How to Choose a Recliner?

Choosing the right recliner means finding the right balance between the comfort you’re looking for, your home’s style, and your budget. Several factors come into play: the type of mechanism, the upholstery, comfort features, and any functions that make daily life easier. Here’s what you need to know to make the right choice from our selection of recliners.

Electric or Manual Recliner: What Are the Differences?

The manual recliner reclines using a side lever or by simply pushing against the backrest: it is affordable, requires no electrical connection, and is appreciated for its simplicity. The electric recliner, on the other hand, adjusts the backrest and footrest using motors controlled by a remote, allowing for precise and gradual position adjustments. It is particularly recommended if you’re looking for customized comfort, multiple reclining positions, or ease of daily use. The choice between an electric and a manual recliner therefore depends on your budget, your need for precision, and how often you plan to use it.

Which upholstery should you choose: leather, fabric, microfiber, or a combination of materials?

The upholstery affects the look, feel, and ease of care of your recliner. The leather recliner stands out for its elegance and durability, making it ideal for a sophisticated and long-lasting living room. The fabric recliner offers softness, warmth, and a wide range of colors to create a cozy atmosphere. The microfiber recliner provides an attractive balance: a soft look, durability, and easy care. Finally, dual-material versions—such as a leather seat paired with a fabric back—combine style, comfort, and affordability. It’s up to you to prioritize appearance, ease of care, or how well it complements your decor.

Footrest, headrest, swivel base: comfort options

Beyond the mechanism itself, certain features enhance the relaxation experience. The chair with a built-in footrest supports the legs and improves circulation while you rest. The adjustable headrest allows you to precisely position your neck and head for optimal support whether sitting or reclining. The swivel base gives you the freedom to easily turn toward a window, a screen, or someone you’re talking to. Other refinements are available, such as the massage chair with massage zones or the wraparound armrests. You can combine these options as you wish to create a relaxation chair perfectly suited to your daily life.

Lift Chair: The Stand-Up Assistance Feature

A stand-up recliner is an electric recliner with an additional feature: it gently tilts forward to help the user stand up. The electric stand-up chair thus reduces the effort required to stand up, making it an ideal solution for seniors, people with limited mobility, or those recovering from illness. While retaining the classic reclining positions, it provides safety and independence in daily life. It combines the comfort of a recliner with genuine functional support, without compromising on aesthetics or seating comfort.

Electric Recliner: Customized Motorized Comfort

The electric recliner represents the pinnacle of motorized comfort. Thanks to its motors and remote control, it allows you to fine-tune each position and, on certain models, save your favorite settings. Find out how to choose the right mechanism and take full advantage of all the available positions.

1, 2, or 3 motors: Which mechanism is best for which use?

The number of motors determines the degree of independent adjustment. A single-motor chair simultaneously adjusts the backrest and footrest: simple and accessible. A two-motor chair independently controls the backrest and footrest, allowing for a wider range of position combinations and helping you find the ideal angle. A 3-motor chair typically adds a lift function or an additional adjustment (headrest, lumbar support), offering maximum customization and true therapeutic comfort. The more motors a chair has, the more versatile it is: choose based on your need for precision, your daily uses, and your budget.

Sitting, TV, resting, semi-reclining positions

An electric recliner offers several key positions to suit your day. The sitting position is ideal for reading or chatting, with the backrest upright and your feet on the floor. The TV position slightly reclines the backrest while raising your legs, perfect for a relaxing evening. The rest position increases the recline to fully relax your body. Finally, the semi-reclined position extends the chair almost to a horizontal position, ideal for napping and muscle relaxation. Thanks to the independent motors, you can move smoothly from one position to another, ensuring truly personalized comfort throughout the day.

Leather & Fabric Recliners: Find Your Style

The upholstery sets the tone for your recliner and complements your decor. Leather, fabric, microfiber, or a combination of materials: each option has its own advantages in terms of style, comfort, and ease of care.

The Leather Recliner: Elegance and Durability

The leather recliner embodies refinement and durability. A quintessentially luxurious material, leather develops a beautiful patina over time and stands the test of time without ever going out of style. Durable and easy to maintain with just a quick wipe of a cloth, it complements both classic and contemporary living rooms with equal elegance. Its surface, which is pleasant to the touch, remains comfortable in any season and conveys a genuine sense of quality. For an elegant and durable interior, leather remains a safe bet.

The fabric recliner: softness and warmth

This fabric recliner prioritizes coziness and enveloping comfort. Soft to the touch, it invites you to relax and creates a warm atmosphere in the living room. Available in a wide variety of colors and textures, it easily adapts to any style, from Scandinavian coziness to a contemporary look. The fabric adds warmth and character to the room, while offering exceptional comfort. It’s the ideal choice for anyone who values plush comfort and creative freedom in decor.

Microfiber and blended fabrics: comfortable alternatives

Microfiber is a clever alternative: soft like fabric, it sometimes mimics the look of suede and stands out for its durability and ease of care. Microfiber recliners are particularly well-suited for households with children or pets. Dual-material models, on the other hand, combine two types of upholstery—for example, leather on the visible parts and fabric on the back—to blend style, comfort, and affordability. These options offer excellent value for the money and let you enjoy the best of each material based on your priorities.

Our flagship models of modern recliners

Our selection of modern recliners features models with sleek lines and superior comfort. From compact recliners to lift chairs, there’s a model to suit every living room. You can also explore our full range of seating in the recliner collection and discover our contemporary designs among our selection of designer recliners.

• DETROIT – A recliner with a bold design, ideal for a contemporary living room in need of character and comfort.
• MAESTRO – A high-end model with meticulous craftsmanship, designed for extended comfort and daily relaxation.
• LONDON – An elegant and timeless design that fits just as well in a classic as in a modern interior.
• HERCULE – A sturdy, enveloping armchair designed to provide generous support and exceptional seating comfort.
• COCOON – As the name suggests, a cocoon of softness that envelops you in comfort, perfect for moments of relaxation.
• BOREAL – A recliner with clean lines, combining simplicity and comfort to create a serene living room.
• OTHELLO – A model with a refined style that combines elegant design with features designed for relaxation.

Complete your relaxation area with a harmonious set featuring our modern recliner and matching corner sofas. For high-end, custom comfort, explore the entire collection Himolla at Mobilier de France, a German manufacturer renowned for the excellence of its recliners and sofas.

The Benefits of a Recliner in Everyday Life

Beyond comfort, the recliner truly contributes to your daily well-being. It helps your body relax, supports your back, and assists with everyday movements—its benefits are numerous.

Relaxation, blood circulation, and lumbar support

By adjusting the angle of the backrest and raising the legs, the recliner promotes muscle relaxation and helps relieve tension that has built up throughout the day. The leg-elevated position promotes good blood circulation and relieves the sensation of heavy legs. The ergonomic backrest support, often enhanced by lumbar support and an adjustable headrest, supports the spine and maintains healthy posture. The result: deep relaxation, greater comfort while resting, and a true moment of well-being, day after day.

An armchair designed for seniors and people with limited mobility

The recliner chair for seniors or people with limited mobility provides comfort and independence. Thanks to its stand-up assist feature, the chair gently guides the user from a seated to a standing position, minimizing effort and reducing the risk of falls. The simple remote-control operation, adjustable headrest, and lumbar support ensure a reassuring experience tailored to the needs of seniors. Comfortable for both extended periods of sitting and resting, it is an ideal solution for maintaining well-being and independence at home, without sacrificing the elegance of a beautiful living room chair.