Choosing A Rocking Chair
1. How big should the rocking chair be? The size can only be judged by physically sitting in one. The height of the seat should be such that your feet are not dangling from the chair, neither are they completely bent at the knee when using the chair. What you want is for your legs to just about reach the floor. The width of the seat will affect your comfort. Make sure you aren't stuck tight in the seat but there is some room to wiggle and shift positions. However, there shouldn't be that much room that your hands cannot reach the side rests comfortably.
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. 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. 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. 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, what you are willing to spend 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 décor 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.
So, choosing the ideal rocking chair will become a very easy task if you consider the above factors before making your final choice.
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