Recliners have been around for a long time. In fact, Napoleon III was known to own the first-ever recliner in 1928. For years, homeowners have been trying to include reclining chairs in their homes on top of their sofas. That's because of the myriad of benefits recliners offer. And this 2021, brace yourself in welcoming more and more recliner models to cater to your comfort and lifestyle.

As with choosing the best sofa for your living room, choosing an excellent recliner will require three things: Comfort, style, and function. And in this article, we'll let you in on the top 10 recliner types in 2021. But before we delve into that, here's a mini buying guide for choosing the most suitable recliners fit for your home and lifestyle.

How to Choose the Perfect Recliner

Choosing the perfect sofa recliners in 2021 takes time and a lot of scrutinizing. Here are simple steps to find the perfect recliner for your home:

Measure your room size

Unless you're getting a wall-hugger motorized recliner (which we will discuss later in this article), you need to know the size of your room. A recliner chair is typically bulkier than all the other chairs in your room or living room. Hence, measuring the space where you're displaying the recliner is vital.

For instance, a loveseat recliner is bigger than a recliner with a single seating capacity. You need to have ample space on where to put it, or else, you'll risk sacrificing some of the other room furniture pieces.

If you're planning to buy a single-seater recliner, make sure there is a three-foot space between the wall and the recliner.

Assess your body size

Most recliners have ample seating capacity. But depending on the user's body size, this should be an essential factor when choosing recliners. If you're more on the heavy side, choosing a big man recliner might be recommended.


Choose the right recliner size

The next step is to measure the recliner when it's upright and fully reclined. This is to know how much space it will take when in use and not in use. Also, there are three different recliner sizes. And for maximum comfort, choose the best size for you and your home:

Anaheim Recliner In Barone Navy BlueLarge

These recliners can cater to relatively larger people. The width measures around 40.5" to 44". The depth is around 39", and the height is around 39.5" to 40.5."

When choosing this recliner size, space should be more than 50 inches in width.

Medium

Medium recliners are for a mid-sized body for comfort. These chairs are typically measured at 32" to 38" in height, 33.5" to 34" in depth, and 37.5" to 42" in height.

Ensure that your space is around 40 to 45 inches in width to experience comfort when walking around the entire area.

Small

This type of recliner measures 29.1" to 30" in width, 37" to 37.4" in depth, and 41" in height.

When choosing this type of recliner, your space should be at least 35 inches in width.

There is also an extra-large recliner that can cater to a body that is over 6'3" tall, and that is called a big man's recliner.

Overall, if you want comfort all the way, your body, lifestyle, and space should coincide with the recliner's size.


Choose the right materials

After choosing the size, you want to make sure that the material will also fit your lifestyle. For instance, if you have kids who frequently hang out in your living room, choose a material that will protect your recliner chair from sharp toys or objects.

More and more homeowners are choosing natural materials over synthetic ones for more comfort. Of course, some choose practicality over affordability and convenience as well. It's up to you to decide whatever fits your preference.

Here are the different materials for your sofa or recliner:

Leather

A leather recliner doesn't only look elegant, but they're also very durable, provided that it's not faux leather. They're also extremely easy to clean, making spills and stains a walk in the park. Plus, they come in different colors, choose a black leather recliner chair, white, velvet, or brown color for your recliner.

Unfortunately, having kids and pets might not be such a good idea as leather can be easily punctured. So you might want to think of other options.

Cotton

Cotton is another natural material that feels cool and soft to your body. Also, it's a breathable material, so you'll feel light as it absorbs the sweat from your body. Plus, it's hypoallergenic too.

However, it's not as durable. Moreover, cotton is also prone to wrinkling.

Linen

Like cotton, linen is also another material that's breathable and hypoallergenic. Unfortunately, it's also not as durable and is prone to wrinkling. Moreover, like cotton, it's also not too resistant to spills and stains.

Microfiber

A microfiber recliner chair is easy to clean and holds stains well. However, for stains that aren't noticed for a long time, it might be a hassle to clean them. Furthermore, a microfiber recliner chair has very versatile colors that make it suitable for any home design.

The drawback of using this recliner chair type is its ability to stick to small particles like dust and hair.

Chenille

Whether you have a Barcalounger recliner chair or pedestal recliner, choosing chenille for the material means you'll feel softness even when you read a book for hours on end. It's also versatile, as it can fit any home decor.

The downside of using chenille is it's prone to color fading, especially when exposed to sunlight. Plus, this type of recliner chair is also not very easy to clean when it comes to spills and stains.

Faux Leather

Whether you're buying Franklin Furniture recliner or a Furniture of America recliner, leather is one of the first options by homeowners. And while a pure leather recliner is recommended, leather is a very expensive material for upholstery. And this is where a faux leather recliner chair comes into play.

You'll still get the same visually appealing recliner chair, but not the durability and optimum comfort in pure leather.

