Building a home entertainment setup with a throne recliner chair is the best way to enjoy your favorite movies, TV shows, and video games. They offer the ultimate form of relaxation and comfort that your body so desperately needs. But did you know not all recliners are created equal? There are so many types of recliner chairs that you’ll be overwhelmed with the options in front of you.
In the world of recliners, there are simple manual (push-back) recliners, power recliners, rocking recliners, wall-hugger recliners, and so many more — so how do you choose the perfect chair for you? Knowing the difference between these recliners is the best way to understand what you really want.
Apart from enjoying movies on them, recliners can also be used for leisure and medical purposes. For example, the Furniwell Massage Recliner Chair, which is from one of the best recliner brands for affordability, has a built-in massager that helps you relieve stress after a long day of work, and the MCombo Power Lift Recliner Chair has a lifting mechanism that helps elderly people to get up from the chair easily. You can also get large and small recliner chairs that you can choose based on your physical preferences.
In this article, we’ll talk about some of the most popular types of recliner chairs with reasons why they are great or not to help you understand them better.
Types of Recliner Chairs
Here are some of the most common and popular reclining chairs that you need to know about:
Manual Recliners
These types are the most common, simple, and affordable reclining chairs. The backrest is operated using a lever or pull-handle mechanism that the person sitting can easily use to push it as far as the chair allows. They are generally easy to use and do not have any special requirements.
- Why They’re Great:
- They are quite easy to use
- The price is more affordable
- They have low operating costs
- They do not require any electrical supply
- Why They’re Not:
- The reclining angles are much lesser
- They are low on features like built-in massagers
Massage Recliners
These recliners have built-in massagers, allowing users to enjoy therapeutic massages while relaxing. They have motors inside that generate the massaging motion that applies pressure on the muscles, helping in releasing muscle tension and improving blood circulation.
- Why They’re Great:
- They have good reclining angles
- They offer therapeutic massaging benefits
- Some of them even have built-in heaters
- They are one of the most comfortable recliner types
- Why They’re Not:
- They are very expensive
- They are quite bulky and heavy
- They are very difficult to maintain
- They need a power supply to function
Power Recliners
Power recliner chairs use the built-in electric motor to control features such as the backrest and footrest adjustments. The user can activate it using the buttons that are on the side of the recliner or on the provided remote control. So, if you’re not comfortable pushing the backrest manually, you can buy these types of recliners.
- Why They’re Great:
- Does not require any manual push
- They have wider push-back angles
- They can be controlled with the push of a button
- Why They’re Not:
- They are pricier than manual recliners
- They can be heavy, making it difficult to move
- They require a constant electricity supply to operate them, making them fixed in a particular spot
Rocker Recliners
These are recliners that rock back and forth just like a rocking chair. These provide users with a calming motion that helps them relax much faster than other types. You can even take naps on it or use it to rock babies to sleep with them on your lap/chest.
- Why They’re Great:
- Some of them have built-in massagers
- They have a gentle relaxing motion, ideal for everyday relaxation
- They can be used as rocking chairs for kids to help them sleep
- Why They’re Not:
- They need an electrical supply to operate
- They might not have the best reclining angles
- They are quite bulky, which makes them difficult to transport
Lift Recliners
Lift Recliners are mostly made for elderly people or people with medical issues. It has a built-in mechanism that lifts the seat, helping the person to get up with ease. Some high-end recliner brands like MCombo Dual Motor Power Lift Recliner Chair even have built-in massagers and heaters, making them more comfortable and ideal.
- Why They’re Great:
- They have swiveling options
- They have steeper reclining angles
- They are extremely beneficial for older people
- They tend to have more cushions for better comfort
- They are also beneficial for people with mobility issues
- Why They’re Not:
- They are really heavy
- They need a constant power supply
- They are expensive and hard to maintain
- They are quite noisy while using the massager or the lift feature
Loveseat Recliners
These recliners are designed for two people to relax and enjoy their leisure time together. Despite being attached, they have two separate seats with all the same functionalities and features. This is a great option for couples who love to binge-watch movies together.
- Why They’re Great:
- They add an aesthetic appeal to the room
- They allow you and your partner to enjoy TV together
- They are more space-saving than buying two individual recliners
- Why They’re Not:
- They don’t come cheap
- Limits your room customization capabilities
- They tend to be the most difficult to maintain
Zero Gravity Recliners
They are designed to raise your feet and recline the body to keep them all at the same level — it’s like laying flat on your back. This helps in even weight distribution to relieve the pressure from your body and creates a weightless feeling.
- Why They’re Great:
- They are affordable
- They are extremely comfortable
- They help in improving posture
- They also relieve your body from stress
- Why They’re Not:
- They don’t offer a lot of reclining features
- They might not be suitable for big people
Wall-Hugger Recliners
Unlike other traditional recliners, these recliners save a lot of space. They allow the user to fully recline the backrest even when the recliner is set very close to the wall. So, if you have a shortage of space but don’t like to compromise on comfort, then this is a great choice for you.
- Why They’re Great:
- Saves a lot of space
- They don’t comprise on comfortability
- They add an aesthetic appeal to the room
- Why They’re Not:
- They’re not price-friendly
- They have limited reclining capability
Features to Consider When Choosing a Recliner
Now that you’ve learned about the popular recliner types, here are some points that you need to keep in mind while buying one.
Space
Always make sure you have enough space for the type of recliner you’re buying. Be it a single seat or a loveseat recliner, check the dimensions of the recliner and measure the room to ensure you can place the one you’re ordering.
Features
Read through the product descriptions thoroughly on Amazon or any other website where you’re going to buy the recliner to check if it has all the features you need. These features may include a built-in massager, headrest, footrest, heater, or any other special features that’ll help you relax more.
Cost
This is a no-brainer. It is recommended to always pick the recliner that matches your budget and not spend too much on something whose features you won’t even utilize.
Material
There are different types of recliner surfaces like leather, fabric, and microfiber. Depending on your preference or comfort, you can choose which one to buy.
There you go, that was pretty much all the basic information you’d need to buy a recliner for your house. Recliners are becoming common household furniture as they carry many aesthetic and healthy benefits for everyone in the family. So, if you’ve decided to bring one into your home, then it would be one of the best choices you can make.
If you need a recliner all for yourself and have a good budget, you can buy something like Airadlis Home Theater Seating, which is an electric recliner with a footrest, cup holder, and foot tray. If you need something for you and your partner, then the CANMOV Faux Leather Home Theater Seating would be the perfect choice for both of you. There are still hundreds of recliners that you can find online, but if you want to know what our favorites are, you can check them out here.
