Types of rocking chairs

When our old rocking chair broke down for good, I was very sad. I felt as if I had lost an old and dear friend. It had given me so much comfort that I decided I could not live without a rocker. Plus, the study space where it used to be seemed empty and cold. Thus, I decided to start my rocking chairs hunt. Since my old chair was some sort of inheritance from my great-grandmother I had no idea how many types and models of rocking chairs were available on the market.

By surfing the internet and exploring the furniture and antiquities stores, I came to know that rocking chairs have different designs, are made from different materials and have numerous purposes. Until then, I was convinced that all rocking chairs were made of wood, had a huge backrest- as mine had- and were just built for relaxation purposes. Imagine how astonished I was when I heard that they are used for medical purposes as well, especially for Alzheimer patients and people suffering from backaches.

What are the most common types of rocking chairs that you can purchase nowadays? The answer is: Danish modern, mission, traditional and plush rockers. What else can you find out there? Furniture stores also sell glider rockers, spring rocking chairs, swivel chairs that have a swivel mechanism like the ones found in office chairs, reclining rocking chairs, platform rockers and many other types. Nowadays this piece of furniture can be built out of wood (cypress, cedar, pine or oak), PVC, leather, wicker, vinyl and metal (for people who want to combine tradition with modernity).

Since there were so many, I just could not make up my mind. Thus, I ended up buying three rocking chairs: a traditional one for the kitchen, a reclining rocker for the living room and a glider rocker for the study, because this type of chair does not occupy too much space.

The traditional rockers swing you back and forth. They have got those curved wood lengths that made these chairs famous. The design of traditional rocking chairs is not very complicated and only the lengths of wood touch the ground. However, the rockers are well balanced and you should not worry about tumbling over, unless you have the impression that your chair is some sort of a park swing. These rocking chairs have affordable prices and another plus is their durability. However, they are not very flexible and spacious.

I felt immediately in love with the reclining rocker, because these types have a reclining characteristic. The chair is provided with a catch that allows you to recline the back of the chair in several positions. This can be extremely comfortable when watching TV or when you want to have an afternoon rest. Reclining rocking chairs are very flexible but unlike the traditional ones, they are more expensive and less durable.

The glider rocker has a more complicated design. It moves back and forth on a flat plane with the help of braces, levers and swivels. These rocking chairs often have a gliding footrest. Due to their design, these rocking chairs provide a very ergonomic position, which is not favoured by everyone. The glider rocking chairs are very comfortable and have a very smooth motion. The weak points are the price (gliders can be quite expensive) and short durability (the mechanic parts can break quickly).

Rocking chairs are so comfortable and have so many advantages that it would be a pity not to own one. And since the 2012 trend in home décor is to combine old with new, you should definitely purchase one if not two rocking chairs to have a stylish and trendy “crib”.