The challenge for furniture designers is to produce furniture that can be comfortably used by the greatest number of people. Since no two people are exactly the same, designing furniture in this one size fits all world can be a very tricky business. Whether the customer is big, small, short or tall, designers are challenged to find a middle ground. When a middle of the road design is not suitable, plus size furniture such as big man recliners are the answer.

The science of ergonomics has been applied to furniture design for many years. Simply put the science of ergonomics deals in human comfort. Ergonomics is widely applied to the work environment but it is very important in the design of furniture that is practical, comfortable and safe. Human engineering is another way to think of the science of ergonomics.

Terms such as big and tall, plus size and big man are sometimes used interchangeably. When it comes to furniture, especially recliners, the lines separating these terms may not be as blurry. While there are lines of what is called plus size furniture, the term can mean very different things to different people. When many folks think of or hear the term plus size, a certain image develops. Plus size is most often associated with people who are overweight, though it can mean much more. Taken literally, the term plus size could be applied to anyone who is taller or wider than the average person, or a combination of the two.

Tall versus Wide

The term big and tall no longer refers just to clothing but to a variety of products, including furniture. Big and tall recliners are often marketed to big and tall men but there are big and tall women who would enjoy the comfort of a well-built recliner. There are some brands of big man recliners that are designed with an emphasis on the seat size. Other may focus on the overall length of the chair in full recline. A tall person may find that recliners sold as being for the big and tall crowd are big the seat but come up a little short in the over length.

On the other hand folks who really a little extra room in the seat may find the seat too tall. That is to say that the front edge of the seat is too far from the floor, so much so that their feet cannot touch the floor when they sit.

Head to Toe Comfort

For folks on the tall side of life, finding comfortable furniture can be a challenge. Some furniture made to an intermediate size standard simply is not amenable to many tall folks. Chair legs that are too short and recliner backs which are not tall enough can be a nuisance and downright uncomfortable. Just as someone who has a wider build could use some extra seat room, tall folks need room to stretch out. Creating furniture that can accommodate a variety of body types will continue to be a daunting challenge for furniture designers.

How To Buy A Big Man Recliner

A smart shopper would never buy a mattress or other piece of furniture without trying it out. Like buying a car, furniture must be taken for a thorough test drive. No matter how a good the price, buying a piece of furniture that does not feel right could be money wasted. Unlike a static piece of furniture like a chair or a sofa, buying a recliner can take a little more time, and not only at the store. Like buying a car, doing your homework before you shop for a new recliner can save time and money.

So Many Styles

The decision to buying a recliner, especially a big man recliner, can be driven by several things. You may want to add extra seating or give yourself a comfortable place to kick back and relax. Just as there are many styles of sofas, chairs and other upholstered furniture, the choice of recliners covers a wide range of styles, colors and designs. From traditional to modern, there is sure to be a recliner style that is right for you.

Covered in Big Man Comfort

The fabric choice can make all the difference. Leather, cloth, and the new micro-suede fabrics give you a wide choice of textures, colors and durability. Leather tends to be more expensive and there are different grades to choose from. Not all leather fabric is the same so consider quality over price.

Make Sure Your Big Man Recliner Fits

Make sure the recliner fits. The fit includes your lifestyle, interior decor and other needs. Will the recliner see only occasional use or will it be the chair that you use everyday? Folks with physical challenges may want to look for a recliner that features a power lift mechanism. A power assisted recliner can make getting in, up and out of the recliner much easier for those folks who need a little extra help. Like finding the right mattress type, finding a recliner that is right for you sometimes means a little trial and error.

Shake, Bake and Relax

Imagine relaxing in your recliner while your cares are massaged away. Many recliners feature such options as massage and heat. Many newer styles include remote controls and may be offered with programmable features that will allow you to customize your recliner experience. Whether you are buying a massage recliner or other type of household electrical device, always look for the UL, Underwriters Laboratory® label.

All Shapes and Sizes

Just like people, modern recliners now come in many shapes and sizes. From standard size recliners to what are often referred to as chair and half recliners, you have more choices than ever. Gaining in popularity are recliners designed and built especially for plus size folks. Whether you them big man recliners, plus size recliners or big and tall recliners, they are more just your average overstuffed chair. Big man recliners feature extra heavy duty mechanisms and wide, deep seats.

Special Features to Look For

Modern recliners offer a host of conveniences. Many recliner designs can hug the wall meaning that you can place the recliner closer to the wall, saving floor space. Recliners can be large and awkward to move and designers have a solution. If moving a recliner poses a problem, look for a model that features a removable back. It is much easier to move two smaller pieces than move the recliner as a single unit.

Rock and Rest

Adding to the comfort of today’s recliners are swing, swivel and rocker bases. For those folks who cannot decide, there are recliner models that offer combinations of all three movements. Ask questions about how the recliner is assembled, making sure that critical pivot points and joints are securely fastened and designed for durability.

Big Man Recliners More than Just Overstuffed Chairs

A big recliner does not a big man recliner make. Simply making a recliner bigger does not begin to address what a big man or plus size recliner should be. The design effort that goes into producing a quality big man recliner involves ever aspect of the chair. Going way beyond the durability of the fabric or the size of the seat, a quality big man recliner is designed with the comfort of the user in mind.

When it comes to satisfying the demand for bigger and better recliners, a considered engineering and design effort is needed. One discipline of design science that is used, not only for furniture but in other areas, is ergonomics. Ergonomics or human engineering looks many different aspects of how something is used, who uses it and how redesigning it makes it more people friendly.

There are lots of recliners on the market and many that claim to be for big and tall or plus size folks. All too often recliners sold as big man recliners are made from standard frames and mechanisms with a little extra padding and fabric. Chair and half style recliners are gaining in popularity but are not specifically designed for big and tall folks. A truly well designed and well constructed big man recliner will have a recliner mechanism, padding and fabric made especially for a plus size recliner.

Like a well built house, properly built big man recliner starts with a solid foundation. The base and the mechanism are the core of good recliner. The mechanism of a well designed big man recliner should be made of heavy steel components. Every recliner has a number of moving parts that make the mechanism. In poorly built recliners the points at which these parts connect sometimes fail. Rivets may pull through or shear off and other metal may bend. There are big man recliners that feature beefy steel mechanisms that are designed to last.

Latex foam has become an essential part of modern furniture design. Manufacturers will utilize different densities and thicknesses of foam in order to achieve both the right style and the desired level of comfort. This is particularly important in the design and production of big man recliners. The thickness of the foam is probably of less importance than the density. One way to measure the density of latex foam, including memory foam, is by the weight per cubic foot. Since all latex foam depends on the ability to trap air, the greater the density the less air is needed.

Like any well designed piece of spring supported furniture, big man recliner designs pay close attention to the springs. Like shopping for an innerspring mattress shopping for a big man recliner means asking about the springs. Too much foam and not enough spring can result in a recliner that will not hold up over time. Just as important as the number of springs is the proper spring tension and spring wire gage. Too light a spring will not give adequate support and too heavy a spring will make the recliner feel too hard.

When shopping for a big man recliner, be sure to ask about the frame and the mechanism. How heavy is the steel? Are critical joints welded or riveted? Sit in the recliner and test the mechanism. It should move smoothly without sticking and with a minimum of effort. Just because a recliner is big doe not make a big man recliner.