A comfortable relax chair with a footrest for older parents
What to check when you choose a relax chair and footrest for your parents or grandparents, from seat height to arms they can push up from.
A good relax chair becomes the favourite seat in the house: for the newspaper in the morning, a cup of tea, an afternoon rest with the feet up. For older parents, comfort is only half of it. The chair also has to be easy to sit down in and easy to get up from.
Check these before you buy
- Seat height. Sitting back, their feet should rest flat on the floor. A seat that is too low makes getting up hard work.
- Arms to push up from. Firm armrests at a comfortable height give something to lean on when standing.
- Support for the head. A high back with a cushioned headrest lets them rest without slumping.
- A footrest at the right height. It should sit level with the seat, so the legs are supported along their length.
- Swivel or fixed. A swivel makes it easier to turn towards a visitor or the television. Some people prefer a fixed chair that stays put when they lean on the arm. Try both.
- An easy-care cover. Leatherette wipes clean; bouclé and fabric feel softer but need more care.
Chairs to try
- XR-12323 with the FR-10323 footrest. A reclined swivel lounger in olive green with a matching swivel footrest, made to be used together.
- XR-12380. A high-back swivel lounge chair in soft blue-grey, with a cushioned headrest.
- XR-12367. A wing-back swivel chair in warm taupe, with support around the shoulders.
- XR-12362. A swivel tub chair with a curved wood-veneer shell, for a smaller corner.
Let them choose
The best test is the simplest one: bring your parents to the showroom and let them sit in each chair for a few minutes. Touch and feel tells you more than any photograph. Every piece comes with a one-year replacement warranty.
