At a Glance:
What is the Difference Between a Recliner and a Rocker?
What to Consider When Buying a Recliner
Everyone has a go-to spot for relaxing. A recliner is a common furniture piece and a comfortable place to relax, read, or watch T.V. in the evening. All the comfort of a traditional recliner is available in rocker recliners, along with the option to rock gently from front to back. With the push or pull of a lever, recliners allow users to convert their chair from a simple sitting position to a fully reclined position. The best rocker recliners are a great investment for gamers, the elderly, those who are exhausted or in pain, or those who just like to unwind because of their comfortable design.
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Find the best rocker recliner for your living room today
Explore Reclining ChairsThe best rocking recliners last a long time and fit your space, size, and comfort needs. This article will define a rocker recliner, explain how it differs from its stationary counterpart, and showcase some of Urner’s best rockers. This article will also help you decide which recliner option best suits your requirements and tastes.
What is a Rocker Recliner?
Nursing mothers and adults with young children have long loved rocking chairs. Just as their name suggests, rocker recliners rock back and forth as you recline on arched tracks. The rocking motion of these recliners is soothing and relaxing, making them especially beneficial for those who have trouble sleeping at night.
There are typically two reclining options available for rocker recliners: power and manual. A panel of two or three buttons is integrated into the side of the armrest of a power-operated rocker recliner. These buttons control the recliner’s back, footrest, and, in some cases, headrest.
In a manually operated rocker recliner, a pull-lever is incorporated into the side of the chair (typically near the bottom, within easy reach). All it takes is a quick lift of the lever to adjust the position of the chair to your preferences.
It is not necessary to press a button or pull a lever to enjoy the relaxing rocking function in either power or manual rocker recliners; instead, just sit back and relax as the chair moves gently in its own time.
What is the Difference Between a Recliner and a Rocker?
A rocker recliner and a wall recliner are two different types of chairs, although they obviously have the ability to recline.
Functionality
A rocker recliner and a wall recliner, in particular, serve different purposes. A rocker recliner and a wall recliner both have the ability to recline, but in addition to that, a rocker recliner also has the ability to rock back and forth. A wall recliner does not rock when it is in an upright position. Each recliner, in turn, has a unique function and might appeal to a particular clientele.
Amount of Space Required
The amount of room that a rocker recliner and a wall recliner take up in your home is another significant distinction between the two types of recliners. Although the size of each recliner model varies, rocker recliners typically take up more room than wall recliners. More specifically, wall recliners only need 4 to 5 inches of space to fully recline, compared to 8 inches for rocker recliners and standard recliner chairs.
The Base of the Chairs
The recliner chairs’ bases also differ in how they work, affecting how they appear. The majority of rocker recliner models have two wooden legs that protrude from the bottom of the chair. A wall-away recliner, on the other hand, seems to lack legs. Having said that, you can see the metal frame emerge from the back of the chair when the recliner slides to the front of the frame to achieve a reclining position. Both a rocker and a wall recliner appear to have the same base height, which is another similarity between the two chairs.
Types of Frames Available: Chair, Loveseat, Sofa
Depending on the types of frames that are available, rockers and wall recliners may also be different. While rocking and wall reclining are features that are most frequently found in chair frames, they can also be found in loveseats and sofas. This ultimately depends on the manufacturer.
3 Best Rocking Recliners
Our furniture specialists from Urner’s have offered their top picks if you need a recliner but need a little movement with your seating. With their choices of reclining rocking chairs and swivel rocker recliners from the New Classic brand, you’ll get the comfort of a recliner with the soothing motion of a rocker.
Best Rocker Recliner Recommendation #1: New Classic® Home Furnishings Kellen Brown Glider Recliner
Rock your fussy newborn in comfort with this brown upholstered glider recliner from New Classic. This bold statement piece of a recliner will make a great addition to your living room with its upholstered leather and white stitching design that extra pizzazz. And when you aren’t rocking in the upright push, get cozy by using the push-back mechanism to raise the footrest and push the seat back for a more relaxing position after a long day at work.
