Nothing spruces up the look of a house, like chairs. Chairs make a home appear cozy and comfortable, which is what you want to experience once you get home from a long day at work.
When anyone speaks about a chair, the image that comes to mind is the simple structure with a backrest, possibly armrests, and a cushion on which you can sit. This is typically considered the traditional chair.
But as advancements in furniture designs continue to grow, there are numerous other options to consider. One of these is hammock chairs.
Choosing between hammock chairs and traditional chairs can be hard as they all have unique advantages. The choice always bottles down to comfort. Are you curious about which of the two will meet your standards of comfort? Read on to find out!
What Determines A Chair’s Comfort?
Comfort is a completely subjective quality. What might be comfortable to one person might not be comfortable to the next. However, you can still evaluate the comfort of a hammock chair versus that of a traditional chair through various objective factors. These include:
- Ergonomics
- Lumbar Support
- Cushions And Padding
- Armrests
- Material And Fabric
- Recline
- Durability
Let us consider the differences between these two types of chairs based on the factors above.
- Ergonomics
The ergonomics of a chair determine whether the chair is suited for its purpose. A chair with the right ergonomics supports the body and promotes good posture, which is essential for comfort.
When considering ergonomics, hammocks, and traditional chairs have unique, strong suits. Traditional chairs have ergonomic quality built-in due to the positioning of the backrest. The backrest helps keep the back in position and helps maintain posture.
Hammock chairs come in different forms and shapes when it comes to ergonomics. Typically, the ordinary hammock chair is not suited for upright sitting. This means that your posture might be slightly reclined. Therefore, the comfort of that sitting position will depend on your preference.
- Lumbar Support
Have you ever sat on a chair and felt a slight tug on your lower back? It is likely that the chair did not have adequate lumbar support. Lumbar support helps take the pressure off the lower back and distribute it evenly across the back.
Traditional chairs with poor lumbar support can hurt your back and cause long-term injury. These chairs are not ideal for people that sit down for long hours.
Hammock chairs provide complete support for the entire back. The chair takes off pressure from all the regions of your back, allowing you to be perfectly relaxed when seated. You need to hang the hammock chair well for you to enjoy this quality.
- Cushions And Padding
The cushions and padding on a chair determine its comfort. The type of cushion used and the quality of the material can affect comfort to a great extent. Traditional chairs hardly ever have special types of cushions with adequate padding. You might have to reinforce the chair with additional cushions with increased thickness for extra comfort.
Hammock chairs reign supreme when it comes to the aspect of cushioning. Hammock chairs traditionally have extra comfort due to the placement of the fabric you sit on. Some hammock chairs also have extra cushions to improve their comfort. On this metric, hammock chairs are better than traditional chairs.
- Armrests
Sometimes you need to place your arms down as you relax in a chair. That is why armrests are essential in enhancing the comfort of a chair. That is not to say that all armrests work the same. Some might be too low or too high for you to be comfortable.
For the armrest of a traditional chair to be comfortable for you, it would have to be customizable to your specific height. That can be hard to accomplish.
While hammock chairs do not ordinarily have armrests, you can place your arm inside the hammock and still be comfortable. The structure of a hammock chair helps provide support to your arms and shoulders even without an armrest.
- Recline
Recline is the angle at your back arches when seated. Most sleep and relaxation professionals argue that the more reclined you are, the more comfortable you will be. Some researchers note that recline can increase your ability to fall asleep quickly.
Since traditional chairs are intended for sitting upright, they rarely have recline features for that extra comfort. Even if you were to slant your back, the position would strain you too much.
Hammock chairs are specially made to enhance recline. Even simple hammock chairs without elaborate designs allow you to be well-reclined. It will not be surprising if you start feeling sleepy only a few minutes after sitting on your hammock chair.
- Durability
A durable chair is going to be more comfortable than a poor-quality one. Most chairs that have sturdy paneling and cushioning are likely to be durable and of high quality. Such chairs will serve you for a longer time without losing their comfort.
Since traditional chairs are intended for long-term use, their structuring can be sturdy to avoid numerous repairs. However, their comfort is bound to decline as the chairs get older.
Since hammock chairs are not ordinarily meant to be permanently installed in one position, they have short-term durability. However, as long as you use your hammock chair, you will enjoy its comfort.
Final Verdict
Traditional and hammock chairs have similar qualities in most factors that determine comfort. However, closely analyzing the differences and similarities reveals that hammock chairs win on multiple fronts.
For instance, hammock chairs have more lumbar support, cushions and padding, and recline. While hammock chairs do not have armrests for arm and shoulder support, they are still comfortable. You can place your arms inside the hammock or hang them outside for the same effect.
While hammock chairs are more comfortable than traditional ones, you need to maintain them well to enjoy using them longer. Always hang a hammock chair with strict adherence to the instructions to start off on the right footing. You should also always ensure the chair is properly fastened on its pivot to avoid loosening. A loose hammock will definitely have less comfort levels.