Choosing the Perfect Chair
Why Buy a Riser Recliner Chair
A riser recliner chair is a big purchase and we'd always advise that you really consider your choices before jumping in and making a decision. We have specialised in Riser Recliners for a long time and seen how much they help you to keep your independence, relieve aches, pains and some medical conditions. They're really comfy too.
We're always happy to answer any questions or give advice just get in touch, but here's a few of the more important things to look at when your choosing a chair.
Size Matters
We all come in different sizes and luckily so do riser recliner chairs. Probably the most important thing when you're looking for a rise and recline chair is that it fits you correctly. If the chair's too big or too small then it won't support you as it should and might end up doing more damage than good.
When you sit in the chair in a standard position you should be able to place your feet flat on the floor with the back of your knees resting comfortably against the front of the seat. Your bum should be seated so that the small of your back is against the lower cushion of the chair back and you should have enough room between the chair arms to put your hands on your hips.
When the chair is reclined your feet should rest just off the end of the footrest, ideally the chaise should end just before your heels. This avoids creating pressure points along your legs and ensures that your legs are properly supported. It also means that as the chair raises up you have both feet properly grounded which will allow the chair to safely help you to stand.
You can also use the chair to help lower you back into a seated position which means you no longer have to drop yourself into the chair which can sometimes be quite hazardous.
A good way to measure someone for a Riser Recliner is to sit them in a straight backed dining room chair then take the measurement from the back of the knee to the floor and the other way from the back of the knee to the end of the hip. Then take a measurement from hip to hip and add a couple of inches to give you a suitable width.
Finally think about weight limits. Most British made standard sized chairs have a 20 stone limit, petites 18 stone and larger sized chairs up to 25 stones although some are just 20. These limits are important not just for overall weight but also leg weight as this is where most chairs will fail if asked to lift more than they're designed to do.
Over 25 stones and your looking at a Bariatric chair. These have considerably stronger frames and seating foams that are designed for the extra weight. We can supply chairs with weight limits up to 70 stones and would definitely recommend that you only consider chairs that are rated with weight limits above your requirements.
We can usually give you a good idea of what sized chairs would be suitable if you can give us a rough idea of height and weight but the more measurements we have the better and if you'd like a chair that is made to order there are seat sizes to suit every bum.
Mechanisms and Motors
If you've only just started looking at electric Riser Recliner chairs then you probably hadn't realised how many different movements are available. This topic can get quite confusing so we'll try and keep it simple by sticking to the most popular and practical options.
As you might have guessed riser recliner chairs all rise to help you stand and recline to help you relax no matter how many motors are powering the movement. Very specialist chairs can have several motors and we've supplied chairs with 5 or more on a few occasions. However, the vast majority of chairs have just one or two motors and one of these options will usually suffice. So that's what will cover here and if you have more specialist needs then please get in touch and we can discuss what's available.
The main difference between a single and dual motor chair is that dual motor chairs generally allow you to operate the back of the chair independently from the footrest. Because the second motor only has one job dual motor chairs will usually recline further to an almost horizontal position whereas single motor chairs tend not to recline that far. Lot's of customers believe that only a dual motor chair will suit them as it gives you a lot more control however, in our experience single motor chairs are perfectly suitable for most people.
Just as importantly as number of motors is the mechanism and there's a few of these to cover starting with the Tilt in Space or TiS. We tend to term these chairs as 'high leg lift' as, when they're fully reclined, they raise your legs much higher than a standard motion which helps circulation and, thereby, reduces swelling, aches and pains in the legs. These chairs are available in both dual and single motor variants although most people find that the single motor version is perfect. The reason for that is because as the footrest rises the whole seat moves which keeps your legs, hips and back in perfect alignment and, for most, comfort. As your legs reach full height the chaise will bend slightly at the knee to place you in what many people find to be the absolutely perfect position. A recent customer described it as 'sitting in a cloud' and I can't think of a better way to put it. A dual motor TiS does exactly the same as a single motor but gives you the option to recline the back further or adjust the angle of the back to the footrest at any position.
A standard or STD mechanism is also available in a dual or single motor application. With these the legs don't rise above the horizontal and tend to stay straight out in front of you. On the single motor version the back will recline slightly once the footrest is fully extended but, as with a TiS chair, you can sit with your feet up without reclining. The dual motor version of this motion allows you to move the back independently at any point and recline much further. This tends to make the dual motor STD motion more popular although lots of people find the single motor perfect.
The other common mechanism is what we affectionately term as a 'dentist chair'. These are available in single motor only and tend to feature on the cheaper imported budget ranges that we stock. When you raise the legs on these chairs the back reclines so that when your legs are at a level height to your hips you're back is also reclined. We sell lots of these chairs to very happy customers but the previously mentioned mechanisms tend to be more popular.
The final thing to consider when looking at motors is ease of use. Single motor chairs are much easier to control and will normally have just 2 buttons on the remote to control the chair. Dual motor chairs usually have 4 but can have more so if you're looking for a chair that isn't too confusing then single is the way forward. They're also usually cheaper.
Some of our chairs can also be set up to rise vertically without the tilt. This is useful when used in conjunction with specialist lifting equipment such as a Sara Steady.
Or friends and favourite chair manufacturers at Repose furniture have produced lots of short videos explaining all of these motor and mechanism choices along with a lot more. We recommend you have a look by following the link button below.
F.A.Q.
These are some of the more commonly asked questions but if you have a different one please contact us and we'll do our best to help.
As long as your looking at riser recliners they all lift to help you stand. The main difference between the two is that single motor chairs won’t allow you to move the back without having your feet all the way up.
Our made to order chairs come in just about any size you need. Although ‘off the peg’ chairs from manufacturers such as Celebrity, Sherborne, HSL etc. tend to come in three main sizes. Petite, which is for people up to around 5’4″, Standard for those around 5’5″ to 6′ and Grande for those that are 6′ and taller. We’d always recommend that you try a chair first but if you can’t then these sizes are a good rule of thumb.
Whilst leather chairs look lovely they aren’t always the best choice for a riser recliner. Leather isn’t always very easy to look after and doesn’t always react well to spillages. It can also feel a bit slippy which can sometimes worry people with mobility issues when they use the chair to rise. Our made to order chairs can be upholstered in a huge range of vinyl coverings which are an excellent alternative to leather. Vinyl has come on a long way since the shiny plastic days. Todays vinyls look and feel like leather but they have better grip, are easier to clean and allow better breathability. If you’d like to have a look at some samples get in touch and we can send you some swatches.
All of that text above and I didn’t mention Back Cushions. The three most popular cushion styles are Button, Split Lumber and Waterfall. Button backs tend to be a bit firmer and are popular with those that prefer more support. Split Lumber cushioned backs have 2 plush cushions and support the lower lumber of the back a bit more than the others. These might not be the most popular choice but some people absolutely swear by them. Waterfall backs have three plush cushions. These are often considered as the most comfy and we definitely sell a lot more of these compared to others but they can be a bit too soft for some.
Of course, we have a showroom that’s full of chairs that your’e more than welcome to come and spend some time trying. We work via appointment so that you can have the place to yourself so please book in before you travel over to us. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a made to order or express chair and you’re within 50 miles of our showroom, we’ll bring a demo model or two for you to try at home. There’s no obligation to buy and we never pressure sell the chairs. In all honesty they sell themselves but you can decide that for yourselves. Again please contact us if you have any questions or would like to book and appointment.