Recliners have come a long way since they were first introduced to the market almost a century ago.
Traditionally, recliners have been most popular with men – they were widely known as a man’s favourite chair in which he could watch his sports, play computer games or just sit back, put his feet up and relax.
Although incredibly comfortable, the recliners of yesteryear were known for being bulky, and generally holding little aesthetic appeal.
David Crane, Vice President of International Sales for La-Z-Boy, says the modern recliner should not only be comfortable, but it should also offer supreme quality, a lot of added extras and sleek good looks to boot.
He offers some expert advice for consumers on what to look for when choosing a recliner:
Ideal for the whole family
Globally, recliners are fast becoming more popular than stationery seating, and it is easy to understand why – they can offer the most comfortable spot in which to unwind and relax in your home, making them a firm favourite with the whole family, says Crane.
Their supreme comfort, he says, makes them the optimum choice for home theatres, gaming rooms, TV rooms or even reading nooks.
Faux leather is not nearly as durable or comfortable as genuine leather and as such, it should be avoided at all costs, he says, while genuine leather on the other hand, should always be identified with a genuine leather symbol or the term ‘Genuine Leather’.
However, he says, they also offer great neck and lumbar support, which makes them suitable for those who suffer from severe back or neck pain, or for breastfeeding mothers.
"They are easy to operate and get in and out of, which makes them a great choice for the elderly or the frail and unwell.”
Crane says an interesting growth point in the popularity of recliners has come from the women’s market segment.
Traditionally, he says, recliners have been most popular with men – they were widely known as a man’s favourite chair in which he could watch his sports, play computer games or just sit back, put his feet up and relax.
However, as recliners have evolved and become more aesthetically appealing, so has their popularity with women, he says.
More and more women are opting to invest in a recliner of their own – they are comfortable, offer great wellness benefits, and these days, they don’t need to clash with the interior décor, he says.
La-Z-Boy’s Norman or Houston models for example, offer sleek, contemporary good looks that would complement even the best-dressed contemporary homes, he explains.
Comfort built to last
It is essential to sit in a recliner and give it a ‘test drive’ before making any purchase decisions, Crane says to see how the recliner fits the contours of your body and assess how comfortable it is.
Although there are plenty of recliners currently available on the market, not all brands have the same quality.
This often makes it difficult to make an optimum choice, especially if you don’t know what to look for.
Crane says quality is the most important aspect to consider when investing in a recliner.
It is always best to choose a reputable brand that is well known for producing good quality furniture, he says.
This is especially true for recliners - due to their reclining movement, they have to be constructed in a manner that is specifically designed to withstand the stresses and strains this movement puts on the construction of the chair, he explains.
As such, it is highly advisable to invest in a brand that specialises in recliner chairs, and doesn’t just offer them as an added sideline, he says.
To judge whether a recliner is of a high quality, Crane suggests that you check for the following:
“The patented La-Z-Boy mechanism for example, provides the smoothest reclining motion and allows you to adjust the reclining tensions so that you can customise the amount of effort needed to operate the recliner, based on your individual body type.”
1. The recliner should have resilient cushioning made from high-quality polyurethane foam for long life.
2. The upholstery should be durable – every fabric used to upholster any recliner should be wear-tested.
3. Test the footrest several times to make sure it is easy to manoeuvre.
4. The mechanism should be easy to access and operate.
5. Listen for squeaks that may indicate loose parts or improper alignment.
6. Focus on the frame construction by scoping the underside of the chair and look out for heavy-duty screws, not small ones or even worse, plastic ones.
7. The frame construction should be made from hard wood.
Unlike the frames of other recliners that are simply screwed together, the superior design of La-Z-Boy’s patented four-sided unibody frame actually helps absorb the stress on the reclining mechanism for smoother operation and longer life.
Tried and tested
It is essential to sit in a recliner and give it a ‘test drive’ before making any purchase decisions, Crane says to see how the recliner fits the contours of your body and assess how comfortable it is.
"Any recliner should be easy to operate and smooth in movement and should offer various sitting positions for optimum comfort and utilisation."
The back and footrest should recline individually to provide different comfort positions, he says.
"You should be able to move from slightly reclined to a full layout position with the footrest raised to elevate your legs and feet for improved circulation."
For added safety, Crane says, the footrest should lock in different positions and any recliner you choose should suit your individual body shape, height and weight.
The level of comfort of any recliner is directly associated to the user’s measurements and weight, he explains.
“The patented La-Z-Boy mechanism for example, provides the smoothest reclining motion and allows you to adjust the reclining tensions so that you can customise the amount of effort needed to operate the recliner, based on your individual body type.”
Recliners should also have an easy-action latch release that is set flush in the side panels of the recliner, as well as adjustable footrest tension for customised comfort, he says.
"Make sure you measure the space you have in your home for the recliner before you go shopping, and take your measuring tape with you."
Some recliners are huge, while others are quite compact, he says, as such, when testing out your recliner, be sure to measure how much space you will need when the recliner is fully extended.
“The designers at La-Z-Boy understand that residential space is often at a premium, and as such, they have engineered the La-Z-Boy recliners in such a way that they can be positioned only centimetres from a wall and still be fully reclined for space-saving convenience.”
Sitting pretty
Crane says since your recliner will be used daily, it is highly advisable to choose genuine leather upholstery.
Leather recliners are beautiful and durable pieces of furniture – they offer superior comfort, conformability, longevity and cleanability when compared to their fabric-upholstered counterparts.
When investing in a recliner, make sure it is upholstered in genuine leather by examining the furniture tag, says Crane.
See if the tag identifies the materials used in the manufacturing of the sofa, he says - faux leather can be identified in a number of different ways, including pleather, leatherette, naugahyde, corfam, ultrasued, fabrikoid, permeable leather, artificial leather or leather cloth.
Faux leather is not nearly as durable or comfortable as genuine leather and as such, it should be avoided at all costs, he says, while genuine leather on the other hand, should always be identified with a genuine leather symbol or the term ‘Genuine Leather’.
Added extras
Top-end recliners should offer a range of added features to customise the experience. For example, recliners should offer the following special features:
1. If you want a new handle on comfort, try the sleek Arc handle design with a brushed metal finish.
2. For those very tall individuals, you can increase the height of the recliner by making use of the extra tall base.
3. For an easier reach of the reclining mechanism, you need an elongated handle.
4. If you like doing 360’s, then a swivel base is a great option for a new spin on comfort.
5. For those with long limbs, opt for a recliner that offers extra long legrests for added customisation.
6. Are you left-handed? If so, you can opt to purchase a recliner with the recliner handle conveniently positioned on the left-hand side.
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