These days, we all crave comfort. We spend money on comfortable beds, treat ourselves to heated seats in our cars, and then, our eyes turn to our sofas. Gone are the days of lumpy couches, hardbacks, or saggy bottoms.
That’s right; recliners have taken center stage. With just the pull of a lever, our sofas are transformed, and we can relax backward with our feet up and our entire bodies padded by the leather or fabric upholstery.
Reclining sofas have become the dream for many of us, but before we can invest in a new sofa, we are met with a barrage of questions. Not only do we have to choose between fabrics, styles, whether to add a chair too, but we wonder if there is enough room.
As recliners move, we find ourselves wondering, does it need to be away from the wall? How much space should I allow for my recliner? These questions haunt us and can be enough to put us off the purchase.
So what can we do? Well, you can stick with us because we took all your reclining sofa questions, put them to the test, and are back with all the answers you need! Just keep reading to find out more!
Do reclining sofas have to be away from the wall?
Yes, in most cases, a reclining sofa will need to be away from the wall. This is because the couch will need space to recline backward without hitting the wall. As the sofa reclines, the back generally tips backward, allowing you to extend and relax.
For the sofa to recline properly, it needs to be away from the wall. Placing your reclining sofa too close to the wall can not only damage the wall but the sofa too.
Regularly hitting the wall with your sofa can damage the paint or chip your wall. It can also damage the headrest on your reclining couch, which can impact its lifespan!
This is not true of all reclining sofas, though! Wall huggers or wall recliners can be placed closer to the wall or against the wall in some cases. These reclining sofas are designed differently from others and move forward rather than backward.
These are better suited to smaller spaces where you can’t afford to have a large gap between the wall and your reclining sofa.
The amount of space needed between your wall and the reclining sofa will depend on your sofa’s size originally and when fully reclined. You can check these before making your purchase to ensure the reclining couch suits your room!
How far from the wall does a reclining sofa need to be?
The amount of space a reclining sofa needs from the wall depends on the type of recliner you have. Generally speaking, you need anywhere between 4 inches to 1 foot of space between the wall and the reclining sofa.
Smaller sofas or those that recline forward will be closer to the four inches mark. There are reclining sofas that require no space and can be placed flat against the wall in some cases.
These wall-hugging sofas are designed for smaller spaces and can be a fantastic choice for those wanting to save some space!
Usually, you will need more than four inches of space between the sofa and the wall for it to recline properly. If you don’t allow enough space, the recliner can hit the wall, causing damage or not reclining properly, not what you want after a long hard day!
Each reclining sofa will often come with its requirements of how far away from the wall it needs to be. It’s worth checking these before making your purchase to ensure that you have enough room for the reclining sofa.
Remember to consider the total space your sofa will take up when it's fully reclined to make sure that you select the correct size for your space.
How much room do you need for a reclining sofa?
The amount of room you need for your reclining sofa will mainly depend on the size of your reclining sofa, but generally, you will need a space roughly 50 inches wide. This will allow your sofa plenty of space to recline fully.
Ideally, the space should be between 40 to 45 inches wide, at least to accommodate your reclining sofa, based on their average size. When they are fully reclined, you will want both the headrest and footrest no closer to walls or furniture than five inches.
This ensures that no damage will come to walls or furniture when you recline or return the sofa to its original position.
For larger sofas, you might need more room, so it's best to overestimate and work closer to the 50 inches and over measurements. It's better to have more space for your sofa than not enough and end up bumping walls and furniture while trying to relax!
Measure the space before purchasing your reclining sofa to avoid disappointment and tight negotiations fitting the reclining sofa into the space.
What is a wall hugger reclining sofa?
A wall hugger reclining sofa, or wall recliner as they are also known, is made with smaller rooms in mind! These sofas are perfect for bedrooms, smaller living rooms, or dens as they don’t take up as much space as a traditional reclining sofa.
Compared to other recliners, wall huggers can be placed closer to the wall, saving on space! These recliners are designed to move forward as the chair reclines, so you don’t need to worry about hitting the wall as you try to relax!
You can place them much closer to the wall, giving them their name; wall huggers.
You will still need to ensure there is enough space in front of the recliner for the sofa to lift to ensure you don’t hit any furniture while you recline. Wall hugger reclining sofas are becoming more popular, and you can purchase them from most retailers these days.
They come as chairs and sofas, offering even more space-saving options for those with smaller spaces! You can pick them up for an affordable price, too, perfect for those with any budget!
