# What would you build in to a personalized lounge chair? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 23, 2006, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-build-in-to-a-personalized-lounge-chair/357879 "2006-05-23T07:52:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Buckler\_of\_Swashing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Buckler\_of\_Swashing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buckler_of_Swashing)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2006, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-build-in-to-a-personalized-lounge-chair/357879/1 "2006-05-23T07:52:45Z")
So, we’ve got a friend’s 21st coming up. Not the same as the one I wanted present ideas for a little while ago, a different one. Anyway, this friend is leaving his parent’s house shortly and we thought that this would ease the present-buying process. What does Jack need? Jack needs furniture! Jack needs appliances! Jack needs a years supply of grog! Etc. Another friend and I decided that Jack would enjoy a great big comfy chair all of his own. He will be living with two other people, who come with some furniture while Jack has a bed, that’s it. Unable to pool together enough money to buy the sort of thing we were after from a new furniture store, we hit upon the idea of making Jack a chair. As soon as this was decided, further ideas ensued. We can personalize it! It can have special pockets and things built in. It’ll be the Best Chair Ever. Wanting it to recline, but thinking we didn’t have enough time or materials to make a reclining frame, we bought an old recliner cheaply and will be reupholstering it shortly. As for the ‘enhancements’ we’ve thought of: Cupholder in one armrest Universal remote control in the other armrest Small reading lamp (battery operated) Small personal fan (battery operated) Plenty of pockets for other remote controls/tv guides etc Pocket for a tray/stable-table on the back of the chair Maybe a small radio inside tuned to the one station he listens to, headphones coming out of the chair somewhere. We did want to put one of those tiny wee travel cooler/heaters in it, but the reclining mechanism doesn’t leave us with much room. I’m also going to put a water pistol in one pocket and a small megaphone in another on the premise that shouting at damp housemates would be fun. 🙂 We’re looking for more ideas. I’m also interested to see what people would like in their own chairs. What would you build in? ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2006, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-build-in-to-a-personalized-lounge-chair/357879/2 "2006-05-23T08:00:47Z")
I’d like a nice butt massager, please. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BraheSilver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@BraheSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BraheSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2006, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-build-in-to-a-personalized-lounge-chair/357879/3 "2006-05-23T08:09:37Z")
A small elasticized pocket for loose change. Whenever I sit in a recliner my pocket change goes sliding out and disappears into the maw of beast lives within the forest of springs, bars, and ratchety things that go _glonk_ when you tug on the lever. If I had a place right next to the chair (or on it) specifically for the purpose of holding coins, that probably wouldn’t happen so much. But the recliner beasts would be poorer. Won’t someone think of the recliner beasts? Figure out where his hands would go if he sat in the chair and stretched out comfortably. Then affix squeezy stress balls under the fabric right there, perfect for a long lazy afternoon of tv and ball-massaging. That came out wrong, didn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Wiseguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Mr.Wiseguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Wiseguy)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2006, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-build-in-to-a-personalized-lounge-chair/357879/4 "2006-05-23T09:15:06Z")
Those are great, but the lamp and the fan have to be powered via an AC adaptor. Nothing would be worse than plopping down in your recliner after a long day, realizing that your batteries have died, and having to get up and dig around for fresh batteries. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2006, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-build-in-to-a-personalized-lounge-chair/357879/5 "2006-05-23T10:34:08Z")
retractable dinner trey. ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2006, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-build-in-to-a-personalized-lounge-chair/357879/6 "2006-05-23T12:44:28Z")
I’d make both armrests out of genetically/surgically-engineered cats with no legs - that way you could stroke them, feed them bits of your dinner etc, and keep your arms warm, all without the risk of scratches! Or is that a touch ghoulish? ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2006, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-build-in-to-a-personalized-lounge-chair/357879/7 "2006-05-23T12:46:03Z")
I just came in to say ‘remote control in the armrest’, but you guys are so bright you already thoughta that!! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Buckler\_of\_Swashing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Buckler\_of\_Swashing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buckler_of_Swashing)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-build-in-to-a-personalized-lounge-chair/357879/8 "2006-05-25T07:54:54Z")
Hmm, loose change pockets, stress balls, excellent… I wanted the fan and lamp to be AC as well, but the boy I’m putting this together with has declared himself in charge of the electronics and insists that the chair not have to plug in to a wall socket. God knows why. He doesn’t really like me making suggestions in that area as I’m a girl and as such know nothing about electronics and the like… :rolleyes: but that’s a whole other (probably pit 😃 ) thread. So, batteries it is. When I make my OWN chair after this, everything will be AC 😉 and he can stick it. Hmm, if there’s no other suggestions we’ll just go ahead and start! I have to admit, I was expecting more wierd-&-wackiness from the Dope, but oh well. Thanks for the help.