Home > Learning Center > Chaise lounge

Chaise lounge

Interestingly enough, a chaise lounge should technically be called a chaise longue. The latter phrase is French for “long chair,” and it is the term from which “chaise lounge” is derived. The truth is, “chaise lounge” is an example of folk etymology – folk etymology is the process of a new word being created from an old world due to a misunderstanding of the old word.

A chaise lounge is, indeed, long, just as the French term leads you to believe. Of course, just as the English term, chaise lounge, leads you to believe, it is a good chair to lounge about and relax on. You can sit on chaise lounge and stretch out your legs, recline into the backrest and truly get comfortable.

Chaise lounges are generally shaped like an “L,” with a short and angled backrest and a long seat stretching out in front of it. Outdoor chaise lounges often have adjustable backrests that range from completely upright to completely flat. Indoor chaise lounges range from almost gaudy rococo style ones to very modern ones. Older styles often have a single armrest while newer ones most often do not.

One of the most popular places to put a chaise lounge is in the bedroom. This is greatly because the bedroom is a center of relaxation, and these chairs are very comfortable. But they also belong in the office and in the living room. And an additional place that you may think a chaise lounge belongs is a psychologist’s office, particularly the office of a psychoanalyst.

And outdoor living set-ups – back patios and decks – are also very popular places for chaise lounges.

Chaise Lounge | Bedroom | Learning Center | Site Map | Links | Contact | Home

Copyright © 2008