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Supreme comfort and good looks. You can't beat it. Oversized Electric Recliner
When did we get so stuffy? Why has the recliner gone out of style? No one is sitting stick-straight on French rococo sofas, but we've pretty much thrown out the classic American recliner in favor of contemporary, sharp-lined luxury sofas and mid-century accent chairs.
For us, that's anti-American. If we've ever gotten anything right in this country, it's comfort. And nothing—no standard leather sofa, no big sectional sofa, no futon, no outdoor sofa—will match the comfort of a big reclining sofa. Nothing will let you kick your feet up like a recliner. Even those extra deep movie night sofas fall flat.
But I get it. There's a taboo around reclining sofas, because the assumption is that they're ugly, that they look cheap. That's fair. Reclining sofas have, for most of their existence, always been ugly. But these days, they're just about as good looking as those luxury sofas you'd drop a month's worth of pay to acquire. So, as a service to you, we decided to wade into this fertile market, put our feet up, and test some sofas. After which, we whittled our list down to these nine best reclining sofas that actually look good.
That mid-life crisis will look a whole lot less sad and a whole lot more classy when you're perching on a sofa completely upholstered in leather. Leather, as a fabric, is the most durable and easiest to clean. West Elm's Enzo leather recliner sofa is all top-grain, and its design is not too bombastic: simple sharp lines and geometric composure to complement your otherwise busy room. There's also some neat feature, like storage spaces hidden within the armrests for organizing remotes, books, small gadgets, or hiding your... you know.
*Also available in non-leather and sectional styles
A "Best Overall" category on a sofa seems a bit funny, given how subjective interior design can be. But for the combo of looks, price, and comfort, nothing is really going to beat this option from Z Gallerie. It looks good—simple and contemporary, able to fit any aesthetic. At juuuust under $2,000 it's not exorbitantly priced. And the two wide recliners are some of the most comfortable we've felt. It's everything you could need.
If you've got a particularly massive living area, that same sofa comes as a massive five-piece sectional with three power recliners. If you want a sectional, but don't have enough space for the five-piece showstopper, a more standard four-piece sectional is also available.
Hey, just because you're buying a recliner doesn't mean you can't really go for it. Want a modern-looking centerpiece that also reclines? West Elm's got it. The Leo blew our minds. Up until the moment I saw it in person, I wasn't ready to believe this was a recliner. But let me tell you, it looks even better in the flesh, and it's so damn comfortable.
For pure looks, we really like this option from Crate & Barrel. The armrests are straight and slim for some visual interest, but the actual seating area is pretty round and organic. Pair that with a neutral upholstery in a tactile bouclé fabric, and you've got a great looking sectional. Another plus on the practicality of this sectional: The back and footrest recline independently, with separate controls. You can really fine-tune an exact seating position that works for you.
Mid-century has become the de facto furniture design for just about anywhere. And with good reason! It's a very agreeable style, especially as it's interpreted these days. It works everywhere for everyone. If you want that mid-century shape, along with the modern comfort of power reclining, it's tough to find. This sofa from Orren Ellis is the best of the bunch.
Sectionals, the big-budget holdouts of luxury furniture, have even succumbed to the recliner. This Pearce sectional from Pottery Barn looks lovely, with an inoffensive shape. Since you can fully customize the shape of this sofa, and Pottery Barn has a massive catalog of swatches, it can work for many tastes and setups.
Never again accidentally dump a packet of honey mustard or a bottle of Mountain Dew all over your lap while attempting to get through jump scares in The Conjuring. Just put them in a cupholder, just like you'd do in an AMC theater recliner. Though, as a manual reclining sofa, the Evelina loveseat lacks a cool touchscreen control panel, as long as it can give you some room to wiggle, put down your popcorn and beverages, and squarely focus on can't-miss moments happening in the silver screen, it's worth a buy. This loveseat is also plush all around to bring you support and comfort.
Sometimes, you've got to put things into perspective to see the beauty of it. Like for the Southgate, a standalone front shot of it against a white background just doesn't do the recliner couch justice. Actually placing it in a styled, organized room against a beige or warm-color wall will let it shine. The sofa also works great, with plumpness all over the place in feathery chenille fabric to make your time spent napping or lounging on it divine.
Because, we are the go-to voices for luxury interiors. No one else tests as many furniture brands as us. No one tests as many sofas as us. No one comes close to us in mattress testing. For luxury furniture—especially if you're a man in search of some direction—we are the only voice you need to listen to.
More practically, we hit the showrooms, and we talk with brands. We've tried a bunch of these sofas in our homes. We've got good taste, and we know what materials and constructions are made to last the longest. We are your on-call internet interior decorators.
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