Are you looking for the top recliner available? Whether you admit it or not, your reclining sofa is always there to keep you comfy after a long day. They offer the best of both worlds—a functional seating arrangement with the ability to alter to a reclined position.
You'll find a traditional sofa in any living room design, but nothing draws you in and evokes fond memories like a recliner. They provide a tremendous way to relax while watching TV, sipping on hot cocoa, reading a book, or simply sitting in silence while you zone out from all professional distractions, allowing you to ease your back and upper body rather than sitting upright in a laborious position.
If you’re ready to kick your feet up and experience luxurious comfort, sink into your chair and let your stress melt away with our ultimate recliner guide.
What is a Recliner?
It’s a good idea to start with the basics. A recliner is a piece of furniture that allows you to angle the back of the chair downwards in a reclined position while raising the footrest. This allows you to interchange between sitting upright as you would on a traditional sofa, and lying virtually flat with your head propped up on the headrest.
Types of Recliners
There isn’t one universal recliner—there are many types to choose from across all brands, designs, styles, heights, and so on. You may find a recliner with a remote control or a USB charging port. You may find recliner styles spanning from casual to contemporary. Even the backs of recliners and the headrests can vary greatly depending on your required lumbar support. With all the options to choose from, we’ve helped your narrow your search with our three favorites:
- Manual: The majority of recliners available come in a manual form. As you press a button or pull up on a lever, the mechanism reclines back and the footrest extends. Most manual recliners have a solitary stop, so you can lie completely flat or fine-tune the reclining to find your favorite position.
- Powered: Powered reclining mechanisms have more moving parts than a manual and they rely on an electric motor to control the reclining activity. You can stop anywhere from vertical to fully-reclined to find your definitive comfort. It can be easier for users who have difficulty releasing the manual lever, but some models can be a little harder to operate with some kind of control panel used to recline or retract the chair.
- Adjustable: Anadjustable recliner is like a futon or a sofa-bed—the seat hinges where it meets with the backrest, but allows you to stop somewhere in the middle without having to recline back all the way. They don’t offer as good of leg support as the two previous models, but they are a versatile piece of furniture that can find use in any home.
However, if you are interested in a greater selection of recliner types, you can also find rockers, gliders, and lay-flat chairs in a variety of release types including, remote, push-back, handle, and power buttons.
Upholstery Options
We talked all about fabric type and upholstery in our previous blog, but in case you need a refresher, when choosing new reclining furniture, you can’t dispute the significance of upholstery. The upholstery material is what impacts your recliner’s resilience and comfort. The plush padding and upholstery are what make these chairs so indulgent.
The cover of your chair is one of the defining traits of a recliner in terms of fashion, style, toughness, and comfort against your skin. Durability is important, but you also want it to breathe and feel good while you’re in the chair.
Look for a material that is stain-resistant or easy to care for. Leather and microfiber are popular choices because they will retain their quality feel even with daily use. High-density foam helps cushions keep their shape rather than compress over time. Some of the most popular upholstery materials for recliners include:
- Polyester
- Polyvinyl chloride
- Polyurethane
- Genuine leather
- Top-grain leather
Choosing the Right Recliner
You can find a comfy reclining sofa in the color or material you desire, but what are the other traits you should consider when looking for the perfect match?
Size
Think about your living room and the practical space you have available. How big is your living room? How large is your family? This can determine whether you invest in a two-seater, three-seater, or even an extra-large furniture unit that provides enough room for everyone to sit.
If you don’t have a large family, do you frequent guests? You may need an additional piece of furniture to accommodate houseguests, especially during the holiday season. And don’t forget, the chair needs to fit comfortably in your home, and it also needs to fit through the doorway—measuring is key.
Mechanism
We mentioned the recliner mechanisms above, but truly consider if you’d prefer an automatic inner-motor or if you don’t mind using a little elbow grease. The mechanism can also affect the reclining position. Some chairs will recline the whole body with the seat remaining in a fixed position, and others only lift your feet upward. One might be slightly more comfortable, but you may find that a feet-only recliner occupies less space in your living room than a full sofa-length chair. It comes down to your personal needs and how much space you’re able to fill.
Functionality
Depending on how modern you’d like your furniture to be, there are recliners with features like cup-holders or concealed storage centers in the arms. It certainly makes for a high-quality movie night at home. But it doesn’t stop there, there are models with overhead LED lighting, charging stations, and modifiable headrests. These upgraded features can add to the allure of your furniture and how you utilize your recliner on a routine basis.
Features to be Aware Of
Choosing the precise reclining sofa also depends on the granular features.
Material and Construction
The frame of the recliner is one of the most significant qualities. It can determine how much weight your furniture can withstand and how sturdy it will be. If you’re looking for durability, manufactured wood is the weakest material used because it provides the lowest weight capacity and isn’t designed to last for years.
Hardwood is much more durable and can last for years without breaking down. Hardwood frames provide a level of give that will prevent pressure points from forming in your chair. And to kick it up a notch, metal stands the test of time as the sturdiest of all reclining sofa materials. It's common to find a frame made of a combination of both hardwood and metal.
Comfort and Ergonomics
A chair that isn’t comfortable is useless. Thankfully, you can find reclining sofas with plenty of comfortable and supportive cushioning that won’t lose their shape. You want to feel support without pressure points, and this is where the frame and upholstery make a big difference. Fabric and upholstery should be lush and soft to the touch, and the frame shouldn’t cause the seating or backing cushions to sink.
Seat-back cushions have should come up higher to offer reliable support along the spine. If you’re a taller person, you’ll also want the seats to be deep and the armrests and headrest to have nice curvature and cushioning.
Durability
Leather is typically the most durable material used to cover your furniture and it does the best job of hiding stains and damage. Fabric linens are more susceptible to wear and tear over time and show signs of stains more often because they absorb liquids.
You also want the padding to retain its bounce so your seating is always aligned and you won’t be left with a sunken, rumpled look. To protect your investment even further, look into a long-term warranty or a financing plan to help cover any issues you might experience.
And if you have pets, it’s a good idea to invest in some kind of cover to protect your reclining furniture. Cleaning will become a whole lot easier and you won’t have to worry about daily pet hair, scuff marks, or dirt.
Top Recliner Brands
To help you get started in your search for a top-notch recliner, here are a few of our favorite brands offering quality and comfortable reclining sofas:
- Ashley: Known to blend elegance, tough durability, and complete ergonomic comfort in all of their products.
- Catnapper: The name speaks for itself—the official recliner of afternoon naps.
- Flexsteel: Quality furniture built to last—the perfect blend of style and function for your home, business, or recreation needs.
- Craftmaster: High-quality American-made upholstered furniture is always a reliable choice.
- HomeStretch: Stylish seating at an exceptional value, go ahead and put your feet up.
Test it Out
Before you make a purchase, be sure to take a seat and test out the recliner in both the upright and extended positions to assess the comfort level. This will ensure your chair will provide a supportive place to unwind and relax.
Make a mental checklist and determine if the arms are padded, if the back is supported, if the footrest meets your height requirement, if your neck feels supported, and if it’s easy to operate. And don’t forget to evaluate the size of the recliner and all the features.
Once you’ve done all of that, you’ll be ready to drift away in complete and utter comfort. Give us a call or visit us at Big Sandy to shop our entire collection of reclining sofas and other reclining furniture pieces. Your entire body will thank you.