Updated on July 6th, 2023 at 09:42 pm
A good recliner will likely be in your house for the next decade, so it makes sense to do some research before you buy. The perfect recliner will be sturdy, comfortable, and look great in your living room. But this is just the beginning! What else should we know before we buy a new recliner?
When buying a recliner, it’s essential to know the space of your house. Measure the recliner at its fully extended position in terms of depth, height, and width. Compare the dimensions with the area you would like to put the recliner.
Does the room have a wall that the reclining sofa can bump into? There are other factors to consider.
How to choose a recliner
There are many recliners on the market, and when choosing one of them, you need to look at more factors than aesthetics. Consider size, shape, intended use, the fit of the chair, and quality of materials.
Let’s take a deeper look at these factors:
Intended use
While recliners are designed to offer you comfort while sitting down, most have features that fit certain functions. For instance, a regular reclining chair focuses on comfort and lumbar support and a massage recliner offers these features plus massage options. Some even have integrated heating pads.
Other recliners will let you sit up straight while playing your online games. You will also encounter recliners with side pockets for putting remote controls, built-in USB chargers for other electronics and smartphones. How do you intend to use your power recliner? This will help you select the best choice.
Comfort and longevity
When shopping for a recliner, you don’t want to buy something to serve you for a short time. Besides that, you also want something that will offer you long-term comfort. While high-quality recliners may be more costly, they can provide you with comfort for many years without thinking of replacing them.
It’s, therefore, crucial to choose a recliner made with high-quality materials and finish. On average, a new recliner can last for about ten years, even when used regularly.
Size
How much space does the room you intend to place your leather recliners have? As you consider the amount of space in your house for a recliner, you should make sure that the size of the recliner fits your shape. It would be great to sit on the recliner and find out if it suits your body. Consider choosing a recliner with various features that allows you to adjust it.
Consider a classic model
Sometimes you may feel overwhelmed by the numerous brands on the market, including La z boy and Southern Motion Furniture. If that’s the case, consider choosing a classic model.
Remember also to consider the interior design of your home. Does a recliner with leather upholstery fit the décor of your house? It would help if you also kept in mind that you will use it for a couple of years. Choosing a classic model will help you find all the necessary qualities of an excellent recliner.
How should a recliner fit your body?
Most consumers make one common mistake while shopping for recliners. They tend to think that a recliner could be too small for them just by looking at it. While your feet may extend past the footrest of the recliner, this does not mean that the chair is too small for you.
The chair fits you well, and it’s just that it was designed not to support your heels. Some recliners have been designed to offer your legs full support. You can determine whether a chair is too small by checking the chair’s height and width. Ensure that the back of the chair offers support on your head and that you fit comfortably between the arms.
The chair can be too small if it doesn’t offer support on your head, and the width feels tight. In a nutshell, these are the points to put in mind.
- Does the width of the chair fit you?
- Can you get in and out of the chair quickly when it’s closed?
- Does it provide support to your head?
How do you know what size recliner to buy?
Recliners come in different sizes and shapes to accommodate everyone. Choosing the right one can consume your time since you can’t judge the measure by a mere look at its appearance. There’s a noticeable difference when you decide to sit on them to test how comfortable they are. Do the following things to get an ultra-relaxing recliner.
Select a style, then measure your space
There are different styles of recliners with different sizes, including sofa recliners. Ensure that you choose the best type, followed by the size. You might think it’s wise to look for a huge recliner. However, have you considered finding out if it fits in your available space?
It’s essential to measure the sitting area to get a recliner that fits in well. Remember to sit on the recliner and test if you will like it before thinking about the space in your house.
Which size works best?
The height, width, and depth of a recliner are the elements that offer the most room to relax. To keep everything simple, you can use the width as the determining factor for measurement. Most recliners, oversized, have a width of 50 inches.
When you get a recliner that fits your needs both in terms of size and style, you will enjoy maximum comfort while using it.
Should your feet hang off a recliner?
As we mentioned earlier, when you are buying a recliner for the first time, you might think you are too tall for the recliner. Sometimes you may feel that you are about to pick the wrong size when you find out that your feet are hanging over the end of its footrest extender. Never panic if you notice this. It’s still okay for your feet to hang over the footrest of a recliner.
All these chairs have been designed for your feet to hang over their end. The best position is having your heels stretch beyond the footrest, which helps evenly distribute weight to a great portion of your legs and lets you sit comfortably. It is also crucial to set the recliner chair properly so that your legs can get maximum support.
Remember, a recliner lifts the footrest so that you can comfortably lie. There are two crucial foot positions to consider when using a recliner. When your footrest is extended and when it isn’t extended. Your feet should rest flat on the floor when you sit in the normal position, and the footrest is not extended.
What is the best type of recliner to buy?
When buying a recliner, there’s no doubt that you need to focus on design priorities like ergonomics and comfort. Most recliners have an oversize plush cushion and can recline in more than one position. Modern recliners have various features that support important pressure points in the shoulders, knees, head, lumbar area, and feet to eliminate joint and muscle pain.
What is considered an oversized recliner?
An oversized recliner chair, also known as a ‘chair-and-a-half, is smaller than a loveseat but bigger than a regular chair. The oversized recliner chair dimensions vary between manufacturers, but most are approximately 50” or wider.
Many oversized chairs are between 38 and 39” high, 51 and 55” wide, and 39-40” deep. Many of these recliner chairs weigh between 89 and 114 lbs, making them strong and sturdy enough to support overweight adults. Many can support over 250 lbs, but it takes some research to find one that supports a higher weight limit.
What is the best type of recliner?
Some recliners need to be controlled manually, while some have motorized controls. The best type of recliner is the one that fits your needs.
Are you a nursing mother or have trouble sleeping? You can opt for rocker recliners which have a motion feature that allows you to rock. You can get swivel recliners if you need a motion feature that permits you to spin and face your desired direction.
Do you have mobility issues? You should choose a lift recliner that will adjust you to a reclining or standing position.
Do you need a recliner that can massage you as you rest? Then the best recliners could be massage recliners. All you need is to press a button and enjoy your massage. These recliners are suitable for those experiencing joint or muscle aches.
If you love sleeping on your chair, consider choosing lay-flat recliners because they allow you to lie fully reclined.
We hope we could help you find a great recliner for your home. Please be sure to check back to Extra Large Living often for updates and reviews.