How to Find a Recliner That Is the Best Fit for You

Est. Reading Time: 7 Mins

Recliners are one of the best investments you can make in home comfort. Whether you are looking for a chair to relax in after a long day, support mobility needs, or complement your living space, choosing the right recliner is essential.

“A recliner should feel like it was made for you, not just something that looks good in the room,” explains Yaser Alimam, Sales Consultant at La-Z-Boy Cyrville. “The right fit supports your body, your posture, and how you actually relax at home.”

With so many recliner styles, sizes, and features available today, finding the right one can feel overwhelming. A recliner is not just furniture. It is a long-term investment in comfort, health, and daily living.

In this guide, we will walk you through everything you need to know to choose a recliner that fits your body, your space, and your lifestyle.

Key Takeaways:

Recliners come in multiple styles, including manual, power, lift, rocking, and wall recliners, each designed for different comfort and mobility needs.
Understanding how you plan to use your recliner daily helps narrow down the right functionality and features.
Proper recliner size and fit play a critical role in posture, spinal support, and long-term comfort.
La-Z-Boy recliners are available in four size categories to better match different body types and heights.
Testing a recliner in person ensures the chair supports your body correctly in both upright and reclined positions.
Customization options, such as upholstery, cushion firmness, and power upgrades, allow you to tailor your recliner to your comfort preferences and home design.

In This Article...

What to Consider When Choosing a Recliner
Functionality: What Will You Use Your Recliner For?
Style: Matching Your Recliner to Your Home
Finding the Right Recliner Size for Your Body Type
How to Test a Recliner for the Best Fit
Customization Options: Making Your Recliner Unique
How Recliner Fit Affects Long-Term Comfort

What to Consider When Choosing a Recliner

Choosing the right recliner goes beyond finding a chair that feels comfortable for a few minutes in the showroom. A well-fitted recliner should support your body during everyday use, whether you are watching TV, reading, or relaxing for extended periods.

Recliner fit, function, and size all work together to determine how supportive the chair feels over time. Ignoring any one of these factors can lead to discomfort, poor posture, or dissatisfaction after purchase.

Taking a thoughtful, step-by-step approach helps ensure your recliner remains comfortable and functional for years.

1. Functionality: What Will You Use Your Recliner For?

The first and most important question to ask is how you plan to use your recliner daily. Recliners are designed with different mechanisms to support different lifestyles, comfort needs, and mobility requirements.

Manual recliners use a lever or body pressure to recline and are ideal for those who prefer simplicity and a more traditional experience. Power recliners, controlled by buttons, offer smoother movement and effortless positioning, making them a popular choice for everyday comfort.

If you’re interested in the difference between Manual vs. Power Recliners, take a look at this article.

For those with mobility challenges, lift recliners provide additional support by gently assisting users from a seated to a standing position. Rocking or gliding recliners combine soothing motion with reclining comfort, often preferred for relaxation spaces or nurseries. Wall recliners are designed for smaller rooms, allowing full recline while sitting close to the wall.

According to Yaser, power recliners are often the most versatile option in the long term. Models with adjustable headrests and lumbar support allow users to fine-tune comfort as their needs evolve, making them a strong investment in both comfort and accessibility.

2. Style: Matching Your Recliner to Your Home

Once functionality is established, the next step is choosing a recliner that fits seamlessly into your home’s design. While comfort is essential, the recliner should also complement the overall aesthetic of your living space.

Start by considering where the recliner will be placed. Formal living rooms often benefit from sleeker silhouettes, refined fabrics, or leather upholstery, while casual family rooms may suit plush cushions and textured fabrics that emphasize comfort.

Some homeowners prefer their recliner to blend in with existing furniture, creating a cohesive look, while others use the recliner as a statement piece that adds personality to the room. High-leg recliners and stationary-style recliners are popular for style-focused spaces because they maintain a traditional appearance while still offering hidden reclining functionality.

To learn more about How to Arrange Your Living Room Furniture, take a look at this article.

3. Finding the Right Recliner Size for Your Body Type

One of the most overlooked aspects of recliner shopping is choosing the correct size for your body. A recliner that does not match your height and proportions can lead to poor support, discomfort, and strain over time.

La-Z-Boy recliners are designed in four size categories to accommodate different body types:

Petite recliners for individuals 5’4” and under
Small recliners for those between 5’5” and 5’9”
Tall recliners for users between 5’10” and 6’2”
Extra Tall recliners for individuals 6’3” and taller

While these categories provide a helpful guideline, body proportions matter as well. Seat depth, arm height, and back height all influence how a recliner supports your posture. Visiting a La-Z-Boy showroom allows you to compare sizes side by side and determine which feels most natural.

4. How to Test a Recliner for the Best Fit

Testing a recliner in person is the most reliable way to ensure it fits your body correctly. A properly fitted recliner should support you comfortably in both upright and fully reclined positions.

When seated upright, your feet should rest flat on the floor, and your knees should bend comfortably at about a 90-degree angle. As you lean back, your shoulders should naturally align with the back cushions, and your lower back should feel supported without any gaps.

Head and neck support are equally important. Your head should rest comfortably against the head cushion without pushing your chin forward. When fully reclined, your legs should be fully supported by the footrest, with your heels just reaching the edge.

“A recliner that fits well should feel effortless,” says Yaser. “You should not need to shift, scoot, or adjust constantly. The chair should support you naturally in every position.”

5. Customization Options: Making Your Recliner Unique

Once fit and function are confirmed, customization allows you to make your recliner truly your own. La-Z-Boy offers a wide range of custom recliner options designed to match both comfort preferences and home décor.

Choose from over 800 fabrics and leather options, including performance covers like iClean and pet-friendly fabrics. Cushion firmness upgrades add extra support, while power recline upgrades provide smoother operation and advanced comfort features.

Some recliners also offer adjustable headrest and lumbar support, swivel bases, and handle customization. These options allow you to fine-tune your recliner so it supports your body exactly where you need it most, while still fitting your style.

To learn more about Custom Furniture at La-Z-Boy, take a look at this article.

How Recliner Fit Affects Long-Term Comfort

A recliner that fits properly does more than feel comfortable in the moment. A correctly fitted recliner supports posture, reduces pressure on the spine, and helps prevent discomfort from prolonged sitting.

Proper lumbar support encourages healthy spinal alignment, while correct head and neck positioning reduces strain and fatigue. Over time, these benefits can make a noticeable difference in how your body feels day to day.

Choosing the right size and support features from the beginning ensures your recliner continues to deliver comfort, durability, and satisfaction for years to come.

What’s Next?

There you have it! The information in this article will help you find a recliner that is the best fit for you. Now that you understand how to choose a recliner that fits your body, space, and lifestyle, the next step is to experience the difference in person.

Visit us at one of our local Ottawa, Gatineau, or Kingston showrooms, or plan ahead by scheduling a visit. One of our sales consultants will be happy to help you get fitted for a recliner of your choice.

If you’re interested in learning more about La-Z-Boy Recliners specifically, take a look at our comprehensive Recliner Buyer’s Guide.

Nicholas Carchidi

Content Writer at StyleMeetsComfort.ca

Nick has been the lead content writer for La-Z-Boy Ottawa, Gatineau and Kingston since 2022, specializing in the furniture industry. He collaborates with experts in his field, ensuring that each piece on the La-Z-Boy Learning Centre is accurate and valuable. He provides readers with expert knowledge on all things furniture. If you'd like to learn more about Nick, you can check out his LinkedIn page here.