Kick Your Feet Up With These Relaxing Reclining Sectionals

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

Reclining sectionals can be bulkier pieces to have in your home, but when it comes to comfort, few other furniture matches them. They are an investment in relaxation and mimic the comfort of you laying down on your bed to watch a movie. “These are the ultimate [pieces] in lounging,” says Heather Goerzen, director of content & design at Havenly. “It allows you not just to sprawl out on the sofa, but to truly kick back, kick your feet up, and find the most comfortable position.”

Additionally, depending on which couch designs you buy, oftentimes more than one seat reclines back, which is nice for those with big families or host a lot of guests. A reclining sectional was all interior designer Betsy Helmuth wanted when she was creating her family room. The founder of Modern Interior Design by Uploft was frustrated by couch setups that required everyone to put their feet up on one central ottoman. “Everybody wants to put their feet up,” Helmuth of says. “In the sectionals that are L-shaped or the sectionals that have the chaise at the end, only certain people sitting there get to put their feet up. Then, if you do an ottoman or upholstered center table, it's not going to hold drinks.”

And while you may picture reclining sectionals as somewhat unsightly and old, rest assured that the designs today are more modern and stylish than ever. With the help of Goerzen and Helmuth, we rounded up the best ones to shop right now. “You just don't have to sacrifice style for comfort,” Goerzen says. “It's not your mother's or father's reclining sectional anymore. There are plenty on the market that speak to a fresher, more contemporary silhouette.”

Ready to see all the different styles? Read on to hear from the experts which sectionals they love and shop the ones that speak to your heart and decor aesthetic.

White Faux Leather Power Reclining Sectional

Who says leather has to look retro? The contemporary silhouette of this faux leather sectional has a recliner so smooth, it changes the definition of the sectional. "The white leather is very comfortable and I love all the recliners," wrote one five-star reviewer. "The extra little features are also very nice with the charging station and the ability to plug in your phone as well to charge. Extremely happy with this and it looks amazing in my living room."

Harmony Modular Motion Reclining 3-Piece Chaise Sectional

Goerzen loves the Harmony sofa from West Elm because of the reclining feature. The midcentury modern design and tailored lines make it feel sleek and cool. "It's clean, it's contemporary, it feels very versatile for a number of [home] styles," Goerzen says. "It just looks really cozy."

Leisure Power Recliner 4-Piece Sectional Sofa

The trendy bouclé fabric of this reclining sectional makes it a great modern pick, Goerzen says. "I know bouclé is really hot at the moment, but I still think that those are timeless and always have a place," she adds. "I think it's an interesting way to take a more traditional functional moment like a sectional and give it that elevated twist."

Ultra Lounge Square Arm Upholstered Reclining Sofa

Available in dozens of fabric and color combinations from performance tweed to rustic chenille, this sectional is highly customizable. "It's more of a square block aesthetic, but the head cushions kind of wrap back," Goerzen says. "There's something about this that just feels really plush."

Aneeta Lay Flat Reclining Sofa

For a sturdy sectional that maximizes reclining power, look no further than this neutral piece from Wayfair. "This couch is just what I wanted," wrote one reviewer. "The fabric is heavy upholstery but looks soft and I love the weave. Looks like linen. The under carriage is all metal and very sturdy."

Enzo Leather Reclining Sofa

This well-structured leather sectional is a great pick for smaller spaces, and the contract-grade, top-grain leather is built to last. "[This brand has] a surprising breadth in recliners for more of that midcentury modern aesthetic," Goerzen says.

Frankie Reclining Sectional

The adjustable headrest in this traditional sectional emphasizes comfort even on the pieces that don't recline, maintaining functionality for everyone who snuggles up on the couch.

Tambo 2-Piece Manual Reclining Sectional

It's hard to find budget-friendly reclining sectionals, so the value on this pick is not to be missed. It maintains a modular look with extra-deep plush seats and center console storage for the perfect movie night couch.

Coconut 3-Seat Sectional

The slimmer lines in this tufted sectional give it a sleek and sophisticated silhouette. Layered cushions and smooth arms create an inviting lounging experience. "We love our recliner!" wrote one reviewer. "It’s so soft and comfy. It’s big enough for two to lounge on. We needed a chair that could be close [to] the wall, and this recliner allows that and still fully reclines! The remote control makes reclining so easy that even my three year old knows how to use it."

Cameron Square Arm Upholstered Power Reclining Sectional

Goerzen typically recommends Pottery Barn recliners to clients who are looking for a more classic piece of furniture. "They skew a little more towards traditional, so if somebody is really wanting a roll arm or something to that effect, Pottery Barn is where I steer them."

Everitt Chenille 3-pc. Power Sectional

The soft Chenille fabric of this sectional is a great choice for those looking to get luxury lounging at outlet prices. There's even hidden storage and USB charging. "I am thrilled with this couch!" wrote one reviewer. "It is just the size we needed (which was difficult to find). The color is fresh and it is very comfortable!"

Elliott Upholstered Reclining Sectional

For a nostalgic '90s aesthetic in your family room, this chocolate brown recliner is perfect. It's available as a manual or power recliner for extra convenience. "We love this," wrote a Wayfair reviewer. "It was a gamble to order this online without sitting on it first. It is exactly what we were looking for, for the space we put it."

