Small Modern Recliners
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.
Upholstered Pushback Recliner Chair
$232
Upholstered Pushback Recliner Chair
Novogratz
$232
Perfect For: Relaxing and channel surfing in style
What We Like: Ease of transitioning between positions
The upholstered pushback recliner chair provides a comfortable and stylish spot for lounging in your living room. Crafted with sturdy wood and durable faux-camel upholstery, the chair features strong black finished wood legs to ensure long-term support. Easily transition between three reclining positions - seated, mid-recline, and full recline - using the built-in leg rest and smooth pushback mechanism, without any fussy levers or buttons. The foam-filled cushioning offers cozy seating for all your binge-watching needs.
Designer Advice:
Place the recliner chair in a well-lit corner of your living room, paired with a soft throw blanket and a floor lamp to create a cozy reading nook or an ideal TV-watching spot.
Plush Leather Reclining Living Room Chair
$719.99
Plush Leather Reclining Living Room Chair
Latitude Run®
$719.99
Perfect For: Adding luxury and comfort to family living spaces
What We Like: Top grain leather match and understated stitching accents
Sink into the ultimate seating experience with this plush leather reclining living room chair from the Ashden collection. The extra-plush cushions are upholstered in top grain leather match, available in multiple colors, offering both luxury and style for your home. With understated stitching accents and simple tufting on the back cushions, the chair adds a dynamic sense of depth that perfectly complements its modern appeal.
Designer Advice:
To create a cohesive and indulgent living space, pair this reclining chair with a matching leather sofa and a soft, textured throw blanket for added warmth and comfort.
Minimalist Faux Leather Recliner Chair with Footrest
$929.99
Minimalist Faux Leather Recliner Chair with Footrest
Orren Ellis
$929.99
Perfect For: Contemporary home or office relaxation zones
What We Like: Sleek green color and smooth swiveling action
Introducing a minimalist faux leather recliner chair that promises a luxurious lounging experience. The foam-filled seat and backrest provide maximum comfort, perfect for unwinding after a long day. This generously-sized recliner features a sturdy manufactured wood frame and a black metal base to enhance its modern aesthetics. The swiveling functionality and the included footrest add to your comfort, making this recliner an exquisite addition to any living space or office.
Designer Advice:
To complement this sleek recliner chair, pair it with a minimalist side table and a cozy, textured throw blanket to create an inviting relaxation nook in your home or workspace.
Push Back Reclining Massage Chair
$209.99
Push Back Reclining Massage Chair
Latitude Run®
$209.99
Perfect For: Comfort-seeking individuals looking for a versatile seating option
What We Like: 90° to 160° reclining mechanism
Discover unparalleled comfort with this push back reclining massage chair. Its high-resilience, skin-friendly fabric and ergonomic arm height provide a cozy sitting experience, while the 90° to 160° reclining capability takes relaxation to new heights, whether you're watching TV, reading, or napping. Designed with durability in mind, this recliner can bear up to 330lbs and is a perfect addition to any living room, office, bedroom, or guest room.
Designer Advice:
Accentuate the chair with a soft throw blanket and a lumbar pillow, enhancing its coziness while complementing the room's color palette.
Power Lift Recliner Chair
$809.99
Power Lift Recliner Chair
Latitude Run®
$809.99
Perfect For: Individuals with mobility issues or chronic back pain
What We Like: Smooth transitions between reclined and upright positions
This power lift recliner chair brings comfort to those with mobility challenges or chronic back pain, with its ability to transition smoothly between upright and reclined positions at the touch of a button. Its discreet and stylish appearance blends seamlessly into any room, making it an attractive and functional alternative to traditional recliners. Ideal for individuals recovering from surgery or dealing with mobility issues, it offers ultimate support and relaxation with minimal effort.
Designer Advice:
Set up a cozy reading nook or TV spot with the power lift recliner chair, add a soft throw blanket for extra warmth, and consider a dedicated side table to hold essential belongings within easy reach.
Faux Leather Small Modern Recliner
$470 $1110
Faux Leather Small Modern Recliner
AllModern
$470 $1110
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.
Simple Small Modern Leather Recliner
$719.99 $1107
Simple Small Modern Leather Recliner
Red Barrel Studio®
$719.99 $1107
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.
