How to Match Recliner Sofas with Your Living Room Interior

Recliner sofas have a reputation for being the odd one out in a living room, all bulk and big footrests. They don't have to be. Match the size to the space you've got, pick a colour that gets along with your floor and walls, and keep the stuff around it fairly simple. That's really it. The rest is detail.

Recliner Sofas and the Space Around Them

Measure twice. Then measure again with the footrest out, because that's the number that matters. A sofa that fits nicely upright can end up an inch from your coffee table once it's reclined, and you'll notice it every single evening.

Got a big room, or one with an awkward corner? A corner recliner might sort it out. Interior Envy sells the Blossom Italian Leather Power Recliner Corner Sofa, the kind of piece that can anchor a larger room. In a smaller space, the Hamilton Fabric Recliner Sofa & Armchair Collection comes as a sofa and armchair together, so you're not hunting for a chair that goes with it.

Colour, Leather or Fabric

Stand in the room and look around properly. What colour are the walls? Is the floor wood, carpet or tile? What's the rug doing? Whatever you buy has to live with all of that, and with the wood tone of any tables and shelves too.

Leather feels more traditional, and the Harry Italian Leather Recliner Sofa Collection sits in that camp. Fabric is more forgiving if the room feels a bit flat and could use some texture. If you're fussy about colour, the Grayson Leather Recliner Collection comes in a choice of colours, with power or manual recline.

When in doubt, go neutral. Neutral recliner sofas are easy to live with, and you can bring in colour through cushions or a throw. Power or manual is mostly about how you like to use it, and both are available.

Everything Else in the Room

Keep a side table within reach. That's the one thing we can say is non-negotiable. After that, footstools, ottomans, mirrors and wall art are all in the same range, and they can tie the room together.

Don't overdo it, though. A recliner is already a big thing to look at, and too many extras around it make the whole room feel full.

If you can, sit in one before you buy. Photos won't tell you how the back feels or whether you like the angle when it's fully reclined.

Conclusion

Good recliner sofas fit the room even when they're fully reclined, agree with the colours around them and aren't crowded out by extras. Measure first, choose the finish next, and leave the small bits until last.

Want to try one in person? Interior Envy is at St Mary's Retail Park, Fornham St, Suffolk Ln, Sheffield S2 4AL. Call 0114 349 7213 or visit www.interiorenvy.co.uk .