Best Rocking Chair | 7 Tips

7 Tips For Choosing A Rocking Chair

Do you sometimes find yourself wishing that your favorite TV chair can also be a rocking chair? Is there a new baby in the family that you wish you can sing to sleep in your arms while sitting comfortably yourself? Does your idea of unwinding after a long day's work include reading a book by the fire in the winter or just contemplating the outside scenery in the summer?

American fondness for rocking chairs

If you answer yes to any one of these questions, then you are not alone. A growing number of Americans either own a rocking chair which has become a member of the family or think of buying one.




Rocking chairs began to appear in the late 1700s when someone ingeniously thought of adding skates or rockers to the bottoms of adult furniture, similar to a child's rocking cradle or rocking horse.




Since then, owning a rocking chair has become a distinctly American proccupation, with most Americans, including some of America's famous presidents, showing great fondness for their rocking chairs - whether they be the elegant American designer Sam Maloof creations with the elongated curved runners or the homely white wicker rocking chair that usually has been with the family for more than 30 years.




But how do you choose a good rocking chair. Below are some tips on how to choose a rocking chair that is right for you.

Tips on how to choose a rocking chair

1. The first thing to ask yourself is where are you going to put your rocking chair? If indoors by the fireplace or the family room, you can choose a cushioned or timber rocking chair made of light maple or yellowish oak. Or if outdoors in your garden or front porch, you can choose a sweetly-scented cedar, a painted brazilian cherry wood or teakwood durable enough to withstand the elements.




2. A very important priority in rocking chairs is comfort. Rocking chairs have been used for therapeutic purposes - John F Kennedy's rocking chair being a famous example. It is said that President Kennedy found hours and hours of relief for his bad back from this Appalachian oak rocker which has a steam-bent curved backrest and woven seat made of Malaysian rattan.




Answering the following questions may help you to judge whether the rocking chair you are choosing will give you the level of comfort that you need.




- Does the rocking chair provide seating comfort and support?

- Is the chair set low enough for comfortable elbow support?

- Are the armrests wide enough to rest your arms and provide the right balance?

- Do the seat and back offer both firmness and flexibility?

- Do the seats slant downward to fit the whole back while supporting the lower back?







3. Is the rocker pitched correctly? In layman's terms, does the rocking chair provide a smooth and even rocking motion without tipping, even when you are in the reclining position? Or does it feel like you are about to flip backwards when you are rocking? Does a single push keep the rocking chair rocking for a few minutes or does it stop after onlya few seconds?




4. Was the rocking chair constucted using techniques that have been proven to result in stronger and more durable rocking chairs that can withstand everyday use? Some of these techniques include construction without glue, interlocking joinery and the famous Maloof technique of using seven laminated strips of wood to strengthen each of the long, elegant skis that are used in his rocking chair designs.




5. What style of rocking chair will fit your decor? Do you want an upholstered rocking chair or do you want to see the timber's natural woodgrain enlivened by an oil finish? Do you want charming white wicker chair or casual rattan? How do you want your the back of your rocking chair - traditional ladder back horizontal slats, vertical slats or woven cane? Do you want it stained, oiled, varnished or painted?




6. How much do you want to spend for your rocking chair? Whatever your budget, there seems to be a rocking chair for everyone's fancy - whether its the $20,000 Sam Maloof with a two-year waitng list for the ultimate in rocking chair experience or the vintage white wicker rocking chair you've just bid successfully on ebay for $20, or somewhere in between.




7. And last but not least, do you want your rocking chair shipped to you assembled or are you handy with tools and don't mind assembling it yourself if you can save some money?




I hope these tips will make it easier to find the rocking chair that's just right for you - whether you're the couch potato looking for a more comfortable seat in front of your favorite TV sitcom, the delighted parent of a newly-born baby or the urban worker trying to relax in the evening after dinner with a book or the quietness of the night by the front porch.

What A Rocking Chair Can Do For You

Driving home, after a long day at the office, you can still hear the telephone ringing in your head. What piece of furniture in your home awaits you with open arms ready to allow you a chance to restore a little bit of peace in your hectic life? In this lifetime, someone should bottle up the secret of the rocking chair. It’s the e exact moment when you slip into a rocking chair that instantly soothes you and takes you to a faraway place that seems to make all your troubles disappear.




This would come in handy when dealing with that rude salesperson or your screaming toddler. Suddenly, you are transformed into a tranquil human being ready to take on anything life throws you. Who would have thought a simple piece of lumber that has normally been attributed to Benjamin Franklin would have the power to change your mood faster than an antidepressant pill? It remarkably does because the rocking motion of forward and backward seems to have a very relaxing affect to anyone lucky enough to own this little piece of magic.




People of all ages can find a find a variety of health benefits merely by using a rocking chair. From the beginning of life, even the youngest in our population have gained by this simple invention. Infants are commonly soothed by the repetitive gentle movement, because it is similar to the motion in the womb. Studies have shown that patients with back pain are able to find relief because it lessens pressure on their lower backs. Furthermore, cardiac patients can reduce their blood pressure and their respiration rate by the rocking movement of this chair. Those that are looking for a way to get exercise, but simply can’t manage to get off the sofa should gain greatly from this chair. Simply, rocking back and forth makes you use the large muscles in the legs and it’s a sneaky way to burn calories.




Research on senior citizens suffering from mental diseases such as Alzheimer’s or dementia has shown that their anxiety and confusion seems to dissipate the moment that their weary body reaches the loving arms of the rocking chair. As you can see, anyone of any age needs to have a rocking chair for their well-being.




It is a great decision to buy one of the best purchases that can do a lot for your mind, body, and spirit. When you can’t get away to that gorgeous Hawaiian vacation, why not simply sit in your rocking chair. No longer is the rocking chair sitting old, dusty, and unused in the corner. It is now has the potential to be a magnificent art piece that can be treasured by the whole family as a favorite family heirloom.




There are a variety of rocking chairs available to the consumer. They come in a multitude of beautiful woods, such as oak, cherry, or pine. If wood isn’t your thing, then put a new twist on your rocking chair with metal. These can usually be found in any bachelor pad across the United States. It is a hot seller with the college crowd. Or you can also order your rocking chair to be custom hand made with an elegant artistic look. Whatever you’re fancy, the rocking chair market guarantees that they can please you.