Tufted Contemporary Recliner
$209.99 $269.99
Tufted Contemporary Recliner
Red Barrel Studio®
$209.99 $269.99
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.
Modern Power Reclining Chair with USB Port
$759.99
Modern Power Reclining Chair with USB Port
Latitude Run®
$759.99
Perfect For: Relaxing in style and comfort while staying connected
What We Like: The inside arm control panel and integrated USB port
This modern power reclining chair offers the ultimate combination of clean lines and extreme comfort. It boasts an inside arm control panel that operates the power reclining back, footrest, and articulating headrest for maximum relaxation customization. The chair also includes a built-in USB port, ensuring your electronic devices stay charged and within reach while you unwind. This luxurious and functional design makes it an exceptional addition to any living room, den, or entertainment space.
Designer Advice:
Pair this reclining chair with a sleek, contemporary side table and a cozy throw blanket to create a stylish, inviting spot for relaxation and tech-friendly lounging.
Textured Modern Small Recliner
$304.99 $309.99
Textured Modern Small Recliner
Ebern Designs
$304.99 $309.99
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.
Mid-Century Modern Recliner Chair
$559.99
Mid-Century Modern Recliner Chair
Wade Logan®
$559.99
Perfect For: Creating a comfortable and stylish relaxation spot
What We Like: Flange edge detailing and easy-to-clean faux leather
This mid-century modern recliner chair features a high-performance faux leather upholstery that adds understated elegance to your space. It offers a comfortable pocket coil seat and can recline to any position with a simple push of a button. The flange edge detailing enhances the chair's aesthetic charm, while its cleaning convenience adds to its practicality. All you need to do is plug the recliner into a standard 120V outlet, and it's ready to use.
Designer Advice:
Pair it with a chic side table and an area rug to create the ideal cozy nook for reading, watching TV, or taking a quick power nap.
Floral Small Modern Recliner Chair
$329.99 $289.99
Floral Small Modern Recliner Chair
Red Barrel Studio®
$329.99 $289.99
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.
Minimalist High-End Electric Recliner
Minimalist High-End Electric Recliner
Latitude Run®
Perfect For: Ultimate relaxation in modern living spaces
What We Like: Effortless and adjustable reclining with a slim design
Experience unparalleled comfort with this 31" wide minimalist high-end electric recliner. The adjustable recline angles and generous cushions provide the ultimate relaxation experience, while the slim and stylish design seamlessly complements modern living spaces. Made from high-quality materials and featuring an electric motor for easy reclining, this recliner is the perfect blend of form and function.
Designer Advice:
Pair this electric recliner with a plush area rug and a stylish floor lamp to create a cozy, contemporary reading nook or relaxation corner in your living room.
Mid-Century Modern Recliner Chair
Mid-Century Modern Recliner Chair
Canora Grey
Perfect For: Enhancing relaxation in stylish living rooms
What We Like: Sleek design with incredible comfort
Elevate your relaxation experience with this mid-century modern recliner chair, featuring clean lines and a smooth finish. The lovely tapered legs provide a sturdy structure while the beautiful backrest and smooth upholstery ensure maximum comfort. This recliner makes an outstanding addition to any living room, easily becoming your favorite spot to unwind after a long day.
Designer Advice:
Pair this recliner with a mid-century inspired side table and a cozy throw blanket, and you'll have a stylish, inviting retreat to kick back and relax in.
Leather Pushback Recliner with Captivating Frame
Leather Pushback Recliner with Captivating Frame
George Oliver
Perfect For: Enhancing mid-century modern living spaces
What We Like: Top grain leather upholstery and high-density foam cushioning
Embrace the sophistication of mid-century modern design with this leather pushback recliner. Upholstered in top grain leather and filled with high-density foam, it offers luxurious comfort that's perfect for relaxation. The captivating frame and color accents on the sides add a touch of elegance to any room. This versatile piece is not only ideal for lounging but also serves as a statement piece for your living room or den.
Designer Advice:
Pair it with other mid-century modern furnishings such as a sleek coffee table and bold geometric patterns for a timeless, cohesive look that's both stylish and inviting.
Classic Modern Swivel Recliner
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.
Buying Guide
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.
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.
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.