Best Rocker Recliner Recommendation #2: New Classic® Home Furnishings Linville Gray Glider Recliner
If you are prone to falling asleep in the living room while watching T.V., this stylish rocker recliner from New Classic will be your new best friend. Decompress after a long day with the soothing, smooth rocking of this glider recliner, and snuggle up on the gray leather when in the reclined position when you feel yourself dozing off. And speaking of upholstery, the leather material is snuggle-worthy, it’s also easy on the eyes, and would look stunning in a modern living room with neutral tones. This rocker recliner only weighs 93 pounds, so it’s easy to scoot across the living room if its current position no longer works for you.
Best Rocker Recliner Recommendation #3: New Classic® Home Furnishings Madigan Brown Glider Recliner
If you have an aging parent or grandparent struggling with their mobility, ease some of their discomfort with this rocker that also comes from the New Classic brand. Our final favorite rocker recliner is designed with brown leather upholstery and expert stitch for a diamond pattern along the back and the footrest. Your elderly family member will be able to rest in comfort while watching T.V. or doing a crossword, and then rest easy knowing the recliner supports them in all the right places (from their neck down to their toes). They can also easily pull the tab to raise the footrest to sit back and watch movies, T.V. shows, or root for their team during Monday night football.
5 Reasons to Buy a Recliner
Recliners may not seem like all that big of a deal, but here are five reasons most people wouldn’t think twice about buying one of these cozy bad boys.
1. Increased Mobility
Mobility problems affect 1 in 7 adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It can be discouraging to have limited mobility, but the best reclining furniture can help you feel more comfortable at home by taking the struggle out of sitting and getting up as well as preventing future harm to the body of those suffering from mobility problems.
2. Better Circulation
Did you know that spending a lot of time sitting can harm your joints and legs? Blood flow is impacted by gravity, and unbalanced weight puts stress on your joints. Because of this, it’s crucial to pick the most comfortable couches and chairs for your living room that will improve your blood flow and circulation.
3. Lumbar Support
Don’t forget to consider therapeutic lumbar support as crucial as choosing the best reclining furniture for your requirements. Because they may lessen back pain, lumbar support is important to look for in chairs. In addition to these advantages, therapeutic lumbar support can help with the following:
- Proper spinal cord alignment
- Promotion of proper posture
- Reduction for risk of injury
4. Pain Relief
Living room recliners might be a natural home remedy you can use if you experience neck or back pain. Your body is revitalized, and any pressure points are removed thanks to the heat therapy and massage features.
In addition to offering heat therapy and massage capabilities, recliners can ease aches and pains by distributing weight evenly. A recliner increases blood flow because it evenly distributes your weight. This reduces pain and keeps joints from becoming swollen and stiff.
5. Stress Relief
The ability of a recliner to lessen stress is the final advantage. Stress comes in three flavors: emotional, mental, and physical. Each kind of stress has an impact on the body and intensifies tension. Recliners can provide your body with the stress relief it needs.
Through features created for your comfort and convenience, the best reclining furniture soothes both your mind and body. Among the features that can improve your health and lessen stress are deep tissue air massage, power reclining, and lumbar support.
What to Consider When Buying a Recliner
Before you tap, swipe, or insert your card, here are four things you need to consider to ensure you leave with the right rocker recliner for your family or your personal use.
Space
Recliners are much larger than you might imagine and can take up even more space when fully reclined. You have probably considered the ideal location for a recliner when considering buying one. Now take a measurement of the area where you want it to go and an overall measurement of the room.
It’s best to measure it alongside all of your furniture in the space. Make sure it can fit inside the room by measuring each doorway. When the recliner is fully extended, leave at least 5 to 10 inches between the wall and the headrest. Give at least 5 to 10 inches between the coffee table and the foot of the recliner if you intend to place one in front of it.