What to Know Before Buying Reclining Sectionals

Though we were happy to scour the Internet for the best reclining sectionals out there, whenever possible, Helmuth highly recommends trying them out in person. “Even if you can return it, it's bulky and super cumbersome to do so,” Helmuth says, alluding to those who just purchase the couch online without ever testing it.

It’s even better if you can have multiple family members test the sectional out, because people need different kinds of support. Whoever will be sitting on the sectional should get a say in the final purchase. Helmuth shares that when she was shopping for her sectional, she and her husband had different sentiments about the designs they tried. "All the decision makers whose comfort you deeply care about should be sitting on these things and weighing in [with their opinions]," she advises.

Colors and Styling: Like any sectional sofa you’d purchase for your home, styling it is a crucial part of having it blend well with your space. Goerzen recommends layering with pillows in the corners or adding a decorative throw blanket. You can even experiment with the color of the sectional itself, from a rust orange tone to an olive green, or even some trendy neutrals. “I would choose a colorway that's reflective of your style palette with the rest of your home,” Goerzen says. “There are a lot of great options, from bolder [hues like dark green and navy] to more neutral [shades] to on-trend weaves."

Design and Fabric: When it comes to the fabric of the sectional itself, look for sleek and tailored cushioning to minimize that bulky silhouette. “I typically advise folks to go for a softer fabric like chenille, maybe even something with a texture, over a leather,” Goerzen says. “I think the leather can run that more dated aesthetic.” It’s still possible to have a sophisticated leather sectional in your home, however. Focus on the silhouette to keep the elegance. Don’t neglect how the arms of the sectional look, either: slimmer ones are your friend. “Something about the roll arm combined with the reclining sectional feels heavier, kind of blockier at home, [whereas] the clean lines, I think, are what really elevate the look and feel [of a sectional],” Goerzen says.

How Do You Measure for a Reclining Sectional?

As reclining sectionals tend to be a very large piece of furniture, it’s important to think about how it fits into your floor plan before you purchase one. Goerzen says a great starting point is to physically tape off the dimensions of the sectional to see how much space it’ll take up in your home.

“As you're taping it off, I would consider what size coffee table you have,” Goerzen says. “Where is the reclining portion relative to your coffee table, or anything else in front of it? [You’re] just making sure that you're not having something that's really finicky every time you look to recline.” If you have to reorganize your living room every time you want to lounge, this defeats the purpose of relaxing.

As a rule of thumb, Goerzen says you’ll want to have at least three feet of space in the walkways sections around your reclining sectional for optimal traffic flow. Between the reclining sectional and the coffee table, there should be about 18 inches of space.

Make sure to measure the space behind your sectional, too.“A lot of people don't allot for space behind the sectional for the piece to actually recline,” Helmuth adds. “They tend to be deeper than normal sofas, so you have to have the space to accommodate.”

How Do You Clean a Reclining Sectional?

“This is going to be a family space,” Helmuth says. “I know there's going to be spills. Everybody's going to be watching their movies. Oftentimes these [couches] have drink holders inside them, which is a recipe for disaster.”

Keeping a reclining sectional clean can be as simple as using a lint roller to collect blanket and clothing fibers. For more messes that build up over time, though, Goerzen recommends using a Dyson vacuum with a detachable arm and a pill remover once a month. “They are truly the best thing to keep the sofa looking like it's brand new again,” Goerzen says. “I probably use mine once a month just to quickly go over the pills and remove those. It never damages the sofa.”

Where Should You Put a Reclining Sectional?

Reclining sectionals can make for an extra cozy family movie night, so it makes sense that Goerzen typically weaves them into family rooms or basements while designing. Helmuth says to be extra thoughtful when purchasing a power recliner, however. They typically require electricity, so a cord will need to be plugged in, which can make things tricky if you want your sectional in the middle of the room.

“If you have a really large basement or a really large family room or TV room, and you don't have center outlets in the floor or if you don't have in-floor outlets, there’s going to be wires that you're going to have to walk over,” Helmuth cautions.

Why Trust Us?

House Beautiful is dedicated to finding the best pieces for your home, no matter your budget or design preference. We love to combine our own expertise with thorough research and consultation with the design experts we trust. House Beautiful Associate Shopping Editor Janae McKenzie has years of experience scouring the market and finding the best products for home, beauty, and wellness. For this story on reclining sectionals, she spent hours researching the best ones on the market, including parsing through customer reviews.

She also consulted New York-based interior designer Betsy Helmuth and Heather Goerzen, director of content & design at Havenly, for expert insight into what makes for a great reclining sectional and how you can best use it in your home. Helmuth is the owner of Uploft Interior Design, where she focuses on affordable interior design and runs an academy to teach aspiring interior designers. Goerzen specializes in traditional, contemporary and eclectic interior design, and applies this to her work directing design at Havenly.

You Might Also Like

• 15 Home Bar Gifts Every Cocktail Enthusiast Will Appreciate

• 32 Low Light Indoor Plants That Can Survive in the Darkest Corners of Your Home

• These Are the 50 Best Paint Colors for Your Living Room