
• – Is the chair low enough to provide enough elbow support?
• – Are the armrests large enough to allow you to rest your arms while maintaining proper balance?
• – Is there a balance of hardness and flexibility in the seat and back?
• – Do the seats slant down to accommodate your entire back while also supporting your lower back?

3. Is the rocker properly pitched? Is the rocking chair able to give a smooth and consistent rocking motion without tipping, even while in the reclining position? When you’re rocking, do you ever feel like you’re ready to flip backwards? Is it possible to keep the rocking chair rocking for a few minutes with only one push, or does it stop after a few seconds?

4. Was the rocking chair made utilizing processes that have been shown to produce stronger, more durable rocking chairs that can endure daily use? Construction without glue, interlocking joinery, and the famed Maloof technique of employing seven laminated strips of wood to support each of the long, graceful skis used in his rocking chair designs are just a few of these techniques.

5. What kind of rocking chair would look well in your home? Do you want an upholstered rocking chair or do you want the natural woodgrain of the hardwood to be highlighted by an oil finish? Do you like a lovely white wicker chair or a relaxed rattan chair? Traditional ladder back horizontal slats, vertical slats, or braided cane for the back of your rocking chair? Are you interested in having it stained, oiled, varnished, or painted?

6. What budget do you have in mind for your rocking chair? Whatever your budget, there appears to be a rocking chair to suit your needs – whether it’s the $20,000 Sam Maloof with a two-year waiting list for the utmost in rocking chair experience, or the classic white wicker rocking chair you just won on ebay for $20, or something in between.

7. Finally, do you want your rocking chair sent already completed or are you skilled with tools and don’t mind putting it together yourself to save money?

I hope these pointers make it easier for you to find the perfect rocking chair for you, whether you’re a couch potato looking for a more comfortable seat in front of your favorite TV sitcom, a proud parent of a new baby, or an urban worker looking to unwind after dinner with a good book or the peace and quiet of the night on the front porch.