In a Nutshell:
The Ashley Ludden Rocker Recliner is a superb chair, offered in a variety of configurations. Recommended for anyone who weighs less than 350 pounds.
Value for the Money
Comfort
Brand Reliability*
Aesthetic Flexibility**
Overall Rating
4.5/5
Benefits
Drawbacks
Recommended For: Anyone who weighs less than 350 pounds.
Are you a new or expectant mother? Have you recently had surgery and are in the process of recovering?
Do you have sleep apnea and find it all but impossible to get a decent night’s sleep in your bed?
If you answered yes to any of the questions above or are in the market for a rocking recliner for any other reason, you’ll like what you read in this review.
Ashley Furniture has been in the business for a long time—more than seventy years, in fact—so it knows the American furniture market and has extensive design experience.
They’ve used that experience to design the Ashley Ludden Rocker Recliner, a handsome, versatile piece of furniture useful for just about any purpose.
In the sections that follow, we’ll explain this chair’s capabilities so you’ll have all the information you need to decide if this is the model you’ve been looking for. Let’s jump in and see what this model has to offer!
Key Features to Consider
Before we discuss the configuration options and colors available, let’s examine the core stats that define the Ashley Ludden Rocker Recliner. No matter which option you choose, the other stats remain the same.
Chair Specifications
Although this chair is fairly lightweight, it can support an impressive amount of user weight.
The Ludden has a cozy, inviting aesthetic and is almost big enough that you could classify it as a big and tall chair. The weight limits don’t support that, but it counts as being overstuffed.
Unfortunately, although attractive, it was not designed with Wall Hugger technology incorporated into the mix. You’ll need to place this chair at least 16” from whatever wall you set it near so you’ll have enough space to recline fully.
If you live in a smaller home or don’t have much room to work with, the size of the chair and the distance you need to put it from the wall could be deal-breakers. Be sure to measure your available space carefully before you buy.
Available Colors
You can select from four colors (blue, cocoa, burgundy, or sand) and order the chair in manual or power configurations.
That gives you some flexibility and ensures you get the chair you want.
Manual vs. Power Configuration
You get a basic three-position recliner if you choose the manual recliner option.
You can leave the chair upright and rock, recline to “TV Mode,” which lays you back far enough to allow you to nap comfortably, or fully recline. If you fully recline in this chair, you won’t be laying completely flat, but you’ll be about 80% of the way there, which is fine for most people. If you feel you must have a “Lay Flat” option, this isn’t the model you want.
If you get the power recliner option, you have unlimited recline possibilities because you can fiddle with the controls until you get the chair into exactly the position you want. The only downside to the power recliner option is that it lacks a battery backup system. If the power fails while you’re reclined back in your chair, you’ll have to claw over the side to get out of it awkwardly.
That kind of thing shouldn’t happen often, and you may never even experience it, but it is something to bear in mind.
Rocking Function
As we mentioned at the start of our Ashley Ludden rocker recliner review, the chair also rocks, although it cannot rock while it’s reclined. It’s either one or the other. If you want a chair that can rock while reclined, La-Z-Boy does make such a model, though!
Padding & Upholstery
Turning our attention to comfort, the Ludden utilizes a combination of conventional block foam and poly fiberfill, supported by a system of steel springs. That, paired with the delightfully soft, pillowed upholstery, creates a delightful sitting or sleeping experience. Granted, it’s not next-level comfort as you’d get from a chair padded with memory foam, but it is very cozy, and you won’t have any trouble getting a decent night’s sleep in the chair.
Note, too, that this chair features pillowtop armrests that are bursting with padding. If you’re smaller or have children, they can curl up in the chair and rest their heads on the armrests, which will serve as comfortable pillows in their own right.
Finally, this chair offers a nice surprise benefit. It’s one of a few recliners today that provides ergonomic support! Granted, the only ergonomic feature on offer is well-implemented lumbar support, but that’s a nice perk. Kudos to Ashley for its addition.
Storage & Extras
We won’t repeat that information here since we have already discussed the available ordering options. Those aren’t considered “extras” per se, and apart from those options, there are no extras on offer.
That’s not a bad thing, but we dearly wish the Ludden Rocker Recliner Ashley Furniture featured a side storage pocket and that the powered version of the chair came with a battery backup. In our view, the absence of those things represents missed opportunities.
Minimal Assembly Required
This chair does not come assembled. It will arrive at your door in a single, gigantic box. Fortunately, the assembly instructions are clear and consist of just four steps. Essentially, you must mount the seatback to the rest of the chair and plug it in if you have the powered option.
Unfortunately, Ashley does not offer White Glove service with this model. So, if you don’t want to tackle the assembly by yourself, you’ll want to ensure you have an assistant on hand when the chair arrives. Overall, it will probably take longer to unbox the chair than to get it ready for first use, and once that’s done, you’re ready to have a seat and enjoy!
Pros & Cons of Ludden Rocker Recliner by Ashley Furniture
This chair doesn’t have anything we’d categorize as a genuine flaw or weakness, but there are two things we’d like to see in some future update of the model:
The absence of those things isn’t a deal-breaker, but their presence would make an awesome chair even better.
Ashley Ludden Rocker Recliner Review Conclusion
The Ashley Ludden rocker recliner is a superb, versatile, comfortable, and capable chair offered by one of the big names in the American furniture industry. We recommend it if its measurements are a good fit for yours. This one will serve you very well.
Recommended Reading
La-Z-Boy Niagara Recliner Review
We examined the La-Z-Boy Niagara Recliner, a lounge chair for users up to 6’4″ and 300 pounds.
La-Z-Boy Calvin PowerReclineXR Reclina Rocker Recliner Review
Check out our review of the Calvin PowerReclineXR by La-Z-Boy, a top choice for those seeking relief from back pain.
References & Resources
- Ashley Homestore, Official Brand Website.
- Ashley Ludden Rocker Recliner User Manual.
- Different Types of Recliners, Morfurniture.
- How to Decorate Around a Recliner, SFGate.