A rocking chair is a wonderful addition to any interior, evoking associations with the comfort and warmth of home. Since ancient times, these chairs have been installed near fireplaces. Some consider it an outdated piece of furniture. However, this type of furniture is still relevant today not only for older people, but also for young people. In our material we will review the varieties, and also talk about how to make a rocking chair with your own hands with accompanying photos and comments.
Rocking chair: material and manufacturing features
Let's figure out what features this or that rocking chair may have. Initially, natural wood served as the raw material for its production. For rocking, former craftsmen came up with the idea of installing runners-skis attached to the legs - they still have not lost their relevance. The current rocking chair, in addition to everything in its design, can be equipped with bumpers or a closing rear arch, the role of which is to prevent tipping over during strong rocking.
Interesting models designed for mothers and babies who have a cradle. The most modern option is a multifunctional rocking chair, a photo of which is posted in the article; it can be transformed from a standard chair to a lounger. You can also see in the photo various design designs that are particularly original.
Materials for manufacturing today can be either wood or three-layer thick plywood, flexible plastic, metal, willow rods (vine) and polyrattan.
What are they good for?
The rocking chair differs from the usual model in its streamlined shape and in that it has curved runners that allow you to rock and maintain balance. During rest, uniform rocking calms the nervous system. A comfortable seat provides good support for the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine, which relieves stress and promotes muscle relaxation.
The furniture serves as a cozy place for reading. For such purposes, it is worth having an option with shelves for books or with a built-in lamp. I can note that it is difficult to find a more convenient place to retire with your favorite novel.
This item can also be used to rock babies. If you like the idea, then look for a model with a seat and a cradle. With it, the process of putting babies to sleep will be very quick and easy, because it will take a minimum of effort and time.
Furniture serves as a cozy place for reading
Suitable for children, elderly and young people. Items created for children are equipped with rocking mechanisms and belts, for mothers with a baby - a seat and a cradle, for business people - with leather seats and backs.
Options for installation in the garden or on the balcony will always look appropriate in a cozy country house. Especially if you combine them with other pieces of garden furniture.
Such furniture will also decorate the interior. But for this you should choose chairs that are made by hand or those that have an original design.
Putting your babies to sleep will be very quick and easy
This will be interesting to you: REVIEW: Hanging Chair made of natural and artificial rattan: 195+ Photos of options (wicker, macrame, with cover)
Wooden rocking chair: advantages of the material
A classic option is a rocking chair made of wood, photos of various models of which are posted below. Wood has a lot of positive characteristics, which, in fact, has won the trust of furniture manufacturers. These include the following:
- the undeniable environmental friendliness of the material, which is also capable of emitting a pleasant “forest” smell;
- the strength of wood ensures the durability of furniture;
- a wide range of colors, as well as a unique pattern created by nature, thanks to which the rocking chair becomes an original piece of furniture;
- ease of processing. This factor allows you to design quite interesting models, apply carvings and cut out various designs.
A rocking chair made of wood is quite expensive, but making it yourself is quite possible. Such furniture will fit beautifully into any interior; it will look especially elegant by the fireplace.
Rating of the best classic models
Blues Eco-fabric, Brown, Wenge
This is a convenient option that is distinguished by high-quality assembly and durability. The product is equipped with all the necessary elements, including soft armrests. Depth – 100 cm. The upholstery is made of durable fabric that does not wear out. Sold in brown. The frame is made of plywood. Filler – polyurethane foam. The weight of the structure is 13 kg, while it can withstand a weight of up to 150 kg.
Sold at a price: from 7,000 rubles.
rocking chair Blues Eco-fabric, Brown, Wenge
Advantages:
- external execution;
- withstands weight up to 150 kg;
- wear resistance;
- does not creak when first swinging
- comfortable.
Flaws:
- not identified.
Furniture Impex Classic
This is a high-quality model that is comfortable and durable. It is made in a classic style and has a height of up to 99 cm. The soft seat and back allow you to completely relax and not think about anything. For greater comfort, a footrest is provided. The armrests are hard. The frame is made of durable material.
The average price is 11,000 rubles.
rocking chair Furniture Impex Classic
Advantages:
- comfortable;
- swings well;
- long service life;
- withstands loads up to 130 kg;
- high strength.
Flaws:
- not identified.
Veneto Comfort
This is a high-quality chair with faux leather and fabric upholstery. It is highly durable and does not creak during motion sickness. The classic style will perfectly complement the interior of an apartment or country house. The assembly was carried out at a professional level, there are no defects.
The average cost is 8,000 rubles.
rocking chair Veneto Comfort
Advantages:
- budget;
- does not wear out;
- high assembly reliability;
- comfortable.