Function and Style

The last and most crucial step in choosing the perfect recliner chair for your home is knowing what you want in terms of function and style. These two elements will make or break comfort when lounging on your recliner.

Functionality paves the way for convenience. So choose a recliner that has advanced technology and features such as a USB port, cup holder, swivel feature, high-tech reclining mechanism, plush cushions for your lower back, and more.

As for style, you can choose from a myriad of options. Whether you choose Parker living recliners, a Catnapper recliner, or a Barcalounger rocker recliner, the style matters with regard to aesthetics, design cohesion, and personal taste. In the next section, we'll let you in on the top 10 recliner designs for 2021.

Top 10 Recliner Chair Types in 2021

You no longer have to search far and wide when looking for the top recliner types in the market. More often than not, your favorite appliance store sells every style you can dream of. Here are the top 10 most common recliner designs:

Adrian Swivel Recliner In Walnut Brown1. Power recliner

Power recliners are the best solution for homeowners or users with movement disabilities. Unlike a traditional unpowered recliner which requires effort to recline, power recliners have at least three buttons, usually located on the armrest. These buttons control the recliner's back, footrest, and headrest, like the Emerald Home Recliners.

This type of recliner also needs to be near an outlet if it's not battery-operated. Compared to its manual counterpart, this type of recliner might have a shorter lifespan because it's motorized. However, the comfort of using a motorized recliner is worth it.

2. Manual recliner

Manual recliners are also built for comfort. However, this might not be the best option when you have disabilities or physical strength restrictions. The only difference between a motorized and nonmotorized recliner is that with the latter, you have to exert effort to push back to recline the chair while pushing or pulling a lever or wheel.

This recliner type is relatively cheaper than its motorized counterpart. Even though you choose leather Italia recliners, a nonmotorized recliner will still come out cheaper. Another advantage of choosing this chair type is that it's less bulky and more convenient to move around the house.

3. Riser recliner

This type is suitable for old people or those who have arthritis or weak bones. The riser or lift recliner involves a mechanism that "lifts" the seat into an upright position. In turn, this will make it easier for people with weak bones to stand from the chair's seat without having to exert too much effort.

4. Wall hugger recliner

A wall hugger recliner can either be powered or manual. With an electric wall hugger, users can push a button, and the forward-gliding mechanism pushes the chair forward while reclining the backrest.

In a manual wall hugger recliner, you have to exert effort to put pressure on the backrest to recline. Overall, this recliner type is a space-saver as you can put these chairs close to a wall without hindering their functionality.

Fallon Swivel Glider Recliner In Gable Dove5. Rocker recliner

Just like a traditional rocking chair, a rocker recliner does just that -- rock back and forth and lull you to sleep. Rocker recliners can either be manual or powered. But one main difference with all the other recliners on this list is that it has a rocking motion.

It works by reclining on arched tracks that let the chair rock back and forth. For those with sleeping issues, the rocking motion can be relaxing and helps them catch some Z's.

6. Glider recliner

Similar to a rocker recliner, a glider recliner also allows a rocking motion. But the difference lies in the way it rocks back and forth. Instead of arched tracks, it rocks via a linear pattern supported by a stable metal base. Some glider recliners also swivel and have additional features.

7. Swivel recliner

If you want a chair you can use in your home office, the swivel recliner is a perfect choice. Aside from offering excellent lumbar support and deep reclining mechanisms, this recliner can swivel to the left, right, and 360 degrees to make it accessible to grab the things you need.

8. Push-back recliner

Just like manual recliners, push-back recliners would need users to exert pressure on the backrest to recline -- without the use of a button or lever. That means you'd need to exert effort to recline the chair. For those with back issues or mobility problems, this mechanism might not be the best option.

However, those looking for a compact chair might find a push-back recliner an excellent addition to their small space.

9. Massage recliner

Massage chair recliners are your modern-day massage therapists. These chairs mimic the hands of therapists by using massage airbags and rollers to massage the neck, back, legs, feet, hands, and arms.

Most massage recliners have buttons that adjust the intensity and style of the massage. If you want to reduce blood pressure, increase metabolism, and enjoy deep relaxation, getting a massage chair is a perfect choice.

10. Specialized recliners

Homeowners can also choose specialized recliners for their special needs. For instance, if you're a person over 6'3," getting a big man recliner is your best bet.

If you want recliners for kids, you have the option to get miniature ones as well. Also, there are loveseat recliners that are able to accommodate two people instead of the usual one-person seating capacity. Better yet, get an Orthopedic recliner if you have health issues, as these chairs are constructed with memory foam and other features such as heating, massaging, or zero gravity positioning.

Wrap Up

Choosing the right recliner that fits your space and lifestyle doesn't have to be a daunting task. All you have to do is determine what it is you want and what activities you frequently do while lounging on the chair. Also, make sure you consider any health, bone, and back issues that might interfere with enjoying your reclining chair.