Good Looking Reclining Sofas DO EXIST: Here’s What To Know About Them + 24 Of Our Favorites

You know what’s fantastic in terms of design and furniture? When form meets function. I’m a huge fan of that. So when a friend of mine asked me recently if I could help her find a “not totally ugly” recliner sofa, I suited up and got to work. After all, I used to work for a company that sold recliner sofas you’d never be able to tell were just that (though sadly they no longer sell them, so I was back to the drawing board).

Recliner sofas and chairs, for that matter, are the kind of thing designers balk at because well, they look like a half risen tray of cinnamon rolls. As if someone decided long ago that “feet up” also had to mean lumpy, bumpy, and inexplicably curvaceous in all the worst ways. Like this:

Sitting on them though? Pretty okay. Once those tootsies go up and you get to sit back, you kind of forget about looks and only focus on comfort.

BUT WE CAN HAVE BOTH NOW!

According to this article from Yahoo Finance, the recliner sofa market is set to grow by almost $9 BILLION by 2028. That number is staggering, considering it feels like almost no one is buying these things anymore. Though maybe it only feels that way because so many mainstream companies are finally starting to offer recliner sofas with some actual design and style behind them that you really don’t know if someone is sporting a recliner in their living rooms until you see it in action.

Just take a look at this corner sectional by Sundays. You’d truly have no idea looking at it that it has three motion footrests and reclining backs. NO CLUE.

Some of them now have headrests that unfold to come up and support your noggin like the Jarron from Castley (left), but once you close them, they just look like normal sofa back pillows. You can even find some that look like the sofa at right from a company called Povison, with French seams a la Sixpenny.

I mean it’s kind of mind-blowing that the sofa on the left, by Hooker Furniture, turns into the one on the right at the click of a few buttons. What a time to be alive…(for furniture innovation, everything else is questionable).

Reclining Sofa FAQs

Speaking of buttons, there are some things you need to be aware of if considering a reclining sofa (also called power motion sofas, in case that helps you search for them during your research). Here’s what to know before buying one:

1. They are far more expensive than a traditional non-reclining sofa. Chances of finding a standard 3-seater sofa for under $2,000 is rare, and if you do, I’d be worried about the longevity and quality of it, TBH. I did find two under that price point, but they are at least from reputable brands/sites that likely carry some sort of warranty.
2. Most are electric now and need a power source, meaning, you’re going to need to have an outlet available. If you’re used to floating your sofa in the middle of your room, I hope you have a floor outlet.
3. Are you one of those people in #2 who float your sofa? Well, a lot of them aren’t the prettiest from behind so you’ll want to be aware of that.
4. Read the product description closely to find out if just the leg rest comes up or if both leg rest comes up and the back reclines, because both exist. You definitely don’t want to drop a few thousand on a sofa thinking it’s one thing, and it ends up being only half of what you expected.
5. Again, read closely to see how many footrests come up (especially in a sectional). Most sites will give you the chance to customize it, but not all do. Also, some might have footrests that move individually, or together as a bench. Be mindful of what you’re looking for compared to what you’re buying.
6. Check the warranty because they malfunction/break. Anything with a button just simply does not last as long as something manual. It’s a tale as old as time. Buy an extended warranty if you can.
7. Make sure you have the clearance for both the fully extended footrest and the fully reclined back, because these babies are BIG and DEEP.
8. They’re mostly sold in just a few neutral colors like white, cream, and gray. A few retailers will give you more custom fabric options, but those are likely much pricier.
9. Most of the good-looking ones on the market right now kind of all look the same…chunky and blocky, but it’s a fairly transitional, versatile shape that works in a lot of home styles.

Alright, time to go shopping. During my hunt for good-looking reclining sofas, I found that most range in price from around $3,000 to upwards of $6,000 for a larger sectional. Of course, there are variations below and above that, but that’s the median range. I broke them up into two price categories: Under $4,000 and $4,000+. Let’s take a look:

The Best Reclining Sofas Under $4,000

At first glance, I’m sure you can understand why I said they all have a very similar look. There’s kind of three versions here: The pillow-top plush cloud sofa look, the tight Italian modern look either squared off or rounded, and a classic mid-century tufted vibe. My previous company actually used to sell #5, and it was simple yet effective and comfortable. I really love the offerings from Homebody and Castlery (the white feels nuts but it’s a performance fabric, at least), though it’s hard to not be drawn to something like an olive velvet from West Elm, a brand that does provide a fair amount of fabric selection for their reclining sofas. If you are within the delivery areas of a Living Spaces, it’s hard to beat the price of #4. The same goes for the really cute curved sectional from Scan Design, which is shockingly under that $4,000 price tag.

1. 121” Modern Power Oversized Pillow-Back Reclining Couch Sofa | 2. Bernhardt Luc Tan Power Reclining Sofa | 3. Amed 89″ Upholstered Power Reclining Sofa | 4. Morro Bay II Beige Fabric 128″ 3-Piece Power Reclining Modular Sofa w/ Power Headrest | 5. Bridgers Power Recliner Sofa Warm Grey | 6. Luxe Sofa – 2 Seat | 7. White Pillow-Style Electric Power Reclining Sofa With USB Charging | 8. Ryden 4-Piece Modular Power Reclining Sectional | 9. Everett Leather Reclining Sofa | 10. Jaron Performance Fabric Recliner Extended Sofa | 11. Leo Motion Reclining Sofa – 123″ | 12. Ohana 3-Seat Zero Gravity Modular Reclining Sofa

The Best Reclining Sofas Over $4,000

If you have some more money to spend, the designs get a little bit more daring, though not much. For instance, the sloping arm of #1 is so nice and doesn’t read “grandpa’s recliner” in the least—plus it’s huge at 116 inches wide. Of course, that channel tufted leather option from Layla Grace has been a popular design for the contemporary set out there, and this one has power footrests! I’m fairly certain #3 and #7 are the same sofa just by two different names, one in fabric, one in leather, but they are both a super classic shape that won’t go out of style anytime soon. For something a little more traditional, the Pottery Barn sofa at #6 has a rolled arm, which would satisfy the needs of someone who likes more of a vintage vibe with the guts of modern living. Arhaus’ version (#8) is a shape I love for a family or media room, with the soft pillow-like arms and base.

1. Malena Motion Reclining Sofa – 116″ | 2. Hooker Furniture Chatelain 2 Piece Power Sofa | 3. Downing 111″ Upholstered Power Reclining Sofa | 4. Hooker Furniture Atlas Cream Power Reclining Sofa with Power Headrest | 5. Shelter Motion Reclining 5-Piece L-Shaped Sectional – 109″ | 6. Ultra Lounge Roll Arm Reclining Sofa – 110″ | 7. Four Hands Tillery 111″ Top Grain Leather Power Recliner 3-Piece Sofa | 8. Coburn Three-Piece Motion Sofa | 9. Lift Off Power Recliner 4-Piece Modular Sectional | 10. Harmony Modular Motion Reclining Sofa – 117″ | 11. Leisure Power Recliner Leather Sofa 84″ | 12. Luxe U-Shape Sectional – 6 Seat

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And this is where I leave you, design friends. The reclining sofa isn’t for everyone, but if functionally, it fits what you’re trying to get out of your seating in your home, there are so many more options than you probably thought there were. You do not have to be relegated to cinnamon roll recliners, as today’s post taught you. You can have the best of both comfort and style worlds. Hallelujah!

Until next time…

Opening Image Credit: Malena Motion Reclining Sofa from West Elm

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