Flaws:
- no significant ones.
TOP 2 models in loft style
LeSet Sherlock
This is a comfortable chair with an unusual shape. Made of wood and metal, which had a positive effect on the strength characteristics. Comfortable and soft armrests are provided. The design is designed for a weight of up to 120 kg. The height is 97 cm, which is the optimal solution. Filler – polyurethane foam. The set includes one pillow.
The average cost is 11,585 rubles.
rocking chair LeSet Sherlock
Advantages:
- stylish design;
- comfortable back and seat;
- high strength;
- affordable price.
Flaws:
- not detected.
Comfort Nordic
This is a convenient model that is highly reliable. The main material for the frame is plywood impregnated with protective paint. The armrests are hard. Height – 100 cm. Withstands loads up to 120 kg. Sold in brown and white.
The average price is 15,490 rubles.
rocking chair Comfort Nordic
Advantages:
- high strength;
- high-quality assembly;
- convenient operation;
- beautiful appearance.
Flaws:
- not identified.
DIY rocking chair made of wood
To make your own wooden rocking chair last as long as possible, you can use durable wood species such as oak or ash to construct it. Such wood is more expensive and harder to process, so home craftsmen often use coniferous forest species. Pine, spruce or larch have a pleasant grayish texture and are quite easy to work with. A rocking chair made from these rocks can turn into a real masterpiece with carved elements.
Before making a homemade design, you need to make accurate calculations, and most importantly, determine the center of gravity so that the rocking chair does not tip over. The wooden drawings that we have collected in our review will help you understand how to construct a rocking chair with your own hands. To achieve high-quality balance, it is necessary to add weighting agents to the structure. If the rocking chair leans back too much, make a “footrest” bar in front with a load. If you are leaning too far forward, install a horizontal weight bar at the rear. All structural parts are connected to each other using epoxy glue and self-tapping screws.
A finished rocking chair made of wood with your own hands must be processed. If you want to give it a certain shade, stain all the parts before assembly. Its different concentrations will give the desired color. The product is also treated with insect and fungal repellents. In conclusion, the rocking chair must be varnished, and not even once.
Frame
The frame of the chair is a load-bearing element. The strength and durability of the product depends on its characteristics.
- The raw materials for the wooden frame are pine, beech, oak, wenge and other species. Wood demonstrates high performance indicators, is environmentally safe, and will last for decades. The material is subjected to special treatment to protect it from external factors and enhance its aesthetic properties. The disadvantage is the high cost and heavy weight.
- Plywood is considered a worthy alternative to wood. It allows you to create models of unusual design, helps reduce weight and price. A layer of special paint or acrylic varnish is intended to prevent its premature destruction.
- The metal is used in the form of forged parts or profile pipes. The first option will provide the product with a unique appearance due to a pattern of leaves, flowers, and curls. However, the design will be too heavy and expensive. A skeleton made of hollow pipes will make the chair lighter and more affordable. Metal structures must be coated with special compounds to protect against corrosion.
- In wicker products, thick pieces of willow, rattan, and bamboo are used as a base. Materials of natural origin require regular care and require certain operating conditions. Technorattan is combined with wood or metal.
Rattan rocking chair
The wicker rocking chair stands out from the model range with particular originality and grace. The price of such products is not small, but it is fully justified. For weaving, vines (willow, raspberry, bird cherry twigs) and rattan are used.
Rattan is a plant that can be found in South Asia and Indonesia. In our country it is very difficult to get it in its pure form - it is present only in finished products, in particular, it can be a rocking chair woven from rattan. The rocking chair is formed without nuts, screws and bolts - all elements are fixed with an adhesive base. And finished furniture must be varnished.
A wicker rattan rocking chair can be constructed from an artificial substitute - poly rattan. In terms of strength and flexibility, its performance is significantly higher than that of natural raw materials. A DIY rocking chair made from artificial rattan will turn out amazingly beautiful and durable. If you decide to do it yourself, without outside help, we suggest using some of the diagrams presented below.
Read also: Wicker furniture in the design of interiors, balconies and verandas (34 photos)
Varieties
There are several models:
- Classic. These are universal versions for relaxation. You can either rock yourself in them while reading a book or watching a movie, or rock your child to sleep so that he falls asleep faster. They are available in various designs and shapes, so choosing the right option is not difficult.
- Office designs are made of heavy wood. For added elegance, they are covered with leather upholstery. In addition to relaxation, this chair emphasizes the status of the owner. There are not as many options as the previous version, but you can choose one to suit any interior.
- Children's. Most often presented in the form of electric rockers. In appearance, they resemble a small chaise lounge, inside which a one-year-old or newborn baby is placed, after which the device begins to quietly and slowly rock him to sleep. Such models have a bright and rich design; there may be toys or animations on top.
