In the past, recliners were banned to the den, the basement suite, or the “guy’s room” – they didn’t possess any characteristics that made them stylish accent pieces. New spins on the common recliner have turned up in recent years, making them very style-friendly while still retaining their classic comfort. New features include:

• Wall-savers: although they are higher in price, wall-saving recliners only require 6 to 10 inches of space between the wall and the chair, unlike older recliners that require 12 inches or more.
• Push-back: Only the back reclines, and there is no foot rest that pops out. Another space-saving option.
• Swivel Recliner: Some recliners of the past featured a swivelling bottom, but recent models have 360 degrees seats as well as footrests.
• Built-in stereos: Recliners with built-in speakers take surround sound to the next level! They can also feature bass shakers that fully intensify your movie experience.
• Massage/heating: At the push of a button, recliners now feature heating pads and massage features so you can have the ultimate relaxation experience.
• Memory foam: This pressure-relieving material keeps getting more popular, and it’s been brought down from space, to your mattress, and now your recliner!

Scroll through the different interior design styles and the updated recliners that match them!

Apartment Style Recliners

If you’ve got an apartment living space, or just really small quarters, a recliner might be the last thing on your mind.

Big and oversized recliners of the past wouldn’t work well in a tight space. However, with the many new styles of recliners out there, you’re sure to find one on the smaller, sleeker side.

The Mac Motion 52 Series Leather Match Recliner lacks the giant padding of a normal recliner, but is just as comfortable with its memory foam cushioning.

Plus, it doesn’t lack style – it would fit well in any current apartment or loft.

Casual Reliners

Comfort is key when it comes to the casual style, and comfort is what a recliner is all about!

However, just because your design taste is laid-back, it doesn’t mean you have to go with an overstuffed, unsightly recliner.

The Van Gogh Designs Friday Push Back Recliner looks like your normal family club chair, but fully reclines with an extending footrest. Choose from over a dozen fabrics and colours to properly fit the recliner into your living space.

Contemporary Recliners

Contemporary style offers a fresh, subtle, and clean aspect to your home. You wouldn’t expect to use any of those adjectives to describe a clunky recliner, but a great contemporary model is the Kathy Ireland Home by Omnia Furniture Leather El Dorado Leather Recliner.

It features a motorized mechanical reclining system that lets you control your reclining angle, and also offers different leather colour choices.

Country Recliner

Here’s the chance to decorate with a classic recliner, if that’s the look for you! The basic, tranquil look of country style ties in well with the recliners of the past.

Patterned recliners, like the paisley-covered Berkline Comfort Rest Recliner with Loose Kidney Pillow, give your living space a cozy, vintage vibe. If paisley isn’t your thing, this chair comes in dozens of different colours and patterns, including floral and plaid, which are other popular country-inspired designs.

Modern Recliner

Modern style is all about the future – so how can a recliner work into a room with an advanced design?

Find a recliner that’s detail-free and straight-lined, like the Coaster Furniture Showtime Leather-Match Vinyl Recliner in Black. Since it’s made from leather-esque vinyl, it has the look and feel of leather, but the lower price of vinyl.

Cup holders in the arm rests are perfect for when you want to kick back with a movie.

Retro-Chic Recliner

If you want to add the glamour and sophistication of the olden days to your living space, there are recliners that can offer the retro-chic style.

Look for vintage detailing in a recliner, like tufting and exposed legs. The Avenue Six Curves Tufted Recliner offers both elements, allowing you to recline in true vintage flair.

Southwest Recliner

Two factors that make up the south-western style? Warm colours and leather! Mix the two features together and look for a recliner upholstered in sunny-hued leather.

The Distinction Leather Hi-Back Pub Recliner comes in deep red, mustard, and warm brown shades.

Its minimal stud detailing in the arms is ideal for southwest décor, as well as its worn-leather appearance.

Traditional

If antique styling is your passion, and you’ve got a classically designed living space, you’ve probably got decadent sofas and lovely, curved chaises with fine wood details.

You might have refused recliners before because of their lack of class, but there are traditional options out there, like the Berkline High Leg Recliner. With its curved wooden legs and dozens of upholstery choices, this recliner is sure to fit beautifully into your formal living room.

Tuscan Style

To bring the flavour of Italy into your home, a leather recliner with decorative studs, such as the Tandem Montecristo Leather Chair, gives a room a rich, bold look.

Tuscan style focuses on warm hues, texture, and comfort, which is what this recliner offers. Choose colours swatches like terra cotta and earthy greens and blues for the leather upholstery.

Recliners have definitely come a long way! Don’t be afraid to include one into your interior design plan…there are plenty of options out there that will fit your style!

Need some help find the perfect recliner,  just drop me a line!

Nicolette Interior Design Diva

Have you come home so tired after a day at work that you couldn’t even make it into bed for a nap? This was a fairly regular occurrence for me until I found a solution to deal with my exhaustive days. What’s the miracle cure you ask?

It’s recliners.  Yes, that’s all it took.  Let me show you how wonderfully comfortable, practical and stylish this recliner furniture can be.

Reclining Functional Forms

There are 3 general styles of recliners available on the market.  There is the 2 position recliner, the rocker-recliner and the push back recliner.  Each type has its own advantages.  

The 2 position recliner can only provide 2 motions, which are reclining all the way back and upright.  You can recline all the way back by releasing the footrest.  There are cheap recliner and high end recliners. The 2 position recliner tends to be on the budget savvy side and they are usually limited in color, style and fabric choice.   Recliners aren’t too happy flush straight up against the wall. They need room to move, so make sure your space will allow for the motion and versatility it can provide.

