9 Steps To Finding The Perfect Rocking Chair

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

Choosing A Rocker

1. Rocking chair specifications: As far as a rocking chair is concerned, one size does not fit all! A particular rocking chair may be very comfy for you but highly uncomfortable for someone else. This is because the chair fits different people differently. When you sit in the rocking chair, your legs should just about reach the floor. You should not have to stretch to do so; neither should your legs come up against your chest when sitting in the chair; such should be the height of the seat. After the height of the chair, we come to the size of the seat. You should fit in the seat properly with a little room to spare for moving. However, the seat should not be so huge that you have to stretch to reach the armrests. In this manner, it is important to judge the right size of a rocking chair so as to purchase the most comfortable one.

2. Where are you going to place the rocker in your home The answer to this question will determine what type of rocker you need. For instance, if the chair will be placed in a bedroom, you need it to be decorative as well as comfortable. If the fireplace is where the chair will go, then you can expect to spend hours in it. In such cases, extra padded chairs and those with cushions will serve you best. For outdoor locations such as patios, porches, lawns etc, you should buy a chair that is approved to be used in wet weather conditions.

3. The rockers: The curved base of the rocking chair is somewhat confusingly also known as the rocker. This is the most important part of the chair, without which it would not rock properly. When buying any rocking chair, make sure the rocker is pitched properly. You can do this by sitting on the chair and rocking it to and fro. If you get a feeling that the chair might tip over, then the rocker is not pitched properly. However, if you can rock comfortably, and there is no danger of tipping over even when you use it as a recliner, then the pitch of the rocker is perfect.

4. Range of motion: Does the chair have a smooth back and forth motion Are you able to keep it going for a couple of minutes with a single push, or do you have to push the chair every few seconds The answers to these questions will determine whether the rocking glider is right or not. Obviously you want to choose a rocker that has a smooth and continuous motion.

5. Personal comfort: A rocking chair may look very comfortable and may come highly recommended by others, but if you do not feel right when using the chair, or if you have even the slightest bit of hesitation as to its comfort factor, then you should look at another chair. What may be comfy for someone else may not necessarily be the same for you. So essentially, go with a rocker which not only look right and is well made, but which also feels like the one.

6. The safety factor: If you have small children in your home, you should ensure that the rocking chair is safe for them. The curved rockers can crush tiny feet and toes, thus you may want to look at gliding chairs that do not have curved rockers but have gliders that rest completely on the floor. These are safer with children around.

7. Your budget: Rockers and gliders can be available for as less as a few hundred dollars and go up to thousands of dollars. Therefore, your budget will be a major consideration when choosing a chair. A good way to save some money is to buy used rocking chairs. As long as the main rockers of the chair are in perfect condition, most used gliders and rocking chairs can be restored to look as good as new.

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 house.

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!