Gently rocking back and forth speaks to something deep inside us, sending us back to the simpler times of childhood, perched on a swing at the playground or your parent’s lap.
And so in these stressful times, perhaps it’s no wonder that people are obsessed with rocking furniture to help them unwind.
According to a trends analysis by a German furniture industry group, rocking chairs, hanging chairs, hammocks and porch swings are what everyone is rushing to buy this year.
“These pieces offer people a comfortable place to get away from it all, where they relax,” says industry spokeswoman Christine Scharrenbroch. “Beyond that, fond memories of playing on the swings as a child may also play a role.”
These furniture pieces convey playfulness and lightness – similar to the feeling of being on vacation. Hammocks are especially associated with kicking one’s feet up somewhere new.
But hanging chairs are becoming increasingly more popular as well, says the industry group, which describes them as being especially eye-catching. Such chairs either dangle in a frame or are attached to a tree, balcony ceiling or patio roof.
Dpa