Stylish Recliners That Don’t Look Bulky or Boring
If you are looking for a stylish recliner that is actually comfortable, doesn’t overwhelm your living room, and doesn’t scream “giant, outdated recliner,” this guide is for you. I tirelessly researched and hunted for the three beautiful recliners we own, so I feel like I have seen all the options. And I’ve rounded up the best modern recliners, leather recliners, fabric recliners, small-space recliners, and budget-friendly recliner chairs that blend into a beautiful home instead of taking over the room.
There’s nothing quite as comfortable as a good recliner. But for so long, most recliners were not exactly stylish. They were clunky, poufy, and usually the opposite of what you wanted in a pretty living room. Fortunately, recliners have come a long way in the last 15 years. We now have three modern, attractive recliners in our house, but the hunt to find them was long. I feel like we looked at every option on the market before choosing ours.
When it comes to searching for attractive recliners, I consider myself an expert at this point. It took my husband and I over EIGHT long years to find our first recliner that is equally comfortable and beautiful. We searched online and drove around a 100-mile radius to actually sit in the recliners that we were interested in. A few years later, we went through the process again and found two more beautiful recliners for another area of our home.
I originally wrote this guide after years of searching for recliners that were both comfortable and attractive, and I’ve updated it for 2026 with current stylish recliner options, including modern recliners, leather recliners, small-space recliners, and budget-friendly picks.
For those of you who are looking for the short and sweet version, see my quick picks below. For those of you who are high fact-finders like me and want all the details, keep reading.
This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Click here for my full disclosure policy.
Quick Picks: Best Stylish Recliners
Best For | Recliner | Why I Like It |
Best overall | Comfortable, high back, modern leather look | |
Best budget option | Attractive, affordable, classic shape | |
Best for small spaces | Compact and chair-like | |
Best modern recliner | Modern silhouette, comfortable, affordable | |
Best nursery recliner | Glides, reclines, and looks soft but polished | |
Best splurge | Incredibly stylish and luxuriously comfortable |
How to Choose a Stylish Recliner
Before we get into my specific recliner recommendations, I want to cover what you should consider when choosing one for your home.
The best stylish recliner for your home depends on more than looks. Before you choose one, think about how much space you have, whether you want a manual or power recliner, and how much support you need for everyday lounging.
Measure for the recliner when fully extended
A lot of people overlook this step, and it's really the most important one when determining whether a recliner will fit well in your space. A recliner may look compact when it is upright, but it needs extra room behind and in front when it is fully reclined. Some recliners require only 4″ of wall clearance to fully recline, while others require 17″ or more. So you always need to check the full reclined depth and make sure you have enough clearance from walls, walkways and other furniture.
Don't ignore the back height
If you want a recliner that fully supports your head while you lounge, you have to pay close attention to the height of the backrest. I'm 5'9″ tall and Joe is 6′ tall. We found that the backrest height of most of the recliners we sat on in showrooms was too low for us. If you are ordering online, it’s especially important to know how tall of a backrest you need to lounge comfortably.
Decide between manual and power recliners
Manual recliners are usually easier to place because they don’t need to be near an outlet. Power recliners can be a great option, but make sure you have access to an outlet where you want to place it. And keep in mind that unless you have a hidden floor outlet, the cord and plug could potentially be a bit of an eyesore, which is not ideal.
Choose a material that fits your life
You'll find leather, fabric and even faux leather recliner options included in my recommendations. But not every material option will be the right fit for you. Leather recliners feel luxurious and timeless, fabric recliners often feel softer and cozier, and vegan leather recliners can give you the look of leather at a lower price point. If you have kids, pets, or heavy everyday use, pay close attention to the durability of the material you are considering, as well as the cleaning/maintenance instructions.
Now onto my recliner recommendations! This list includes recliners we personally own, recliners we seriously considered, and stylish options I would feel good about putting in my own home.
Best Stylish Recliners by Category
Best Leather Recliners
First up is one we personally own – the West Elm Spencer Recliner. We've now had it for nearly 7 years. It was a splurge, and we have zero regrets. It was, without a doubt, the most comfortable recliner that we sat in during our very long search, and it's still the most popular seat in our house. For a very detailed breakdown of whether the Spencer is the best recliner for you, check out my full review of the West Elm Spencer recliner.
Best for: anyone who wants a comfortable modern recliner that looks stylish in a living room
Style: modern leather recliner
Recline type: manual push-back recliner (it's very easy to push back, FYI)
Potential downside: It's definitely a splurge, so it's not a great option if you are on a tight budget.
This is how our West Elm Spencer recliner looks in our colorful family room.