Material
Fabrics for recliners include leather, faux leather, performance fabrics, and soft materials like velvet, chenille, and microfiber. Performance fabrics are soft, thick, and stain-resistant; people with pets and young children should take this into consideration. Although it’s frequently more expensive, leather is another excellent option for homes with kids and pets because it’s easier to keep clean than most other fabrics. Additionally, you have the freedom to select from a variety of colors.
Size
Recliners are available in all shapes and sizes, from petite (shorter than 5 feet, 4 inches) to extra-large (taller than 6 feet, 3 inches). The person who will occupy the chair the most should be considered when choosing the appropriate chair size. A small recliner needs to be at least 35 inches wide. A space of at least 40 to 45 inches wide is necessary for a medium-sized recliner. The widest recliners require a minimum width of 50 inches. Since the dimensions vary depending on the manufacturer, it is helpful to visit a showroom (Urner’s Wible Showroom, for instance) and try them out.
Features
- Rocker or Swivel: These recliner chairs function exactly as their names suggest. They swivel or rock (sometimes both). The rocking motion of this type of chair encourages dozing off, making it useful for those who suffer from insomnia. Many people sleep in their recliners as opposed to using a bed. Nursing mothers also enjoy rocker recliners because they are comfortable while the rocking motion soothes the baby. Thanks to a swivel base, you can pivot and face any direction you want.
- Wall-hugger: Recliners that hug the wall take up less room and are suitable for smaller spaces. Both wall-huggers and rocker recliners are available for the majority of chairs. In a wall-hugger, you usually sit up straight, making it simpler to get out of the chair. Some wall-hugger recliners can be raised so that people with weak knees can stand up from them more easily.
- Power-operated: You can recline or stand up at the touch of a button, so handles or hand levers are unnecessary.
- Built-in USB or other accessories: From the comfort of your chair, you can charge your devices. No need to move your chair closer to an outlet or use extension cords.
- Lay-flat: A person can recline flat thanks to this feature.
You now understand why recliners have been around for so long. Living room recliners are designed for much more than just dad’s Sunday night football games, thanks to their numerous health advantages and unrivaled comfort. Look at Urner’s rocking recliners, which fit all of your furniture needs, whether you’re just looking for a chair to sink into at the end of the day or need something to improve your circulation.
Why Trust Urner’s and Urner’s Mattress?
Urner’s started on the back of a bicycle - yup! A bicycle! David E. Urner, a local high school teacher, who spent his summer months selling Wear Ever cookware off the back of a bicycle (think 100+ degrees). David teamed up with another local teacher, Errol P. Janes to create “a new type of store – one that would cater exclusively to providing an easier way of living for the women of Kern County”, and on September 19, 1919, Home Appliance Store was opened to the public. The store boasted a rather impressive selection of “modern” appliances, including a washing machine, a freezer, a gas range, an automatic dishwasher, and an assortment of small appliances. Since then, Urner’s has expanded selections to appliances, furniture, mattresses and cabinetry!
For nearly one century, the Urner family and Urner’s business have both been an integral part of Bakersfield and Kern County, with contributions to community (Better Business Bureau, Sister City Projects, Bakersfield Symphony), charity (Ronald McDonald House, St. Jude’s Dream Home, House of Hope) and education (CSU Bakersfield, Ray Dezember Leadership Development Center. Explore the website, visit the store, or join us socially. We’re all about home, all about fun, and all about you… and we’re ready to make you a part of the Urner’s family today.
Shop Rocker Recliners at Urner’s
Stop by any of the 6 Urner’s and Urner’s Mattress locations in Bakersfield, CA to see what a difference buying local with an experienced staff can make. Or shop chairs & recliners online! Our friendly experts are always happy to help you take home the best rocker recliner for grandpa’s birthday — whether you call us at 661-396-8400, use our online chat feature, or visit us in person.
Learn More: Sofa Buying Guide: How to Choose a Sofa
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