Antique Rocking Chairs
Buy the best antique rocking chairs selected and recommended by interior designers. By Chloe Hughes.
Rocking chairs go back to the revolutionary war, and beyond. They have a place in our history that will never be superceded. And they are just plain comfortable. The rocking can inspire, can calm, and can let your thoughts drift away. There is an almost metronomic quality to sitting and rocking in an antique rocking chair. And they are quite fetching.
Antique Rocking Chairs
Buying Guide
Chloe Hughes
Interior Design Expert
Chloe is a highly-regarded expert in all things vintage and antique. She’s excited to share her vast knowledge with readers and clients wishing to infuse their homes with a mixture of old-time warmth and modern comfort. In addition to her design work, Chloe regularly volunteers at her local community center, teaching DIY projects to adults and kids.
There are myriads of things that never age even with time and that includes antique rocking chairs. These antique furniture pieces are absolutely stunning, and they're best used in decorating homes. What's more, antique rocking chairs, even when they're old, are great for stress relief and rest.
Read on to find out all the points you need to take into account when choosing antique rocking chairs so you only select the one that's best suited for your home.
Antique rocking chairs are often made of wood like teak, oak, and wicker, but they can also be made of injection molded plastic, plastic resin, and fabric. Classic materials that make up antique rocking chairs include wicker, oak and other types of wood. They're best if you will be using your chair indoors. Otherwise, you'd want an antique rocking chair that's made of hard-wearing materials capable of withstanding harsh weather.
When it boils down to choosing the right material, you'd want to take a few factors into account like the material's appearance (how the chair has aged), durability (how well the material can withstand weather fluctuations), comfort (how luxurious and comfortable the material is), maintenance (how easy it is to look after the material), price (the value you'll get from the chair), and weight (how easy or hard it is to move the furniture around).
Depending on the style, most antique rocking chairs stand around 26-30 inches wide, 37-45 inches tall and 32-37 inches deep. The chairs could also weigh around 15-45 lbs, depending on the type of material used for the construction.
If you will be purchasing several rocking chairs to incorporate into your living space, make sure that you leave a space of 2-3 feet between the chairs. There must also be enough space in front and behind the rocking chairs as they need to rock back and forth without hitting anything. Standard patios can comfortably hold up to four antique rocking chairs.
You'd also want to pay attention to a chair's height as shorter people would want a lower seat height to make getting in and out of a chair easier. Taller people, on the other hand, would want higher seats to be comfortable.
If you're around 5', the recommended seat height for you is 16 inches. For people that are 5’6” tall, they're comfortable with a seat height that's 16 to 17 inches.
If you'll be buying a wooden antique rocking chair, your choices will be limited when it comes to the chair's color and finish unless it is painted. For HDPE lumber and injection molded plastic rocking chairs, you'll have lots of choices. Beautiful grays and earth colors are what we recommend as they can blend in a room's décor.
Scientific studies have shown that in addition to promoting relaxation, rocking chairs can ease the pain of arthritis, hasten healing after surgery or childbirth and ease anxiety and tension. John F. Kennedy kept them all around the White House so he could get relief from his chronic back pain. There’s a good reason why the use of the rocking chair has endured for so long.
Considering the benefits mentioned above, it’s no wonder that the rocking chair has been used in the U.S. since the early 1700s. In the 1820s, the simply styled but well-made Shaker rocking chair was introduced.
In the 1860s, Americans got to use the bentwood rocking chair that featured curvaceous legs and arms. Wicker rockers with padded seats were the rage in the early 1900s. Rocking chairs were so popular by then that people had to have them when they left home; the folding rocker was introduced.
In the 1950s, the Eames chair with a fiberglass seat and rockers made of wood came on the market. It had a modern, untraditional look. Though these styles are timeless and available today, you can find new takes on the rocker. The bottom line is that you can certainly find cheap rocking chairs that fit your tastes and style.
Cheap rocking chairs can be made of wood, bamboo, metal or molded plastic. Finishes can be varnished, painted, stained or natural. They can also come in bright colors such as pink or turquoise. Some chairs are upholstered in faux leather or another material. Others come with cushioned seats and headrests while others come with no upholstery or cushioning. If you want to go camping or on vacation with your rocker, buy a folding one.
You can find cheap rocking chairs that come with an ottoman that also rocks. Single-seat gliders, which are a type of rocking chair, provide movement without the possibility of its turning over. Their pedestals also have controlled movements to prevent damage to floors. Gliders made with steel components will last longer than ones made with aluminum. But the careful selection of even your standard rocker will leave you with a product that’s stable.
If you typically sit straight, choose a traditional-style rocker. One with vertical slats for the back is suggested. With a sitting position that’s less than erect, select a rocker that sits low to the floor.
Be ready to contact someone who’s good at putting things together because most rocking chairs require assembly.