The rocker recliner is probably the most popular version you can buy.

It will allow you to adjust your seating position in many different degrees.  Rocker recliners can also make a little better use of space because you can place them a bit closer to the wall.  This is a good option if you have a smaller room.

The push-back recliner is also known as the flex-back recliner. This design style often costs a bit more usually costs a bit more and it’s available in leather.   A perfect upholstery option for a modern or contemporary space.

All you have to do is push yourself back and you’ll be reclining, which is the only part that actually reclines.  People frequently like to use ottomans with recliners because they add an extra element of comfort.

The sofa recliners push all the way back too and can sometimes be confused with push-back recliners because both are virtually the same.  The slightest difference can be found in the padding of the sofa recliner to add more soft support for sleeping.

The power-lift recliner moves forward at a tilted angle to help you get out comfortably. It’s a wonderful piece of furniture for anyone suffering from debilitating arthritis or some other similar painful disease.

Let’s be honest here, regular sofas just can’t do all these fun customizable things that recliners can and that’s exactly what makes them so popular.  But if you’re hard to please like me, you’ll want even more in a piece of furniture before you open up your wallet.  So, let’s check out a few of the other amazing features recliners have to offer.

Reclining Features

Reclining chairs are designed to swivel 360 degrees, gently rock, glide or have a combination of these motion oriented features to maximize your seating experience.

Top of the line recliner models can be found to massage, vibrate, provide heat or all of the above.  Some designs have clever magazine slots or other storage possibilities.

What’s the Right Recliner Fit For You

If you fit your recliner like a triangle going into a rectangle, you’ll feel extremely uncomfortable.  You have to fit your
reclining like a snug, cozy sweater. 

For the taller person, a larger recliner would suffice popular brands like Berkline Recliners and Catnapper Recliners specialize in oversized reclining chairs that are heavy duty for big and tall people..  But when you are sharing your recliner with other people, what do you do?  They all need to be seated in it as comfortably as you.

Shorter people have a particularly difficult time fitting their furniture.  Each
person needs to try the recliner out, but it is possible to find a fantastic recliner that taller and shorter people can share together. Also consider a seat that has enough width and depth for maximum comfort because that’s what recliners are all about.

Upholstery  Option

Reclining furniture can be upholstered all in leather or a combination of leather and vinyl. When it’s leather and vinyl, the seat, back and arms will have leather and vinyl will be used on the sides and exterior back.  All quality leather furniture is somewhat expensive, but they are sleek easy to incorporate in many decors. Microfiber is another equally durable upholstery option, which will also prove to be stain resistant.  Microfiber recliners are often seen as an affordable alternative to leather because of kids and all the mess they can leave behind with food and sticky little hands.

If the massage, vibrate, or 360 degrees swivel action doesn’t move you towards recliners, nothing will, but most people are willing to give them a try at this point.  Will you consider them? If not, I can think of one obstacle that might be manipulating you to remain in an anti-recliner position.  Do you believe recliners are made for men only?  If you do, it’s a fairly common misconception, but the truth is that recliners are not made for men and men alone.

Recliners are not gender specific at all, but totally unisex.  Okay I laugh in jest, but it’s true. Recliners are just as popular for women and here’s why.  Male or female, we all need the same kind of support and comfort from furniture that is also aesthetically pleasing and stylish.  And recliners achieve it all for everyone.

How To Clean Recliner Upholstery

1.  Remove all cushions that are removable

2.  Brush off lose dirt and use a vacuum with an upholstery brush to get in between all the tight corners, cracks, back, side and arms

3.  Vacuum all cushions

4.  Use a very mild soapy detergent to wipe all surfaces and don’t forget the cushions.  To make a mild soap, measure one-fourth cup detergent with some warm and blend it up in a blender or electric mixer.  It’s these gentle suds you make that will clean the furniture.

5.  Go over the surface with a dry cloth to pick up any excess moisture and allow to air dry

6.  Place all cushions back

7.  Allow furniture to completely dry overnight before use

Upholstery Recliner Cleaning Don’ts

1.  Never use bleach or whiteners

2.  Don’t scrub the life out of it, a gentle hand is best

3.  Don’t leave excess moisture on the furniture

4.  Too much detergent will make cleaning up pretty problematic

Cleaning Leather Recliner Upholstery

Follow the same steps listed above, but do a patch test some place underneath to ensure there is no color loss first.  You can also purchase leather cleaning solution if you don’t want to go the home-made route.

Popular Recliner Buying Questions and Answers

1.  What if it arrives and I hate it or it doesn’t look like the recliner in the picture? What’s the return policy like.

The majority of reputable recliner stores will return merchandise in this case.
Sometimes there is a standard restocking fee and minimal shipping fee to ship it back, if you purchased it off line.

2.  What does recliner furniture assembly mean?  How much assembly will I have to do?

When you purchase furniture off line, it will be delivered to you with acmanual.  Furniture assembly isn’t as challenging as it sounds. Just don’t rush into assembling it without reading the instructions first.  Usually furniture assembly is fairly minimal and easily doable with a partner.  It’s even easier when it’s a 2 person job.

3.   What if my recliner furniture arrives damaged?

Sometimes goods get damaged in the shipping process and usually there is an exchange or replacement  policy in place for these instances.

4.   What is the recliner padding and cushions stuffed with?

Many recliners are filled with quality foam which includes padding thoughout the body and cushions.

Now you can buy a recliner with confidence and look forward to relaxing in reclining style!

Nicolette Interior Design Diva