Plus Size Furniture

Styles of Plus Size Furniture

Being a person of size in an average world can be frustrating. Shopping for clothes can be difficult enough, but if you need to find furniture to fit your needs, this is where you headaches may start. But don't worry, there are several companies that now cater to full-figured persons searching for larger-sized furniture. And with the right attitude and energy, you will walk away with exactly what you are looking for.

Manufacturers are making many different styles of plus size furniture, including pieces made for persons with disabilities. Many are both wider and taller, with some seats being as wide as two and three feet long. Furniture made exclusively for larger people include:

• Desk/office chairs
• Sofas
• Arm chairs
• Dining room chairs
• Stackables
• Upholstered chairs and sofas
• Patio furniture
• Lift chairs
• Rockers
• Beds
• Exercise machines

The majority of oversized furniture can hold a weight capacity of up to 400 pounds, while specialty lift chairs can accommodate up to 700 pounds. But remember, larger furniture also comes with a higher price tag, and for the most part, time from the manufacturer to construct exactly what you want.

Where to Buy Plus Size Furniture

You can always inquire at your local furniture store to see if they make custom, oversized furniture. If not, there are a few places online that specialize in this style of home decor.

Oversize Furniture

This online store carries a large selection of chairs made for full-figured guys and gals. The Oversizefurniture.com's claim is that is that its furniture holds up and is also comfortable. Made-to-order products include:

• Adjustable T Arms Oversized Chair: This office chair will accommodate persons up to six feet, five inches tall and 300 pounds. The adjustable T arms move up and down and in and out, and the chair's back easily adjusts with the turn of a knob. For about $645, many fabric choices are available, and delivery time is about three weeks.
• Plus Size Day Chair: This simplified wheel chair is cushioned and upholstered, and has four heavy-duty casters (two of which hold locking swivel wheels), a push bar, a sliding foot rest and industry standard frame. Backed by a lifetime frame warranty, this day chair will hold up to 800 pounds and cost about $1,700.
• Plus Size Dining Chair: This is just one of several dining room chairs sold by Oversize Furniture. This one, however, sells for $700 and has a weight capacity of 1,000 pounds. The chair itself is 25 inches wide, 26 inches deep an three feet high. The frame is guaranteed for life.

Living XL

Besides a slew of personal and healthy living items for plus size men and women, Living XL also sells a variety of home essentials and patio furniture:

• Large Platform Step Stool: With a weight capacity of up to 1,000 pounds, this 19-inch by 14-inch step stool has non-slip grippers and heavy duty rubber feet. It sells for $79.95.
• Redwood Garden Bench Five-Foot Mature Growth: This bench comes in various lengths and styles. The seat is 16 inches high and 22 inches deep and starts at around $600.
• Wheelchairs: For those persons of size who are confined to a wheelchair, Living XL has several from which to choose. They range in price from $450 up to about $3,000 and weight capacities up to 700 pounds.

Miscellaneous Furniture

There are manufacturers out there who will design a piece of furniture to meet your needs as being a plus size person:

• Klein Design Inc. sells sofas and loveseats in various heights and widths.
• Absolute Comfort on Sale has two styles of mattresses for those weighing 300 and 400 pounds.
• Rehabmart has hospital beds to accommodate up to 750 pounds.

How to Buy Oversized Furniture

For starters, take your time. Do not let any company or salesperson remind you that you are a plus sized person. You already know that, or you wouldn't be looking in their store or at their Web site. Remember, there are still people today who are prejudice toward persons of size, so do not let them bully you or talk you into a purchase you are unsure of making.

If you are ordering an item from a store, be sure to try it out. You wouldn't buy a car without test driving it; the same goes for furniture. Make sure your back fits into the chairs nicely and doesn't put any strain where it normally shouldn't. If the chair is a true plus size piece, you will have no trouble getting in or out of it. If the store is unwilling to work with you, then take your business elsewhere. And finally, since many of these pieces are made-to-order, find out what the warranties are, as well as the return and exchange policies.