forh yooumr e
All in the
family
The venerable
recliner takes on
a modern look
By Christianna McCausland
WHEN IT COMES to home décor, recliners get a
bad rap. They are the overstuffed monoliths that
most men love and many women—and interior
designers—love to hate. But a new generation of
recliners is bringing a new sense of style, proportion
and comfort to this old standby.
“If you look in media, historically recliners as an
archetype are associated with the Archie Bunkers of
the world,” says interior designer James Swan of
James Swan & Co., in Beverly Hills, California.
“They are important to the home and the home-owner for their comfort, but they’re the thorn in the
side of design and designers because they traditionally are not pretty to look at.”
Although interior designers may frown on
recliners due to their bulk, Swan cannot deny that
their unfaltering popularity is because they are
incredibly comfortable. He laughs that even his
mother has a recliner that she’ll probably take to her
grave. When working with a client, Swan underscores that selecting a recliner is less about the fabric
on the outside—which can always be replaced—and
more about the quality of the materials on the inside.
Historically, a recliner has a steel frame wrapped in
foam. If not of the highest quality, the foam can break
down over time, giving the chair a slumped look.
“My first question would be, ‘What is under the
fabric?’ ” says Swan. “As soon as you can introduce
other upholstery materials, typically you’re going to
have a better-quality product that isn’t going to have
a sagging appearance.” He continues that to get the
best value for price, “know what’s inside and buy the
best-quality product from the inside out.”
Barcalounger Corporation, which has manufactured recliners since 1940, builds its recliners with
kiln-dried wood frames, pads them with high-resil-iency foam and adds polyester fiberfill in areas such
as the headrest. This creates a durable and comfortable product. “Recliners aren’t your grandfather’s
chair anymore,” says Philip Cooper, vice president of
imports for Barcalounger. “They are a piece of furniture that can enhance and add to any décor.”
According to Cooper, research indicates that
most recliner buyers are women purchasing the
chair for a man. These sophisticated buyers have
COURTES Y OF LANE
driven the recliner market to design chairs in both
traditional and contemporary styles. “Taking the
lead from the fashion industry, the fabrics have
become more comfortable, too; the leathers are
more supple,” Cooper explains.
The recliner industry generates nearly $1 billion
a year, which means thousands of chairs are searching for the perfect location in many homes. It is
important to look at how the chair is to be used, and
where. Recliners can recline, swivel and tilt in various ways. A potential buyer should measure the
space where the recliner is meant to go to make sure
it has enough room to open, close or turn without
bumping into walls or other pieces of furniture.
Some rooms may be more suited to recliners
than others. “The point of recliners is for relaxation,
so if you have two spaces in your home where you
entertain, one that’s more relaxed and one that’s
dressier, I think it’s a no-brainer that the recliner
goes in the more relaxed space,” explains Swan, a
Costco member.
A recliner (or several) can pair with an overstuffed sofa and perhaps a big-screen television in
a family room to make a perfectly cozy place for
all members of a family. “Bedrooms are great,
particularly if people are readers,” Swan continues. “A recliner of some sort next to a fireplace with a beautiful reading lamp and a
great table next to it would also
be a no-brainer.”
Recliners aren’t just for
dads or families. The wide
range of styles and sizes has
broadened the appeal of recliners
to include young people and
women. “They aren’t the item the
woman of the house dreads buying anymore,” quips Cooper, “and
you no longer need to make excuses
for ‘my husband’s chair.’ ” C
COURTESY OF SHERMAG
The Costco Connection
You’ll find comfortable seating options, including
name-brand recliners featuring leather and fabric
upholstery, at Costco warehouses this month.
Today’s recliners, such as
the Lane model (above),
combine comfort with
style. A glider rocker, pictured below, provides a
slimmed-down alternative.
Measure your space and
consider your décor when
purchasing.
Christianna McCausland is a freelance writer from Washington, D.C.,
where she only wishes she had the
comfort of a recliner in her office.