Is there such a thing as a stylish recliner? Ten years ago, my answer would have been, “Nope!”. Recliner shopping basically meant deciding between one huge, puffy leather La-Z-Boy recliner after another. But today, stylish recliners actually DO exist!
I’ve done the looking for you and rifled through all of the recliners out there to find the stylish few that I’d be happy to have in my own home. I also read hundreds of online reviews and got input from all of you about the recliners you have and love. With that info, I’m sharing my top picks for stylish recliners, including the best overall recliner, the best nursery recliner, the best budget recliner, and more. But first, a few recliner shopping tips… (post includes affiliate links; full disclosure statement available {here})
Tips For Recliner Shopping
There are several things to consider when shopping for a stylish recliner other than just the look of it including:
(1) The construction of the recliner. Most of what you’re paying for with higher-priced recliners is inside the recliner, where you can’t see it. Some features to consider are the construction of the frame (solid hardwood is highest quality, engineered hardwood/plywood is mid-grade, and mdf is lowest quality), the construction of joints (interlocking mortise-and-tenon joints are highest quality, use of dowels and corner blocking are also indicative of higher-end construction), and cushion support (sinuous spring suspension is generally considered higher quality than webbing).
Also look for top grain leather and performance fabrics for a recliner that will wear especially well. Performance fabrics such as Crypton are not only durable but also stain and moisture resistant. Instead of spills soaking into the fabric, they bead up on the surface and can be easily wiped away:
(2) Recliners can take up quite a bit of space, so it’s important to make sure you have enough open space behind your chair for it to fully recline. Most brands provide this measurement (clearance of the recliner from the wall for full recline), which can be as much as 24″ or more.
(3) There’s a large difference in price between manual (you recline by pulling a handle or pushing back on the chair) and powered recliners (they’re motorized and recline with a push of a button). Recliners that are powered make it smooth and easy to recline and typically have more adjustment options than manual recliners, such as separate control of the back and footrest. In some stylish recliners, the button controls are nearly hidden on the inside of the chair arm and may even include a USB port for phone charging, as seen in {this recliner and swivel glider}:
One negative about power recliners is that they’re typically quite a bit more expensive than manual recliners. Also, power recliners have to be close to a power source, so they don’t work well for chairs that are floated in a room.
(4) Decide what functions are must-haves for you before shopping for a stylish recliner. In addition to typical recliners, you can get ones that also swivel or glide (a great choice for a nursery). There’s also the option of a recliner with a lift to help get you out of the chair, which is helpful for those with decreased mobility.
And with that, let’s move on to my top picks…
Best Overall Stylish Recliner
It was pretty tough to choose a favorite with so many great options out there, but this recliner hit all the marks without being at the highest end of the price range.
The Tyler Recliner found {HERE} tops my list because I love the simple, clean-lined design of it, and there are a TON of customization options. In addition to being able to choose from over 35 leather and 100 fabric options, you can get the Tyler recliner with or without nailheads and choose a roll arm or square arm design. I prefer the square arm design without nailheads (and I love this striped upholstery option!) that you can find {here}:
You can also choose manual or power recline, and it can be ordered as a standard recliner, a swivel recliner, a swivel glider recliner, or a power lift recliner. It has quality construction and is one of the few recliners with down-wrapped cushions.
Best Recliners for a Nursery
Gone are the days of granny-looking gliders or rockers for nurseries. Now you can get a stylish recliner that also swivels and glides!
My favorite pick for a swivel glider recliner is the Flynn found {HERE}. Along with having a lot of fabric choices (including several performance fabric options), you can choose non-motorized or motorized recline, and even customize the base. I LOVE the option of the round wooden base that gives it a higher end look than the typical black metal one:
And the motorized version of this chair comes with a USB port for phone charging. I had several of you tell me that you have this in your nurseries and love it!
I also want to share my favorite budget-friendly swivel glider recliner option because there are so many things that you need to buy to prep a nursery that budgets can often get tight!
My budget-friendly pick for a nursery recliner is {this upholstered wingback swivel gliding recliner} which is an amazing price and gets great reviews! It comes in five neutral colors (including a boucle fabric option) and has a very classic style:
It requires some assembly (which is part of why it costs less), but reviewers state that putting it together is quite simple and straight-forward. I also had a few readers tell me that they have {this swivel glider recliner} and are happy with it.
These are some of the other swivel glider recliners that I think have great style:
1. Phoenix Swivel Glider Recliner | 2. Hemingway Upholstered Wingback Swivel Gliding Recliner | 3. Piper Upholstered Recliner & Swiver Glider | 4. Paxton Swivel Glider Recliner | 5. PB Comfort Square Arm Upholstered Power Swivel Glider Recliner | 6. Babyletto Kiwi Electronic Power Recliner and Swivel Glider | 7. Flynn Recliner & Swivel Glider | 8. PB Wingback Glider & Recliner
They don’t necessarily only belong in nurseries! They could be used in a living room, bedroom, or other space too. The only downside is that the circular base that’s needed for it to swivel and glide definitely gives away the “secret” of it not being a typical chair.
Favorite Stylish Budget Recliner
Recliners are way more expensive than regular upholstered chairs, so even though it’s still a lot of money, I used a cost of under $1000 as my cut-off for a “budget” stylish recliner.
My favorite stylish budget recliner is {this Aven recliner} which has excellent reviews, a simple style, and almost 150 fabric options:
I like the simple square arm design of this chair, but if you prefer a roll arm, check out {this upholstered recliner} for another budget-friendly option. And if you like a more modern vibe, check out {this mid-century Modern recliner}. Reviewers say it’s fairly firm but a great recliner for the price! {This Leni recliner} is another budget buy that I had several readers recommend to me, but fabric options are limited.
Best Money-Is-No-Object Recliner
If money were no object, {this Newbury Recliner} would be my personal pick for a recliner! It has a huge variety of fabric options (including performance fabrics, leathers, velvets, cottons, and linens) in the prettiest array of colors and patterns that I’ve seen offered in a recliner. And the welting around the cushion, arms, and back gives it a high-end look:
I also love that you can customize the leg color, especially since most recliners come with dark legs that don’t match the style of my home. It’s made in the USA with quality construction and comes with a down-wrapped seat cushion which I much prefer over other types of cushions.
Also check out {this Addison recliner} if you’re looking for a high-end recliner with lots of customization options.
Other Stylish Recliners
There are several other stylish recliners that didn’t make my best-of list but that still deserve a shout-out! This is a round-up of my favorite upholstered recliners:
Sources: 1. Champlain roll arm recliner | 2. Tyler square arm recliner | 3. Paxton recliner | 4. Rowland recliner | 5. Newbury recliner | 6. Aghancrossy recliner | 7. Aven recliner
and my favorite leather recliners:
Sources: 1. Champlain roll arm recliner | 2. Tyler square arm recliner | 3. Rhys mid-century recliner | 4. Wells leather swivel recliner | 5. Roland armless leather recliner | 6. Irving roll arm recliner
I also like {this Searsport leather recliner} in the camel color (another recommendation from you!) but it’s currently out of stock.
I’d love to hear from any of you who have a stylish recliner and what you think of it! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
XO,
