How To Choose The Perfect Rocking Chair

The fact that a rocking chair is an extremely comfortable seat, addictively at that, is well known to one and all. But what everyone may not be aware of is that not all rocking gliders may be best for you. In fact, if you happen to buy the wrong rocking chair, not only will you be unhappy with it, but it could actually pose a danger. Thus, in the interest of your comfort and safety, here are some tips to finding the right rocking chair.

Criteria For Choosing A Rocker

1. Rocking Chair Sizes Firstly, you need to make sure that the chair is properly sized for you. What do we mean by that? Well, for starters, when you sit on the chair, your legs should touch the floor easily and should not be left dangling off the rocker. If your legs do not reach the floor, the rocker is too big for you. On the other hand, if your legs are touching the floor but your knees are practically to your chest, then the chair is too small for you. Therefore, choose a chair which allows your legs to reach the floor, but just so. Another thing to check is that the seat is big enough to seat you comfortably, but not so much that the armrests are too wide apart and you have trouble resting your arms on them. And for the backrest, it should be so high that your head is reaching the head rest but not rising over it.

2. Location of the rocking chair: Where you wish to place your rocker will also determine which type of chair you buy. If you want to use it indoors, then you can choose one that has a padded seat or cushions. However, if you want to place the rocker in your lawn or patio, or any kind of outdoor location, make sure you buy one that is tough and can bear the natural elements. Cushions and padded seats are obviously a no-no for outdoor rockers, unless they are made from materials that are water resistant.

3. Pitch of the rockers: The curved rocker at the bottom of the chair is what makes it so unique. The motion of the chair as well as its safety when using it depends on the pitch of the rockers. To test the pitch, sit in the chair and rock forward and backward. If the motion is not jerky and feel is smooth, the pitch is correct. Another thing to look at is that there should not be any danger of the chair tipping in the front or back. If you feel like you cannot recline completely as the chair will fall backwards, then the chair's pitch is off.

4. The rocking motion: The chair should be such that you can set it in motion with a slight push with your feet. One push should keep the chair rocking for at least a minute and not merely a few seconds. The back and forth motion should be silky smooth and not bumpy. Thus, only choose that rocking chair which provides a smooth motion continuously.

5. Comfort: It should be absolutely comfortable for you. Your hands should reach the armrests comfortably and should fit on them properly. The seat should have a downward slope and should support your lower back too. In addition to being firm, the back and the seat of the rocking chair should be flexible. In other words, if you are not 100% comfortable on the rocking chair, do not buy it.

6. Do you have small children in your home? You may wonder why this matters when it comes to choosing a rocking chair, but the safety aspect of a chair depends on this answer. For instance, if you do have kids in the house, then there is the fear of their little toes getting caught under the rockers if they are not careful. In such a situation, you will be better off buying a glider instead of the traditional rocking chair. However, if there arent any kids in your home, then safety is not a primary concern and you can thus go in for the regular rocking chairs with their unique curved rockers.

7. How much are you willing to spend? If money is not a concern, you should consider buying an exclusive hand crafted rocking chair made by one of the many people who are masters at their craft. It may set you back by thousands of dollars, but every penny will be worth it. But, if you are on a budget, you can still find a comfortable rocking chair for few hundred dollars, albeit not a branded one, unless you decide to buy used.

8. Decor of your house: After ensuring the comfort and the safety factor of the rocker, you need to look at its design and style. Since the rocker will have the pride of the place in your home, it should look the part as well. So make sure the chair you choose compliments your home dcor and does not look out of place in your beautiful home.

9. Assembling the chair: Some rockers arrive fully assembled, and some have to be put together at home. If you are not good at following instructions and assembling things, you probably want one that is shipped completely assembled.

Keeping the above factors in mind when you go shopping for a rocking chair, choosing the right one will be a breeze!