Small Modern Recliners

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A small modern recliner is the best of both worlds – space-saving and cool enough to fit in with contemporary décor style. If your first impression of recliners for small spaces is that they’re stuffy and old-fashioned, think again. From faux leather to floral prints, recliners have been updated for the 21st century. We’ve picked out some of the best modern slim recliner chairs and reviewed them so you can find your perfect pick.

Caroline Patterson Interior Design Expert

Caroline is a young, New York-based interior designer and home decor writer, obsessed with textiles and designer furniture. Backed with rigorous training from a prestigious design school, as well as a profound understanding of material quality and fabric care, she offers spot-on advice on how to furnish your place with reliable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing pieces.

6 Recommendations and 111 Ideas

Updated 01/06/2022

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Teasley 30'' Wide Faux Leather Manual Standard Recliner

Faux Leather Small Modern Recliner

AllModern

What we like: Feels like real leather

What we don’t like: Hinge isn’t very strong

Not so good for: Long lounging sessions

Perfect for: Adding mid-century modern flair

Available in caramel, black, midnight blue, or white, this recliner has a clean and classic aesthetic. The solid wood frame is a chestnut brown color, as are the legs. The brown color floods the chair with warmth, best accentuated by the caramel upholstery option.

Upholstered in PU leather gel, it has a plush but not too plush seat and a slim back for a streamlined silhouette. The leather gel will give the impression and soft-touch feel of top grain leather without the maintenance or price.

$630 ~~$1110~~

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Aresha 26.25'' Wide Manual Standard Recliner

Textured Modern Small Recliner

Ebern Designs

What we like: Elegant nailhead trim

What we don’t like: Comfort isn’t top priority

Not so good for: Sinking back into

Perfect for: A refined modern living room

You can choose from five colors with this recliner – teal, light blush, light blue, light gray, and beige. The 100% polyester fabric features a subtle textured look that prevents the solid color hue from looking dull. Another charming feature is the nailhead trim, which adds a small touch of tradition.

The frame is made of solid and manufactured wood alongside metal. The recliner style is manual, with a push-back motion that will let you get comfortable in no time. There are two positions, as well as a position lock to prevent motion when you’re settled.

$289.99 ~~$323.99~~

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Ruthie 27.25'' Wide Manual Club Recliner

Tufted Contemporary Recliner

Red Barrel Studio®

What we like: Button tufting won’t dig into back

What we don’t like: Doesn’t recline as far

Not so good for: If you want cushioned arms and back

Perfect for: A clean-lined contemporary living room

With over ten colors to choose from, ranging from dark espresso to green, this recliner is all about clean lines. The frame is made from solid and manufactured wood, whereas the legs are crafted from birch legs in a tapered structure.

The button-tufted backrest creates a chic and sophisticated look. The waffle stitch technique used doesn’t sacrifice comfort, either. Its understated look is ideal for minimalist and clean-lined homes.

$229.99 ~~$269.99~~

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Takarra 26.5'' Wide Manual Club Recliner

Floral Small Modern Recliner Chair

Red Barrel Studio®

What we like: Chintzy floral pattern

What we don’t like: Hard arms

Not so good for: Ultra-modern décor schemes

Perfect for: An English living space

Featuring a smooth pushback reclining mechanism, this modern recliner chair is full of elegance. It has a cream base and is accented with brown, teal, and green swirls as well as floral motifs. The legs are a deep brown color and are made of wood. The frame is constructed from solid and manufactured wood.

Extra details such as a wingback design and recessed arms turn this chair from a simple recliner into a stylish accent piece. Its English-style design would look stunning paired with a fringed rug and a cream toss pillow to tie the look together.

$249.99 ~~$369.99~~

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Unruh 31'' Wide Genuine Leather Manual Glider Standard Recliner

Simple Small Modern Leather Recliner

Red Barrel Studio®

What we like: Genuine leather all the way through

What we don’t like: Black base looks a little clunky

Not so good for: If you want a classic recliner

Perfect for: A nursery

Upholstered in genuine leather, this recliner additionally has glider motion. Designed to move back and forth in a soothing motion, it’s a great pick for modern nurseries. As it is scratch, stain, mildew, and tear-resistant, it will last even as your child grows up. It is water-resistant, too.

Although expensive due to the genuine leather, the plush back and cushion of this recliner will feel like sinking into heaven. The headrest is fully padded, too.

$729.99 ~~$1107~~

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Classic Modern Swivel Recliner

What we like: Versatile design

What we don’t like: Fabric is a little scratchy

Not so good for: If you like noiseless recliners

Perfect for: A bedroom

There are four options to pick from with this swivel recliner – canvas, white, light gray, and dark gray. Clean-lined and crisp to look at and feel, it will never go out of style. The frame has a solid black finish and a weight capacity of 300lbs.

As for upkeep, this chair can be cleaned with a damp cloth and water so as not to damage the smooth upholstery. Moreover, the high back will offer head and neck support even if you’re on the taller side.

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Small Modern Recliners

Buying Guide

Recliners are comfortable, but they can take up a lot of space in your floor plan. This is where small, modern recliners can shine. Because they frequently require less wall clearance to work properly and because many of them are built more narrowly than the standard recliner, they are a good choice for small apartments or small houses. Even though they are small, for many people this does not constitute a sacrifice of comfort – something they deliver very well. The exception might be for unusually big or tall people who truly do require a larger chair. A good measure of this is to keep an eye on weight allowances when purchasing your chair.

What different designs of small modern recliners are there?

Zero Clearance Recliners

Zero clearance recliners can be placed against a wall, without requiring a space between the back of the chair and the wall to be able to recline. The reason for this is that the seat platform moves forward as the chair reclines. It will need forward clearance, that that is less likely to be a problem than a chair that must always have space behind it. In most cases, these chairs look very much like a standard recliner. They come in all sorts of upholstery types and patterns, so you should have no problem finding one that has a color, fabric or pattern that you like.

Ergonomic Recliner with Separate Foot Stool

Not all recliners have an attached footrest. For example, the Manjana small, leather recliner has a separate footrest. But instead of being the standard flat-topped ottoman, its food stool is gently sloped to allow the lower leg and foot to rest on it naturally. The soft leather surface and the cold-pressed cushions are designed to give maximum comfort.

Massage Recliner with Heater

You can increase your enjoyment and comfort with a recliner that has its own internal heater and vibrating massage. After a hard day’s work, there is nothing like lying back and letting your chair gently massage and melt away the tensions and sore muscles that often go with working. Sometimes, it isn’t even physical work that makes it hard to relax at the end of the day. You can treat yourself to some comfort in the form of a comfortable chair. You could even add an audiobook so that you can close your eyes and take your mind off the day’s hardships.

Rocking Recliner

No one deserves a little rest more than a new parent. A rocking recliner can give you the support and stability you need to help you cradle your little one in your arms for those 2 am feedings, and the rocking chair can help you get your baby back off to sleep. If the two of you happen to fall asleep, then the gentle support of a good armchair and maybe a pillow or two can help keep you comfortable.

Small modern recliners can help you relax without having to give up floor space to the mechanism that allows the chair to recline.