Recliners are practical seating options that allow you to sit comfortably and put your feet up while taking up less space than a sofa or sectional. Through the back, lumbar, head, and neck cushions, they can also provide more targeted body support.
Whether you use them on a daily or occasional basis, the best recliners should provide support for your body and style for your home. If the word “recliner” conjures up images of overstuffed chairs demanding a prominent place in living rooms and dens, you might be surprised by the variety of features and styles available today.
Best Recliners to Buy in 2023
A recliner chair is an obvious choice for a comfortable seat in which to kick back and relax. You might think that all recliners will be an eyesore in your home, but many of today’s models look like regular armchairs, proving that style does not have to be sacrificed for comfort.
A great recliner allows you to relax without detracting from the design of your living space. We researched the market for the best recliners in terms of comfort, style, materials, and additional features.
Recliners have come a long way since your grandfather sat in one. You don’t have to sacrifice style for comfort these days, as there are many appealing options on the market that will change the way you think about the chair. Some look like regular armchairs and simply recline, while others automatically recline and have bases that propel you forward. Read on for our top recommendations and essentials to consider before shopping, whether you’re looking for a low-cost addition to your space or considering a leather-upholstered recliner.
Read on to learn more about the best recliners to buy for your living room in 2023:
Pottery Barn Grayson Upholstered Recliner
Key Features
- Foam Frame Padding
- Roll Arm
- Features Piped Legs
- Removable Legs
Overview
Sinking into a traditional recliner and letting the chair envelop you as you kick your feet up is extremely relaxing. Unfortunately, many traditional recliners were designed solely for the comfort and not for style. But, thankfully, times have changed, as evidenced by the Pottery Barn Grayson Upholstered Recliner. This recliner is extraordinarily comfortable and neatly tailored, looking more like a classic armchair than a recliner, thanks to its ultra-plush cushions.
We like how this recliner can be upholstered in one of 34 different fabrics, ranging from stone-colored heathered chenille to navy performance velvet. This chair’s wide range of stylistic fabric options makes it extremely versatile. It will look equally at home in a light and airy bedroom as it will in a dark, mid-century-style office. Just keep in mind that when your recliner is in the upright position, it should have at least 16.5 inches of clearance between it and anything behind it (such as a wall). Because when you pull the manual lever, you tilt quite far back. A full recline requires 21 inches of clearance.
Design Within Reach Flight Recliner
Key Features
- Manual Mechanism
- Fabric or Leather Material
- Standard Recliner
- Stylish Recliner
Overview
There’s a reason why this chair is called the Flight Recliner. Its designers, Jeffrey Bernett and Nicholas Dodziuk, were inspired by their experience designing in-flight seating for private jets. As a result, this streamlined chair does not resemble a recliner. Even though it lacks the obvious plushness of traditional recliners, this chair is ergonomic and comfortable to sit in. It also has a patented manual reclining mechanism, which means there are no levers or handles to pull to recline or return to the upright position. Simply push back gently to adjust the recliner to your preferred angle.
Aside from its ultra-modern silhouette, this reclining chair is available in over 100 different colors and materials, including boucle, velvet, and leather. Customers can also select from four different base finishes in two styles: wooden legs for a more traditional look and metal rails for a more modern appearance. The wooden legs are available in oak and walnut, and the metal rails are available in black and stainless steel.
Homall PU Leather Recliner Chair
Key Features
- Manual Mechanism
- Faux Leather Material
- Standard Recliner
- Affordable
Overview
If you want the comfort of a recliner without the price tag, Homall has an affordable option for you. It reclines manually to a whopping 180 degrees for a completely flat experience. So, if you’re the type of person who falls asleep in a recliner, this could be one of your favorite options—who needs to transition into bed when you can nap in a chair this comfortably?
This low-cost recliner locks at a midpoint between its upright and flat-bed positions for more casual use, such as watching a movie or playing a game. The chair is upholstered in polyurethane faux leather and is available in six colors, including several neutrals and a fire-engine red. One thing to keep in mind: the recliner is narrow and only designed to hold 265 pounds, so that it may be uncomfortable for people with larger frames.
Christopher Knight Home Alouette Rocking Recliner
Key Features
- Manual Mechanism
- Polyester Material
- Rocker Type
- Two-in-One Rocking Chair and Recliner
Overview
If you enjoy the rhythmic motion of a rocking chair, this is the recliner for you. The Christopher Knight Home Alouette Rocking Recliner, as the name implies, also functions as a rocking chair, but it’s far plusher than the austere wood one you might be picturing. Because this is a slim recliner, some sitters may find it too narrow. However, if you’re short on space, the smaller footprint isn’t such a bad thing—just keep in mind that it requires 24 inches of clearance behind it to fully recline.
The rocker recliner has three reclining positions: upright at 112 degrees, a moderate recline at 115 degrees, and a deeper recline at 143 degrees. Its upholstery is available in two colors, blue and black. Although this chair has two reclined settings, it only rocks when it is in the upright position. Once it is delivered to your house, assembly takes about 30 minutes.
Arhaus Alex Leather Recliner
Key Features
- Leather Material
- Standard Type
- Manual Mechanism
- Durable
Overview
Recliners typically don’t conjure images of exquisite craftsmanship, but this Arhaus model is unlike any other. That’s because the leather is manufactured by artists using extremely high-quality skins, while the frame is made by craftspeople using wood that has been certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. The form is particularly elegant because of the silhouette, which was influenced by old Parisian clubs. There are a few neutral colors that are already produced and in stock for this recliner. However, if you’re ready to spend more, you may have this chair specially upholstered in a variety of leather colors, such as the caramel-hued Anilina Cinnamon and the almost-black Bronco Iron. (The chair can be modified to incorporate a swivel base.)
