Recliners That Don’t Look Like Recliners

Furnishings today are much more tuned-in to today's interior design styles. A slew of modern glossy magazines, make-over programmes and online shopping opportunities means we can choose flat-packed Swedish designs, solid oak furniture, bold ‘statement’ items, and personalised fabrics to decorate our homes. In all of this sophistication and design elegance, the average recliner can look out of place, especially in a modern environment or an ultra-contemporary room.

However, despite the fact that the recliner is to some an interior design no-go, there’s no denying the sheer luxury and comfort they offer, especially if you’re not as mobile as you’d like to be.

How, then, do you pick the right recliner without compromising on your interior décor look? Here’s a few quick tips on picking recliners that don’t look like recliners!

The classic ‘Armchair’ look – go for leather

Most recliners have a very classic ‘armchair’ look, so may not fit in with modern, minimalist décor. However, you can overcome that hurdle by picking the right fabric or covers that will give you a more contemporary look. Top of the list has to be leather, especially black, butter-soft calfskin that acquires its own unique patina as time goes on. This is a choice that looks amazing from the outset, and just keeps getting better and better as the years go on.

Leather is also tough and quite stain resistant, and can be simply wiped clean.

A leather recliner will definitely work in a modern setting, such as a loft apartment or ultra-chic studio flat. Remember, though, that you will need to leave room around it so that it can recline fully.

Make it into a feature

Rather than worrying about how your recliner will fit into your décor, why not turn it into a key feature? Recliners are usually pretty large pieces of furniture, so they’re not exactly going to blend into the background! Instead of being timid with your design, be bold. Pick fabrics that work with your colour scheme, a shape that’s modern (such the fireside chair below) and elegant, and slap it right in the middle of the action!

Modern styles – 21st century elegance with classical comfort

Recliners come in a huge variety of designs and styles, so it’s well worth taking your time to pick the right one. They’re also a considerable financial investment, so buying a recliner probably won’t count as an ‘impulse’ purchase. Recliners are robust pieces of furniture, which means you need to consider not just what it will look like in your current environment, but how well it will fit into any updated décor plans in the future.

If you want a recliner that works with almost any interior design plan then choose a modern style recliner rather than a traditional one. Tapestry-style fabrics may be pretty, but they can look dated very quickly.

Manual or electric recliner?

A manual recliner uses a lever system to physically move the front and back of the chair to set positions. These are generally cheaper, but they can be very bulky and cumbersome. Electric recliners, however, bring a touch of technological elegance to your décor, and recline to the exact position you want at the touch of a button. You will need to position your chair so that it has direct access to a power source, and make sure there are no cables on show to spoil the look or to cause a potential trip hazard.

Tech plays a big part in modern interior design, so if you’ve got a surround-sound cinema audio and visual set-up, an electric recliner is the natural choice to fit in with your high-tech living space.

Electric recliners can also be extremely helpful for people with limited mobility, as the gentle motion makes getting into and out of the chair much easier. A loss of mobility doesn’t mean you have to compromise on style, though, so a riser recliner that looks like a simple armchair, but can also raise up to help you get to your feet without struggling, is the ideal choice.