- Folding. This option is suitable for those who want to buy a chair for a small apartment. The product saves space, and thanks to its light weight, even a girl can fold and put it away. Thanks to its compactness, the design can be taken with you on vacation.
Wicker rocking chair made of wicker
Before you make a rocking chair with your own hands, you need to collect the material. This usually happens with the arrival of cold weather, when the liquid in the stems freezes and the vine is easier to process. The collected raw materials must be pre-processed. To do this, the rods are boiled in hot water for about 10 hours, cleaned and dried for three days. Then they need to be sorted by diameter. The thicker ones will form the frame, and the thinner ones will make up the pattern. A rocking chair made of wicker will be much stronger if the winding is made in three rods, as shown in the photo.
First, the frame is made, braided using an openwork or combined method, and then, using self-tapping screws, the remaining parts are attached to it - armrests, skis, supports, etc. The joints are masked with an adhesive mass with sawdust. At the final stage, the rocking chair should be impregnated with liquids against fungus and insects, painted with stain for color and varnished.
Seat and back
At the moment, let's look at what options there are for backrests and seats:
- Tough. Made from base material with orthopedic strips;
- Soft removable type. They look like a quilted mattress, which is tied to the hard back slats using ribbons;
- Soft case. Slides onto a rigid frame, completely covering it;
- Soft. These are details created on the principle of upholstered furniture. Fixed.
Instead of filler, the following can be used:
- Molded polyurethane foam;
- Foam rubber;
- Sintepon;
- Holofiber;
- Vulcanized latex;
- Horsehair;
- Felt.
A lot depends on the upholstery:
- Textile. The material must be durable and textured. Beware of fabrics that are too smooth or slippery. As you swing, you will slide out. Tapestry, jacquard, cloth, and linen matting performed well. If you want more softness, then give preference to velor, flock, Alcantara or velvet. All fabrics perfectly allow moisture and air to pass through, but accumulate dust on the surface;
- Eco leather. Strong material with high tensile strength. Doesn't stretch. Does not fade even in the open sun. Very pleasant and soft to the touch. But, it provokes increased sweating in the heat. Air permeability is average. Will not absorb water;
- Genuine Leather. This is far from a cheap material. The better the workmanship, the softer the leather. Invulnerable to wear and contamination. Looks great, very strong. Air flow is limited. Repels water. A wonderful option for a winter evening near the fireplace.
DIY rocking chair made of plywood
Plywood can naturally replace natural wood; it is easy to cut, and this is its main advantage. A rocking chair with your own hands is constructed according to a drawing originally drawn up on paper and transferred to the correct scale onto the raw materials. A drawing of a plywood rocking chair can be taken from the photographs presented in our article. It can be supplemented or modified at your discretion. All cut out elements must be treated with antiseptic agents and assembly begins. They are connected with small self-tapping screws, which must be “sunk” into the plywood. A DIY rocking chair made of plywood can be painted, varnished or upholstered with a fabric base.
Selecting a drawing or drawing it
Before you start work, you need to obtain an accurate drawing that will show the dimensions. If you couldn’t find it on the Internet, you can draw it yourself. True, without experience in furniture production or making accurate drawings with projections, you should not do this.
Limit yourself to what you can find on the Internet. This is due to the fact that the production of a chair requires knowledge of the anatomy of the human body, so that in the future the design will be comfortable and safe for sitting and swinging.
When the drawing has been selected, you need to enlarge it and transfer it to graph paper or thick cardboard. This will make it easier to cut out or complete individual elements.
When the stage is completed, you can proceed directly to cutting out the elements and assembling the complete structure.
Forged rocking chairs
Forged rocking chairs, photos of which are presented before us, have a presentable and rich appearance, imitating classic weaving. In order to make such masterpieces, you need to have a workshop where you can carry out welding work. As a simple accessible material, profile pipes are most often taken. Beautiful forged rocking chairs are best made in a forge with forging skills. All structural parts are attached to each other using a welding system. The finished rocking chair with your own hands must be cleaned of dirt, washed and dried. The final stage is opening with primer and paint.
Classic - made of wood
In this case, beech is used, which is perfect for forming the necessary parts. At the same time, there is simply incredible demand for such models.
This is what justifies the popularity of armchairs in private homes, estates, summer cottages, as well as in the workshops of creative people.
Baby rocking chair
A children's rocking chair will be a wonderful addition to the interior of a child's room. It can be made from any material. In most cases, wood or plywood is used. The principle of manufacturing the product is the same as for chairs for adults, only different in size. It is advisable to round off all sharp corners of the structure for the safety of the child. If your rocking chair is made of wood with your own hands, you can cut out a figure on the back - a heart, a flower, etc. Non-toxic paints should be used to paint the structure.
