Recliner?
 

Most of us don't spend all out time in our sewing chairs. My sofa is no longer comfortable for my lower back - SI joint in particular. As I rarely have company interesting in television watching, I an considering removing the sofa from my family room - I have already given away the love seat to make room for more sewing machines - and replace it with a recliner. Years ago, a chiropractor told me to not sit in my husband's recliner - it wouldn't be good for me, but things have changer. Another option would be to move the TV to the living room with the newish sectional with chaise, but that's not going to happen. I dislike TVs in the living room.
Any thoughts on a reasonably priced recliner for someone 5'5" and 135 pounds? Any experiences? I like the looks of the ones with a separate footstool, but they don't seem to recline as far. I've been reading Amazon reviews, but will go out locally and try out some. That's not easy as I've been in a wheelchair since an accident in late November, so I'd like some idea of what to look for first. Thank you.

I went to the Wayfair website the other day, and they had some awesome prices on the electric recliners that will lift you up to stand vertical, if you need that function. I would try to find the recliner locally and sit in one before you consider ordering one. Several we tried at local furniture stores were as hard as a rock. I would have had to have a pillow to sit on in them, they were that hard. I did not check what the shipping charges would be from Wayfair.

Two years ago, after a DH had a catastrophic hip failure, he spent months in a recliner after surgery. It reclines horizontally to allow for sleeping, and every position in between. It also has lumbar adjustments. He still uses it all the time, and I think it is one of the best investments we made. It was not cheap, $800+, nor is it small. I think the best thing to do it check out various styles. Sounds like you've had a tough go since your accident!

I have always had La-z-boy recliners. They are the best in my opinion. They come in different sizes to accomodate different body types, are well made, and come in all kinds of fabric and leather choices. And the best way to find one that fits your body is to go and sit in them. I currently have two. One is a smallish swivel rocker that reclines and has the foot rest attached. I also have one that does not even look like a recliner at all. Bought it because the fabric was perfect to go with the sofa and love seat I bought at the same time, the recliner part was a bonus.

Go for a test drive on the recliners. It's amazing how different they feel. They almost all have a fatal flaw. They put you to sleep.

I second the La-Z-Boy. Mine is a push back[no side handle]. I've read horror stories about the electric one and the power going out, so make sure it has a back up battery

I'm not generally a recliner kinda gal - but - DH would live in his if he could. I will agree with Murphy224 that La-z Boy is probably the best brand out there. We've had them all over the years. I agree they are also usually more expensive than most others out there but they are very good quality chairs. And, usually, the most comfortable.

And with having cats that like to explore when your not looking, no electric I think is the safest, just imho.

i only have a TV in my bedroom, don't want it anywhere else, so my recliner is there so i can knit or crochet while watching what little TV I watch. You need to go out shopping and try them out. i am not a large person so mine is small and actually nice looking. it does have an electric recline feature which i do like. When i had bronchitis I slept in it. Cover with a quilt and i am good to go.

A couple years ago we bought new furniture for the first time in nearly 30 years. The main concern was the recliners.The love seat has 2 and so does the sofa. I have a very bad back and bad knees. DH is bed bound for the most part so when I am able to get him up and out of bed the recliners make all the difference. It took a lot of looking and months of searching to find what was just right for our needs. Walking is not easy for me and depending on the weather I can walk or need my scooter. It make take more to get me from car to chair to the furniture stores than I like and when I was shopping I had someone with me but I took my time to find just the right pieces. I had to wait almost 2 months to get the sofa as it was back ordered. It was well worth the wait. We are just hopeful it will last for another 30 years like our last pieces did. Please get out there and sit in and try before you buy. You won't regret it in the long run.

Definitely agree you should go to store and try out different chairs. We have 2 La Z Boy chairs, 1 for hubby and 1 for me. Mine is smaller than his and fits my short legs better. We have had other brands but they just didn't last. As to the electric option my neighbor had one that she really liked until the day she was fully reclined when her dog ran behind the chair and knocked the plug out of the wall and she was trapped. Thought she was never going to get out of it, she got rid of it and bought a regular recliner.

I have also had concerns about the electrics ones breaking down, but I also worry that if my husband or I had back pain or other issues that we would have trouble pushing the chair back or forward with our bodies. Is the handle the best, and do the electric ones work manually if needed?

Good questions to ask about the electrics, though I could get out of one if the power was out - at least this year I can. I went to the best furniture store in town - found a small recliner that would work - it is electric, but it's slate blue. My least favorite colors are blue and gray, let alone mixing the two. It's in clearance so the price is good. Do I see a quilted throw in my future? I laughed at my husband's chair with the lift, now I'm looking at one. Too bad I gave his away when he died.

My husband and I bought two Lazy Boy recliners 30 years ago. They are covered in brown leather and have a handle to use to recline. They were expensive and the best investment. I fall asleep in my recliner most nights. Sleep like a baby.

My Husband bought me a goof leather recliner 9 years ago. Guess who almost lives in it. Yes, he spends a lot of time in it.
I mainly sit in the dining room as the chairs are much more comfortable to me.

IF it has a battery backup, electric is the way to go. I've been trapped in mine 3 times now. Highly embarrassing.... but funny afterwards. And then there was the time I tipped it when it was on a platform after I had a knee replacement.... talk about feeling silly….
But I could not have managed a regular recliner while I'd had all the problems with my knee replacements and such...
And you definitely have to try them out. IT takes time and will be awkward but will be well worth it.