In order to give the chair optimum flexibility and support for whoever sits on the throne, the recliner’s seat is supported by an eight-way, hand-tied support system, which is an artisan-made system of springs that supports the chair. Even if you never see the springs themselves, sitting on them will still be beneficial to your health.
DaVinci Piper Upholstered Recliner and Swivel Glider
Key Features
- Polyester Material
- Glider and Swivel
- Manual Mechanism
- Multi-Directional Movement
Overview
As you might have guessed, a glider recliner glides back and forth in a motion somewhat like rocking but entirely horizontal rather than slanted. This DaVinci recliner chair also swivels, allowing it to move 360 degrees in addition to forward and backward motion. Once you pull out the footrest and lay back, this recliner doesn’t move like most rockers, gliders, and swivels do. Anyone can benefit from the comfort of this type of chair, but new parents who require some motion to get their baby to sleep are especially fond of it.
The chair with polyester upholstery has a more conventional shape that resembles an overstuffed armchair. However, its cushioning is rather firm and less mushy, making it better for sitters who need more support and less comfortable for those who prefer to sink in. The recliner is available in four neutral hues: blue, cream, light grey, and dark grey.
West Elm Harris Power Recliner
Key Features
- Various Upholstery Options Available
- Standard Type
- Power Mechanism
- Modern Looking Recliner
Overview
The West Elm Harris Power Recliner checks all the boxes for a more stylish motorized recliner. It’s a bigger chair, but it has crisp, angular lines all around, giving it a very contemporary appearance. This chair, like the majority of modern motorized recliners, contains a USB port so you can charge your phone while sitting down.
Performance linen and chenille tweed are only two of the many colors and materials available for the recliner’s upholstery. Additionally, all the fabrics are available in a wide range of colors, so you’re sure to find one (or more!) that matches the rest of your decor. Additionally, a leather version is accessible. Just keep in mind that because this motorized recliner is created to order, it will take much longer to arrive than some of the other alternatives on our list. You should pick another item from our list that is in stock and available to ship if you require a recliner right away.
ProLounger Tan Linen Power Wall Hugger Reclining Chair
Key Features
- Polyester Material
- Wall Hugger Type
- Power Mechanism
- Smart Recliner
Overview
One of the more difficult aspects of recliners is ensuring that there is enough clearance behind them to recline fully. And if you don’t have much space in a room, things become more difficult. Fortunately, “wall hugger” recliners exist, such as this one from ProLounger. Because it sits on a track, this chair can be placed close to a wall because the seat moves forward as it reclines, saving space. Having said that, you should double-check your front clearance.
This is a powered wall hugger recliner that requires only four inches of clearance behind it. It also has a USB port for charging electronic devices. The chair is upholstered in stain-resistant polyester with a linen-like texture. The only drawback is that the color options are somewhat limited.
Corrigan Studio Gesine Wide Manual Standard Recliner
Key Features
- Polyester Material
- Manual Recliner
- Standard Type
- Adjustable
Overview
If you find the footrests on recliners to be too short for your legs, consider purchasing a recliner that includes an ottoman, such as this one from Corrigan Studio. While you cannot adjust the ottoman’s height, you can adjust its distance from the chair, allowing you to customize your seating arrangement exactly how you want it.
Although the cushion on the seat and ottoman of this model is extra-plush and 7.1 inches thick, it has a small frame and a contemporary shape. For naps, the back can be adjusted to three distinct positions: upright, slightly reclined, and lie-flat. The chair requires approximately two feet of clearance behind it due to its full recline position. (Remember that in order for the chair to maintain the full-recline posture, a small ledge protrudes from the back.) With its light wood legs and grey polyester twill upholstery, the recliner has a slight Scandinavian flair.
Red Barrel Studio Sanner Recliner
Key Features
- Polyester Blend Material
- Standard Type
- Manual Mechanism
- Offers Plenty of Space
Overview
This large recliner by Red Barrel Studio provides all the space you require if you want to spread out to enjoy a movie or take sleep. You will have plenty of room to spread out because it is a huge 55 inches broad and includes a 20-inch footrest. This recliner is not particularly elegant and streamlined due to its strong design, so be sure you have the space to accommodate it. This piece can pass for a wall hugger recliner since, despite its size, it only needs three inches of space behind it to recline.
The large recliner is extremely padded for increased comfort and covered in a polyester blend for the upholstery. Although there is only one color option, grey, the nailhead trim on the circular arms makes up for this.
Final Words
Here, we have reviewed the best recliners you can buy in 2023. We have researched and reviewed the best options available in the market. We understand your need to find the best products for your needs, which is why we have spent our time researching for the best recliners you can buy right away. We hope that you will be able to buy the best one for your budget and needs after reading this blog. Keep reading our blogs to learn more about the best home improvement tips and reviews about the best products for your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Choose the Best Recliner?
To find the best recliner for your home, decide whether you want a manual or powered model—just keep in mind that power recliners must be placed near an electrical outlet. You’ll also want to choose a model that complements the overall aesthetic of your home, whether it’s classic, modern, rustic or something in between. It’s also a good idea to go to furniture showrooms and try out recliners in person if possible, as this will give you an idea of what kind of cushion fill and upholstery material you prefer.
How Do You Clean an Upholstered Recliner?
Use an upholstery attachment to vacuum dust and dirt from your recliner for routine cleaning. To remove stains and keep the fabric looking new, use a stain remover, steam cleaner, or upholstery cleaner.
Should Your Feet Hang Off a Recliner?
Surprisingly, yes. When you are reclined, your feet should ideally just dangle off the edge of the footrest. This helps distribute weight evenly on your legs, keeping you comfortable while you relax. Resting your heels on the recliner will put pressure on your heels, causing tightness and discomfort.