Choosing the Best Armchair for You
Instead of being a piece of furniture to sit on, armchairs were considered to be an indicator of how much wealth and power a person had. Even into the 1950’s, armchairs were more for show than they were for sitting.
Today, armchairs are common furniture that be can seen in rich and poor households alike. Antique armchairs are sometimes placed in a room solely to decorate it. However, most pieces are used for sitting, and comfort is a necessity nowadays.
If you’re looking to buy an armchair for your home, you’ll want to buy the best one you can find. That is, you’ll want to find a comfortable armchair that is solidly made. You’ll also want to find a chair that’s covered in a material with a color and pattern that coordinates with your room decor. And, last, but certainly not least, you’ll want to find a chair that fits your price range.
You can check local furniture stores or you can even perform an online search if you’re comfortable shopping for an armchair this way. Of course, the biggest drawback to shopping for new furniture online is that you can’t sit in it to see if it feels comfortable to you.
Well-known thrift shops such as The Salvation Army and Goodwill Industries are good places to shop for an armchair at too. Granted, the furniture they sell has been used, but sometimes you can find chairs at these shops that look like they have rarely been used. They are in that nice of condition!
No matter where you do your armchair shopping at, according to furniture-buying experts, in order to find the best made chairs, you should buy an American brand. American brands such as Standard Furniture, American Craftsman, Jamestown, and American Leather are known for their quality.
Also, stay away from reproductions that resemble high-end, well made chairs.(This rule is actually true for ALL types of furniture, not just armchairs.) The chair may look as good as its more expensive counterpart, but it can’t be constructed as well. The biggest difference in the prices is that the reproduction was made with cheaper materials. It’s true, you can save tons of money by choosing “copy cat” furniture. However, it won’t last and stay looking good for near as long as the name brand piece will. Especially if you have kids or if the armchair is used often.
As for comfort, there’s more to a “good seat feel” than you may realize. For example, if you suffer from back problems, you will probably shop for an armchair that has a firm cushion on the seat and on the back.
If you are short in stature, you may want to choose a chair that sits lower to the floor. The bad side of a low chair is that they are difficult to get up out of.
Before you even consider buying an armchair, be sure to give it the “Sit Test.” Sit down in the chair and place your arms on the armrests. Armchairs usually have a seat that measures about a foot and a half across. This width gives you room to move around. Sit in the chair for at least fifteen minutes and pay attention to how many times you change positions. According to the experts, if you can sit there comfortably for at least ten minutes, the chair suits your body style. If not, that certain armchair’s not for you.
Once you’ve found an armchair that properly fits your body style, check the frame. The best frames are made of hardwoods like poplar, cherry, maple and ash. Stay away from a pine frame because pine is a soft wood.
And, finally, look for an armchair that has a dowel and glued together frame. The cheaper pieces are put together with heavy duty staples.
