The Big Easy

We’ve all laughed when watching movies and television shows and saw someone sit in a chair that broke when they put their weight in it. But finding furniture that fits, is comfortable and can hold their weight is no laughing matter for those who are on the large side.

Although custom furniture has always been an option, it can be quite expensive. Recognizing there is a growing need for furnishings and other home accessories for those who are big and tall, manufacturers are creating special lines for plus-size people.

“As Americans are becoming taller and heavier, a trend that is expected to continue due to our current lifestyles, they need furniture that is designed to comfortably fit their bodies,” said Mindi Brothers, vice president of marketing for Lane Furniture, which offers its Comfort King line.

Furniture in the line, which includes recliners and sofas, are taller. At 50 inches, the back of the seats add support for the head and neck.

“... When fully reclined Comfort King is the length of a king-size mattress to support longer legs,” she said.

In addition to being larger, the furniture is constructed differently.

“Plus-size customers require furniture that is made to handle heavier weights. The average occasional chair is probably designed to handle up to 250 pounds but many of our customers weigh more than that,” said David Millgrom, senior vice president and general brand manager for Brylane Home, which has a range of products specifically designed for larger people.

The company’s recliners, accent and office chairs are built to hold more weight, he said.

“All of our plus-size furniture is tested to failure; the customer can feel comfortable that if we say it holds 350 pounds, or whatever the weight, it actually will hold up.”

Lane’s Comfort King line also uses heavier duty materials. Brothers said the seat frames have high-carbon-steel angle rail construction and suspension-welded-steel coil base spring system with nine heavy-duty coils. The cushion itself is made with a high-resiliency foam and the arm frames are reinforced with steel.

Additionally, the bases are made of 1-inch-square tubular steel in an H shape, with the reclining mechanism made from a 7-gauge steel patented mechanism with a lifetime warranty.

Brothers said the pieces are tested to hold as much as 500 pounds.

Priced considerably less than custom pieces, the Comfort King line costs about 20 percent more than other Lane furnishings because of the heavy-duty construction, Brothers said.