Next up is the Harris Leather Power Recliner, a long-standing best seller for a reason. It's available in two colors and is a timeless and classic design that will never go out of style. This is a power recliner, and it even has a built-in USB charger. Don't worry – there is a child lock if you need it!
Best for: anyone who wants to invest in a classic design that will work even if their design style changes
Style: classic leather recliner
Recline type: power recliner
Potential downside: It is expensive and requires an outlet, which could limit where you place it.
The Wells Tufted Leather Recliner is an option we seriously considered, and it's a personal favorite of mine! If we ever find ourselves in the market for another recliner, this would be at the top of my list. The updated wingback silhouette is stunning, yet still classic. And I love that it swivels and reclines.
Best for: anyone who wants a large statement piece to anchor a room
Style: wingback leather recliner
Recline type: manual recliner
Potential downside: It is pricey and fairly large, so it's not a good option if you are short on space.
The Irving Roll Arm Leather Chair is a best-selling recliner that looks like a leather club chair. The club chair is a timeless and classic design that you don't need to worry about going out of style or looking dated. You can choose from three different heights, power or manual recline, and several leather options.
Best for: anyone who loves the look of a classic club chair
Style: club chair leather recliner
Recline type: available in both manual or power recline
Potential downside: For the price, it may look less substantial than some of the other leather recliners on this list.
Best Stylish Recliners for Small Spaces
Choosing furniture that is the wrong scale for your space is one of the most common interior design mistakes I see people make. If you have a small space, look for a recliner that isn't too bulky and heavy. Choose a recliner that looks and feels more like a modern armchair than an oversized recliner. Because they are smaller, they can fit in spaces where an oversized recliner would never work.
This Rhys mid-century modern recliner is beautiful and more compact than other options on this list. It is only 29″ wide and requires only 4″ of wall clearance to fully recline. The upholstery color and fabric options are extensive. This is one of the recliners we considered for our home, but we preferred something a bit less firm and with a higher back.
Best for: small spaces and anyone who wants a recliner disguised as a mid-century modern accent chair
Style: mid-century upholstered manual recliner
Recline type: manual push-back recliner
Potential downside: It is firm, and the back is not high enough to rest your head on if you are tall.
The standard Tyler Upholstered Square Arm Recliner comes in countless fabric options and looks like a classic armchair. No one would guess by looking at it that it's actually a stylish recliner. It measures only 54″ deep when fully reclined, which is 10″ less than many of the options on this list. But keep in mind it requires 17″ of wall clearance to fully recline.
Best for: small spaces and classic design
Style: traditional upholstered manual recliner
Recline type: manual push-back recliner
Potential downside: The back height of the traditional model is only 38″ tall, so if you are tall you won't be able to rest your head on it. Note that there is a taller 42″ option available, but I would not recommend it for small spaces.
Best Budget-Friendly Recliners
If you love the look of the West Elm Spencer recliner, but not the price tag, check out this Bosse Upholstered Recliner that looks like a mid-century modern chair. We purchased two of them nearly 6 years ago. They are just as comfortable as our leather West Elm recliner, but the leather does make the West Elm version feel a bit more luxurious.
Best for: anyone who loves the look of the West Elm Spencer Recliner on a budget
Style: modern upholstered recliner
Recline type: manual push-back recliner
Potential downside: The fabric of the armrests does show dirt over time. We have had to clean ours a few times over the past six years.
This Vegan Leather recliner looks nearly identical to our West Elm Spencer recliner, but it is much more affordable. I've seen it on sale for under $500 before. There are three different colors to choose from, and it gets great reviews for style and comfort.
Best for: anyone who loves the look of the West Elm Spencer Recliner on a budget
Style: modern faux leather recliner
Recline type: manual push-back recliner
Potential downside: Vegan leather can crack/peel over time and has low breathability.
This is another vegan leather recliner option that comes in a few color choices. I love that this recliner looks like a sleek chair. The airy wooden arms make it ideal for not overwhelming a small space. And the price point on this one is great, making it one of the best chair recliners for the money.
Best for: small spaces and tight budgets
Style: modern faux leather recliner
Recline type: manual push-back recliner
Potential downside: Vegan leather can crack/peel over time and has low breathability. And the wood arms may not be the most comfortable for lounging.
If you love the look of the modern recliner above, but vegan leather isn't your favorite, check out this gorgeous upholstered option. There are two colors of performance fabric options to choose from.
Best for: small spaces and tight budgets
Style: modern upholstered recliner
Recline type: manual push-back recliner
Potential downside: You can't test it out in person before purchasing, and the wood arms may not be the most comfortable for lounging.
