For the Mitchell family of Portland, Oregon, the front porch was always more of a pass-through space than a destination. That changed the day they decided to invest in quality outdoor seating.
The Discovery That Started It All
Sarah Mitchell recalls the moment her family realized they needed rocking chairs. “We had this beautiful covered porch, but we never used it. One morning, I watched my elderly neighbor sitting on her porch, just rocking peacefully while drinking her coffee. I thought, why don\’t we have that?”
The family began researching rocking chairs for front porch setups and quickly discovered that quality matters far more than they initially thought.
Choosing the Right Chairs
After visiting several home stores and being disappointed by particle board and flimsy construction, the Mitchells found The Rocking Chair Company. “The difference was night and day,” Sarah explains. “These were actual heirloom-quality pieces.”
They ultimately chose three distinct pieces that now define their porch’s character:
- The World’s Finest Rocker became Sarah’s morning spot — perfect for her ritual coffee and book time
- A Polyboard Rocking Chair for year-round durability since their porch is partially exposed
- The Allison Child Rocker for their daughter Emma, so she could join the family ritual
A New Family Tradition
Within weeks, the Mitchells had created what they now call their “morning sanctuary.” Every morning at 7 AM, the family gathers on the porch. No phones, no screens — just rocking, talking, and watching the neighborhood wake up.
“It sounds simple, but it’s become the most important part of our day,” Sarah shares. “Emma especially loves her little rocker. She calls it her ‘special chair’ and gets upset if we try to skip morning porch time.”
Why Quality Matters
The Mitchells learned an important lesson: not all outdoor seating is created equal. Their previous cheap lawn chairs rattled, wobbled, and deteriorated within a season. The investment in well-crafted rocking chairs has paid dividends in both durability and comfort.
“The smooth rock of a quality chair is part of the experience,” Sarah notes. “You can’t replicate that feeling with mass-produced furniture.”
The Ripple Effect
The family’s transformed porch has inspired neighbors. Two households on their street have since added rocking chairs to their porches, and a informal morning wave has developed among the porching neighbors.
“Who knew a piece of furniture could create community?” Sarah laughs. “But that’s exactly what happened.”
Starting Your Own Porch Tradition
If you’re considering adding rocking chairs to your front porch, the Mitchells offer this advice:
- Invest in quality — You want chairs that will last decades, not seasons
- Consider your climate — Poly options work great for areas with moisture exposure
- Include everyone — Getting a child’s rocker ensures the whole family can participate
- Make it a habit — The magic is in the daily ritual, not just the furniture
For the Mitchell family, what started as a furniture purchase became a lifestyle transformation. Their front porch, once ignored, now holds some of their most cherished family moments.
“We didn’t just buy chairs,” Sarah reflects. “We bought a morning tradition.”