Feel Good Home: 12 Gorgeous Versions of the Timeless Rocking Chair
Forget those folksy associations and prepare to be swayed by the best rocking chairs, combining contemporary style with old-school comfort
Jo Simmons
12 October 2015
Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several books on design and numerous features for glossy homes mags over the years. For Houzz, I cover decorating ideas and trends and interview designers and professionals for their insights. My favourite pieces to write, though, are Houzz Tours, as I love exploring and learning about real homes. Call me curious — or nosy!
Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several... More
If rocking chairs conjure in your mind the image of a sweet old lady, knitting by the fire, then it’s time to update the stereotype. Of course, rocking chairs offer a uniquely comfortable and comforting way to sit. Something about being able to gently rock as you relax takes us right back to the cradle. But while Grannie may have favoured a heavy wooden design, rocking chairs actually come in an exciting range of styles, materials and colours. Check out this round-up of choice chairs – 12 reasons to rock on!
Make it midcentury
The clean lines of 1950s design expressed in a rocking chair make for a very beautiful piece. Find a rocker that channels the spirit of this period and bring it up to date by reupholstering the seat pad in a chic, contemporary fabric.
The clean lines of 1950s design expressed in a rocking chair make for a very beautiful piece. Find a rocker that channels the spirit of this period and bring it up to date by reupholstering the seat pad in a chic, contemporary fabric.
Try some texture
Wood is not the only material that can be used for a rocking chair. This interesting example has a steel frame covered with woven banana fibre, a by-product of the banana growing industry.
Wood is not the only material that can be used for a rocking chair. This interesting example has a steel frame covered with woven banana fibre, a by-product of the banana growing industry.
Stay simple and shapely
This lovely rocking chair, with woven seat and backrest and timber frame, is beautifully simple and timeless. It brings a warm, artisanal feel to any space, but looks particularly pleasing in this setting, simply decorated in fresh white with timber a key detail.
This lovely rocking chair, with woven seat and backrest and timber frame, is beautifully simple and timeless. It brings a warm, artisanal feel to any space, but looks particularly pleasing in this setting, simply decorated in fresh white with timber a key detail.
Scale down
Forget the heavy wooden designs that often come to mind when you imagine a rocking chair and opt for something beautifully light and contemporary. This elegant steel design by midcentury English designer Ernest Race preceded his Antelope chair and is now a super-desirable design icon.
Forget the heavy wooden designs that often come to mind when you imagine a rocking chair and opt for something beautifully light and contemporary. This elegant steel design by midcentury English designer Ernest Race preceded his Antelope chair and is now a super-desirable design icon.
Max the comfort
Rocking chairs are invaluable additions to a nursery, providing somewhere cosy to sit for feeds or bedtime stories. A generous upholstered design delivers plenty of comfy squash and squish with the rock and roll.
Rocking chairs are invaluable additions to a nursery, providing somewhere cosy to sit for feeds or bedtime stories. A generous upholstered design delivers plenty of comfy squash and squish with the rock and roll.
Go for contemporary
The Shakers loved a rocking chair, but this Shaker-style piece looks wonderfully current painted a bold red. It slots beautifully into this industrial kitchen space, proving just how versatile a rocker can be.
How to incorporate five classic Shaker designs into your home
The Shakers loved a rocking chair, but this Shaker-style piece looks wonderfully current painted a bold red. It slots beautifully into this industrial kitchen space, proving just how versatile a rocker can be.
How to incorporate five classic Shaker designs into your home
Invest in an icon
Charles and Ray Eames’ gorgeous RAR rocking chair is another midcentury modern classic. Made with a moulded, recyclable polypropylene shell, it has a braced wire base and two wooden rockers finished with clear varnish. Combining grace with comfort, it never dates.
Discover iconic designs: the Eames plastic chairs
Charles and Ray Eames’ gorgeous RAR rocking chair is another midcentury modern classic. Made with a moulded, recyclable polypropylene shell, it has a braced wire base and two wooden rockers finished with clear varnish. Combining grace with comfort, it never dates.
Discover iconic designs: the Eames plastic chairs
Go bright and light
A contemporary, lightweight rocker with brightly coloured upholstery makes a fresh focal point in this living room. This chair’s hot orange seat sings out against the blue wall, while its clean lines create a smart silhouette.
A contemporary, lightweight rocker with brightly coloured upholstery makes a fresh focal point in this living room. This chair’s hot orange seat sings out against the blue wall, while its clean lines create a smart silhouette.
Shine on
Source a super-shiny rocking chair and let it make a bold statement in any scheme. This simple carver chair is transformed with rockers and then sent into super-glam orbit with a deliriously glossy finish.
Source a super-shiny rocking chair and let it make a bold statement in any scheme. This simple carver chair is transformed with rockers and then sent into super-glam orbit with a deliriously glossy finish.
Colour up
Even the most trad wooden rocker can get a funky new feel with a coat of bright paint. This pair of rocking chairs look contemporary thanks to a turquoise paint job, but have a design and shape that is pleasingly traditional.
Even the most trad wooden rocker can get a funky new feel with a coat of bright paint. This pair of rocking chairs look contemporary thanks to a turquoise paint job, but have a design and shape that is pleasingly traditional.
Take two
What can be better than a rocking chair? Two rocking chairs! Sit them side by side for companionable, soothing relaxation.
What can be better than a rocking chair? Two rocking chairs! Sit them side by side for companionable, soothing relaxation.
See it as a sculpture
Perhaps this rocking chair is wonderfully comfortable, but frankly, when it looks this exciting, who cares? This is the Voido rocking chair by Ron Arad. It’s made from polyethylene and suitable for use outside, too.
TELL US…
Do you own a rocking chair? What do you love about it? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments below.
Perhaps this rocking chair is wonderfully comfortable, but frankly, when it looks this exciting, who cares? This is the Voido rocking chair by Ron Arad. It’s made from polyethylene and suitable for use outside, too.
TELL US…
Do you own a rocking chair? What do you love about it? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments below.
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What about the classic bentwood rocker?
I like the unique 4th one down! It looks like it wouldn't take over the room as much as some of the others.
When we had our house revamped, we added a garden room. It has housed a lot of 'stuff' in boxes that we've been getting through gradually. We decided to put off deciding on furnishing until we could see the whole space, and get a feel for size etc... Currently, there are bookcases against one wall, and a couple of cupboards on the opposite side. We cannot think what style of seating would look best - do we each choose a different chair, or have a matching pair - you know the sort of thing ! I am quite taken with the idea of a small rocking chair, I must admit, and rather fell in love with a John Lewis model (designed for the home nursery !). I must check that against some of the suggestions above, and also find out the measurements !