The wingback chair is a timeless chair design that has been popular for decades. If you love the look of a wingback chair, but want one that reclines, this upholstered wingback recliner is an incredibly affordable option. I've seen the price as low as $299, and there are 7 upholstery options ranging from floral to plaid. It has overwhelmingly positive reviews.
Best for: a traditional design on a tight budget
Style: wingback upholstered recliner
Recline type: manual push-back recliner
Potential downside: The polyester fabric and rubber wood legs may feel a bit cheap.
If you are in the market for an attractive but traditional recliner and are on a tight budget, this one is for you! This tufted push-back recliner is one of the best looking inexpensive recliners I have come across, priced at under $200. It comes in a few different color options.
Best for: a traditional design on a tight budget
Style: traditional upholstered recliner
Recline type: manual push-back recliner
Potential downside: There are no customer reviews at the time I'm writing this post, and you can't test it out in person before buying.
Best Recliners for Nurseries or Bedrooms
If you want a chair recliner with a softer, more traditional vibe, this upholstered beauty is a recliner and a glider, making it a great option if you have a baby in your home! Choose from 20+ fabric options and whether you want manual or power recline.
Best for: rocking a baby or anyone who loves rocking/gliding
Style: traditional upholstered recliner and glider
Recline type: choose manual or power recline
Potential downside: It's a splurge, and even the performance fabrics may require more cleaning than you want.
If you want a similar look and features at a much more affordable price, this babyGap power recliner and glider is definitely worth a look. It's stylish, and it features stain-resistant performance fabric and a light-up USB port (I would have LOVED that feature when nursing my twins). It comes in five versatile fabric options, including a blue and white stripe.
Best for: lots of features at an affordable price
Style: traditional upholstered power recliner and glider
Recline type: power recline
Potential downside: You have to plug it in, and you can't try it out in a store before buying.
FAQs About Stylish Recliners
Yes! These days, lots of modern recliners are designed to look like regular armchairs, club chairs, wingback chairs, and even mid-century accent chairs (my personal favorite). Push-back recliners give a cleaner look because there are no visible handles or bulky sides.
For a small living room, I would look for a compact push-back recliner, a recliner chair with narrow arms, or a wall-hugger recliner. Be sure to check the fully reclined depth, not just the upright dimensions.
Manual recliners, also known as push-back recliners, are usually more streamlined, less expensive, and easier to place because they don’t require an outlet. Power recliners can feel more high-end and offer smoother reclining, but they usually cost more and need to be plugged in, so you do not have as much flexibility in where you can place them.
This is subjective, but in my opinion, the most stylish recliners are those that look like regular accent chairs. Mid-century modern recliners, leather club chair recliners, wingback recliners, and upholstered push-back recliners tend to blend into a room better than bulky, poufy traditional recliners.
Absolutely. A recliner can look beautiful in a living room if you choose one with clean lines, quality upholstery or leather, and a shape or silhouette that matches your decor style.
Finding a stylish recliner used to feel almost impossible, but thankfully, those days are behind us. Whether you want a modern leather recliner, a cozy fabric option, a compact recliner for a small space, or a traditional design that still looks beautiful in your living room, there are finally plenty of recliners that are both comfortable and attractive. I hope this guide helps you skip the endless searching and find a recliner you’ll actually love looking at and sitting in every single day.
More FURNITURE Posts
Wondering how I approach transforming rooms and spaces in our home? Check out Designer in a Binder®.
And if you want exclusive content and behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, be sure to subscribe before you head out!
Good info! What leather did you use?
Hi Tasha! I ran across your site after researching reviews on the West Elm recliner. Thank you so much for providing a detailed review! From your site, we also found a couple chairs VERY similar from All Modern. The only thing I’ve noticed is the West Elm product seems to have better quality in materials which makes it more appealing to us, but for double the price, we’re a little undecided. Curious, why did you decide on the West Elm recliner vs. All Modern for your family space?
Hi Kelvin. I’m glad you found my review helpful :) We purchased the West Elm recliner quite a while before I even discovered the less expensive All Modern option. The West Elm recliner is heavier and more substantial, and I do personally feel like the leather makes it extra comfy. But we’ve been VERY happy with the All Modern recliners (which we’ve had for around 4 years now). I hope that helps!
Hi Tasha, really appreciate this review and your detailed post on the West Elm Spencer. I’m looking at the Arhaus Deacon Recliner … I tested one at our local store and it was heavenly the only drawback is its almost 4k with the footrest. If you have an Arhaus near you I’d be curious to know what you thought it vs the Spencer.
Cheers,
Jas
Hi Jas! There wasn’t an Arhaus anywhere near us when we purchased our Spencer recliner over 4 years ago (and the closest one now is still 80+ miles away), so I’m sorry I can’t help!