The recliner spent a few decades as a punchline, but the chair itself never stopped evolving. Today's recliners come with power mechanisms, swivel bases, and leather or fabric options built to work in a living room you've actually put thought into, not hide in a back den.Why did recliners get a bad reputationRecliners started as a genuine design idea. In 1928, two cousins from Michigan, Edward Knabusch and Edwin Shoemaker, built a wooden lawn chair that tilted back. A naming contest gave the chair its name, and for decades recliners were seen as a symbol of earned relaxation after a hard day. At one point, as the video notes, doctors were even recommending them.That changed around the 80s and 90s. Design culture shifted toward clean lines and minimalism, sitcoms turned the recliner into shorthand for the checked-out dad asleep at his own dinner party, and the chair stopped showing up in the rooms people wanted to be photographed in. "The recliner didn't belong in" that kind of magazine spread, as the video puts it, and the reputation stuck for years.What's different about recliners nowThe recliner market is projected to reach $6.69 billion by 2032, and that growth isn't coming from the chair people remember. Shoppers today are asking for comfort and style together, and manufacturers have caught up with power recliners, swivel bases, and cleaner silhouettes in leather and fabric designs meant to sit comfortably next to the rest of your furniture, not apart from it.That matters in South Jersey and Shore homes especially, where living rooms tend to double as the main gathering space for family and guests all season. A recliner that looks dated or out of place works against the room instead of for it.How to choose a recliner that fits your roomA few things to think through before buying: Scale: measure your space and the chair's footprint in both the upright and fully reclined position, not just sitting. Base and mechanism: power recliners and swivel bases add function, but they also change the profile of the chair, so consider how it reads in the room when it's not in use. Material: leather and fabric options now come in finishes designed to coordinate with sofas and sectionals rather than stand apart as the obvious recliner in the room. Placement: a recliner that's meant to be seen, not tucked in a corner, deserves the same attention to finish and fabric as the rest of your seating. See current recliner styles in NorthfieldThe easiest way to judge whether a recliner fits your living room is to sit in it next to the kind of pieces you already own or are considering. Our Northfield showroom carries current power recliner, swivel, leather, and fabric options so you can compare scale and finish in person before deciding.And with football season underway, as the video points out, there's a timely reason to go look. Your living room, done right, won't know what hit it. Key takeaways The recliner was invented in 1928 by Michigan cousins Edward Knabusch and Edwin Shoemaker, who named it through a contest. Recliners lost popularity in the 80s and 90s as design culture shifted toward minimalism and sitcoms made the chair a punchline. The recliner market is projected to hit $6.69 billion by 2032, driven by demand for both comfort and style. Modern recliners come with power mechanisms, swivel bases, and leather or fabric finishes designed to fit a styled living room. Measuring scale in both upright and reclined positions and matching fabric to existing furniture are key steps when choosing a recliner. Questions people ask Why did recliners get a bad reputation? Starting in the 80s and 90s, design culture moved toward clean, minimalist looks, and sitcoms often portrayed the recliner as the chair of the checked-out dad, which hurt its image for years. Are recliners making a design comeback? Yes. The recliner market is projected to reach $6.69 billion by 2032, driven by shoppers who want both comfort and style rather than one or the other. What features do modern recliners have? Today's recliners commonly include power mechanisms, swivel bases, and leather or fabric designs meant to coordinate with the rest of a styled living room. Who invented the recliner? Cousins Edward Knabusch and Edwin Shoemaker from Michigan built the first tilting wooden lawn chair in 1928, which was later named through a public contest. Mentioned in this video: La-Z-Boy. See these and comparable pieces in our Northfield showroom, or ask our team.
