Best Options To Increase The Height Of A Chair
Increasing the height of the chair mainly depends on the design of the chair, which makes sitting comfortable especially for elder people. Making a chair taller will help it match better with other furnishings. A taller chair also tends to be very easier for elderly people as well as the people with physical limitations to sit down on and get up from. There are very few options for raising the existing chair height and these options are mentioned below:
Option 1: Screw-in Legs
The Upholstered chairs, such as the easy chairs or the recliners have screw-in legs. Replacement legs are available in a number of styles and lengths that will increase a chair's height. It is advisable to choose a leg style that is similar to the original leg. If the user will replace a wide leg or bun foot with a narrow leg, then this will result in instability and will make the chair unsafe to sit. A bun foot is a chair leg that is low and round. The Bun feet, as well as the tapered blocks that are mostly used on heavy chairs, come in different heights.
Option 2: Seat Cushion
The simplest and safest way to raise the chair's height is by replacing or adding a seat cushion. A high-density foam cushion that is wrapped in cotton batting gives a firmness that helps to add in rising the chair and will give a layer of softness on the surface. In case, of a chair with a removable cushion, the user may be able to put a new and firm cushion under the original one to raise the seat height. A pillowcase or fabric cover in a matching color will make the new cushion less noticeable. However, a non-slip backing will help to keep the cushion from slipping.
Option 3: Casters
The other option to raise the chair height is to add casters or replace the existing casters with the larger ones. If the chair legs are made from wood or rattan, then drill a hole right in the center of the bottom of every leg. Use a drill bit that should be slightly smaller than the caster's shank. It may be necessary to apply wood glue to secure the caster. The user should choose the heavy-duty casters, like the ball-type. The Casters which have brakes will increase the chair's stability.
Important Considerations
- For some types of chairs, it may not be possible to increase the height safely. For example, chairs having metal tubular legs or heavy easy chairs which are not compatible with screw-in legs.
- Using the risers or blocks that go under furniture legs, could result in a falling hazard. While the risers can only be stable enough under a sofa or bed and a chair on risers could fall over.
- If the chair's seat has low arms, and the increased seat height from adding cushion can make the chair arms very low for pushing off to get up from the chair.