Article: How to Sit-Test a Power Recliner Before You Buy
How to Sit-Test a Power Recliner Before You Buy
A power recliner can look perfect in a photo and still be wrong for you. The only way to know is to sit in it, and not just for ten seconds. Here's a simple sit-test to run on our Towson showroom floor, so you can tell which chair you'll still love a few years from now.
Before you come in
Bring the people who will use it. A chair that fits someone tall can leave a shorter person with their feet dangling. If two people will share the chair, both should sit in it.
Bring a few measurements. Measure the spot where the chair will go, and your doorways and hallway on the way there. Our guide on how to measure for furniture delivery walks you through it. Also note how far the spot is from the wall and where the nearest outlet is, since a power recliner plugs in.
Wear what you'd wear on the couch. Jeans and sneakers are fine. Give yourself 10 to 15 minutes in each chair you're serious about.
Step 1: Sit up straight, like you're watching TV
Start with the chair fully upright. Most of your time in a recliner is spent sitting up, not lying back, so this matters most.
- Feet: Can you rest both feet flat on the floor?
- Seat depth: With your back against the cushion, is there a little space between the seat edge and the back of your knees? Too deep and you'll slouch; too shallow and your legs won't feel supported.
- Arms: Do your elbows rest naturally on the arms, without your shoulders hunching up?
- Head: Does your head land on the headrest, or hit above or below it?
Step 2: Recline all the way, then come back up
Run the chair from upright to fully reclined and back again, a couple of times. Pay attention to:
- Smoothness: Does the motion feel steady, or jerky?
- Stopping points: Stop partway through. Can you settle into the in-between positions you'd actually use for reading or a nap?
- Your lower back: When you're laid back, is there a gap behind your lower back, or does the chair stay in contact with you?
- Your legs: Does the footrest support your calves and heels, or do your feet hang off the end?
Step 3: Try every button on the remote
Power recliners differ the most in what the controls do. Some only recline. Others add separate controls for the headrest and lumbar support, and some go further. The Parker House Penfield, for example, has remote controls for headrest, lumbar, massage and heat.
- Press every button. Do you understand what each one does without being told?
- Try it without looking. You'll often be using it in a dark room during a movie.
- Notice where the remote or buttons sit. Can you reach them easily from where your hand naturally rests?
Step 4: Practice getting out
This step gets skipped the most. Get up from fully upright and from partway reclined. If anyone in your home has bad knees, a bad back, or just likes to nap in the chair, how easy it is to get out matters as much as how comfortable it is to sit in.
Step 5: Feel the cover, not just the cushion
Run your hand over the fabric or leather and think about who will be sitting on it. Pets, kids and everyday wear all play a part. If you're on the fence, our guides on leather vs. fabric and the best sofa for families with kids and pets cover the tradeoffs. Ask whether the chair comes in other covers, too, since the one on the floor may not be the only option.
Thinking about a reclining sectional instead?
If you want a whole family to stretch out, a power reclining sectional may make more sense than separate chairs. Sit-test it the same way, with a few extra checks:
- Sit in each seat, including the corner and the middle. They don't all feel the same.
- Ask which seats recline and which don't, and whether each one moves on its own.
- Check the extras you'd actually use, like cup holders, a console or storage, and where the buttons are.
Questions to ask before you buy
- How much space does it need behind it to recline fully in my room?
- Where does the power cord come out, and will it reach my outlet?
- Is this exact chair in stock, or is it ordered in the cover I choose? How long does that usually take?
- What's included with delivery and setup?
Our team will answer those for the specific chair you're looking at, since they vary from model to model. You can also read what to expect when you order custom furniture.
Come sit in one
No article can tell you how a recliner feels. That's why we keep a wide range of power recliners and reclining sectionals on our Towson floor, ready to try. Take your time, bring the family, and test as many as you like.
The Sofa Store
1125 Cromwell Bridge Rd, Towson, MD 21286
Mon–Sat 11am–7pm · Sun 12pm–5pm · Free parking