Rocking chairs today have a wide variety of designs, as evidenced by numerous photographs. As you have seen, it is quite possible to make such a design yourself. Use ready-made diagrams, add a little of your own imagination, and an original rocking chair with your own hands will fill your home with an atmosphere of comfort and homeliness.
Top models in Art Nouveau style
Furniture Impex Lux
This is a reliable design that can withstand weight up to 120 kg. The upholstery is made of artificial leather. Soft armrests are provided. The rocking is slow, causing the person to experience relaxation. This option is suitable for both an apartment and an office.
The average cost is 20,200 rubles.
rocking chair Furniture Impex Lux
Advantages:
- high-quality filler;
- durability;
- comfortable;
- can withstand loads of up to 120 kg.
Flaws:
- not detected.
Red Black Model 3
This is a comfortable rocking chair that will suit every user. The model has a beautiful appearance. The upholstery is made of fabric. The filler is pleasant and soft. The product is not electrified. Soft armrests are provided.
The average cost is 7,250 rubles.
rocking chair Red Black Model 3
Advantages:
- high strength;
- high-quality execution;
- affordable price;
- comfortable use.
Flaws:
- not detected.
Sirius Sirius
This stylish chair is suitable for installation on a veranda or balcony. The product has high strength characteristics. The frame is made of durable material that can withstand loads of up to 125 kg.
The average cost is 9,990 rubles.
rocking chair Sirius Sirius
Advantages:
- low price;
- high strength indicators;
- durability;
- wear resistance.
Flaws:
- not identified.
What to look for when choosing
When choosing these products, you should consider important qualities:
- material - if you purchase a rocking chair for adults, be sure to pay attention to strength. Its body must be metal or wood;
- seat - the seat of the rocking chair should be comfortable, comfortable;
- design - the appearance of this furniture should have an unusual design that will fit into any interior style. If you need a children's model, then it should not have flashy drawings. Any bright picture or horror story can cause severe fear in a child;
- sizes - the size of the product must correspond to the height and weight of an adult or child under the age of one year or up to 7 years.
In the selection you can see photos in which you can see the types of designs, designs, as well as detailed characteristics of these models.
Advantages and disadvantages
A modern rocking chair is comfortable furniture that is designed for daily use. In addition, these items have a beneficial effect on the condition of the entire musculoskeletal system; when in it, all parts of the body simply relax, because all the muscles are relaxed, the load is evenly distributed over the entire body.
The best rocking chair has many positive qualities:
- The rocking chair for children and adults has a streamlined design, thanks to which the spine relaxes and rests. As a result, pain and increased tension are relieved;
- The rocking mechanism for the chair has a smooth rocking motion. It improves muscle tone, normalizes the nervous system, improves the condition of the musculoskeletal system;
- the seat has a flat surface, there are no protrusions or deformations on it, so it will always be comfortable to sit and relax on it;
- the use of a pillow allows you to place it on a seat or under your head to give additional comfort and softness;
- various types - on sale you can find products with different designs that can be used for adults, for babies, and also for breastfeeding.
There are negative sides, but they are very few:
- Sometimes you can fall for a fake. Low-quality furniture may have a weak design that will last a short period;
- high cost - this furniture is quite expensive.
Rating of popular rocking chairs made in a modern style
LeSet Douglas
This product is made of solid wood and metal, which gives it high strength characteristics. Polyurethane foam is used as filler. For greater comfort, the set includes a headrest and a lumbar pillow. The product is designed for a load of up to 120 kg.
The average cost is 10,950 rubles.
rocking chair LeSet Douglas
Advantages:
- high-quality execution;
- high strength indicators;
- swings well;
- low cost.
Flaws:
- not identified.
La Redoute Jimi united
This is an unusual design with a comfortable headrest and fabric upholstery. It swings well and does not creak. When landing, a person does not fall through, and the back feels comfortable, which is why it does not swell.
The average cost is 19,100 rubles.
rocking chair La Redoute Jimi single
Advantages:
- high strength indicators;
- durability;
- comfortable;
- does not wear out over time.
Flaws:
- not detected.
Comfort Model 4
This is a beautiful rocking chair that is made of durable materials. High wear resistance allows the product to be used for several years, while the outer part remains beautiful. The armrests are soft and comfortable. Withstands weight up to 120 kg, which is a good indicator.
Sold at a price: from 10,400 rubles.
rocking chair Comfort Model 4
Advantages:
- the frame is made of reliable materials;
- service life from 5 years;
- does not creak;
- swings well;
- Made from durable material.
Flaws:
- not identified.
