What makes a garden chair right for an older person? Four things: a higher, firmer seat you rise out of rather than climb out of; solid arms positioned where you naturally push up; a high back with a headrest that supports your shoulders and neck; and stability, either a locked base or a rock-stop mechanism. Price and looks come after those four. Our high back garden chairs range is built around exactly these points.
We have sold garden furniture from our Leicestershire showroom since 2001, and a good share of the people who visit are choosing a chair for their later years, or for a parent. This guide is the advice our staff give on the showroom floor, written down.
Seat height and firmness beat softness
A deep, soft chair feels welcoming for the first ten minutes and becomes a trap when you try to stand. The chairs we recommend have a seat height around 44cm and firm, supportive cushions, high enough that your knees are not above your hips when seated. Firmness is not a compromise on comfort: a 10cm supportive cushion keeps its shape through a full afternoon, where a soft 6-8cm one flattens and leaves you sitting on the frame.
Arms you can push up from
Getting out of a chair uses the arms as much as the legs. Look for wide, flat armrests that extend far enough forward that your hands land on them naturally when you lean to stand. Hand-woven rattan over an aluminium frame works well here because the arm is solid, weatherproof and does not flex.
A high back with a headrest
Most standard garden chairs finish mid-back, which forces the shoulders to brace. A genuine high back catches your shoulders and gives your head somewhere to rest when you close your eyes. In our range, every high back chair has a headrest where your head naturally falls, and most recline: the lever on the right arm lets the chair hold any angle you stop it at, from upright for tea to nearly flat for a doze.
Stability: the rock-stop question
Rocking chairs are popular for good reason, but a chair that moves while you are getting in or out is a hazard. If you want the rocking motion, choose one with a lock. Our Burbage rocking and reclining chairs have a Stop Rock Lock built into the frame: flip it and the chair is a fixed armchair for getting in and out, then rocks once you are settled. See the rocking range here.
Weather and upkeep, honestly
A chair that has to be dragged inside every night will not get used. Aluminium-framed rattan can stay outside all year round: the frame cannot rust, and UV-stabilised HDPE weave does not fade or go brittle. The honest trade-off is the cushions: store them in a box or shed when not in use, because a comfortable breathable cushion is not a fully waterproof one. That is thirty seconds of effort for a chair that is always ready.
If you are buying for a parent
Bring them if you can. Our showroom at Sapcote Garden Centre (Hinckley Road, Sapcote LE9 4LG, open 7 days) has the chairs out on the floor, and trying three chairs for five minutes settles questions no product page can. If a visit is not practical, ring 01455 274748 and describe their situation: how they get out of their armchair indoors is usually enough for our staff to point at the right chair. Delivery is included, and every set carries a 3-Year Rust-Free Structural Guarantee.
Common questions
What seat height is best for an elderly person? Around 44-48cm, higher than a standard garden chair, with knees level with or below the hips when seated.
Are rocking chairs safe for older people? Yes, if the rocking can be locked while getting in and out. Avoid free rockers with no lock.
What is easiest to maintain? Powder-coated aluminium frames with synthetic rattan: no rust, no repainting, no cover needed. Store the cushions when not in use.
Where can I try before buying? Our garden furniture showroom in Leicestershire, open 7 days a week, just off the M69.