Let me start by saying that this is an example of what I would want my seating to look like in a luxury plane or ever better.. a movie theatre. There is nothing appealing to the eye and if you haven't gathered already, this is a pretty biased post about furniture (possibly sexist).
But all bias aside, it's common for male/female couples to come to see me to furnish their first home and the male b-lines it to the power reclining furniture while the female is rolling her eyes like "not happening". What is that?! I can't tell you the science behind it but it seems one is always more concerned with the esthetics while the other is focused on comfort.
I have to agree that most average motion furniture tends to be large scale, and no furniture in your main living space should have cup holders but compromise doesn't have to be tragic ;).
So to expand on that statement here are some things to think about when buying motion furniture and making existing motion furniture work with your space without it overpowering the room. All the examples I'm using are Ashley product because I'm most familiar with their manufacturing.
When purchasing new, first and foremost - Think material. How is it being used? How often? Are the pets welcome on the furniture? You can't go wrong with top grain leather because it gets softer with time and the maitence is unbeatable. Never skimp for PVC or bonded leather when it comes to recliners because the constant motion will cause it to crack or peel faster than usual.
The Banetonville is a beautiful top grain leather option. The color is called metal so it has tones of grey and copper. Most importantly it's stiched with nice clean horizontal lines and the arms aren't "over stuffed". Think clean lines [and less of them] - very important with ensuring it doesn't cause too much visual clutter that distracts from other things in the room. Making this a two seat instead of three didn't take away from the seating space but esthetically looks 100% better. Notice the difference between this option and the first.
In the Ashley Furniture world the matching Loveseat for motion furniture will almost always have a console. If it's going in your living space - say no to consoles! My solution for this is usually to do two sofas instead, or a "chair and a half" and an accent chair. Don't be shy with an accent chair, it should be big enough to balance out the sofa and something unique to distract. I picked the Berwyn chair here because the nail head trim compliments the "metal" color of the sofa and the side table brings some character.
Also, Think clearance. No, not the section at the back of the furniture store with used and damaged product.. clearance as in the space you have to use in your living room. Regardless if the piece fits as it is - motion furniture requires being at least a foot away from the wall.. usually. Look for recliners that are "Zero Clearance". This means it is designed to still recline even when tight to the wall, also the lever to recline will been in between the seat cushion and the arm to maximize space for a coffee table.
The Overly is very similar to the Banetonville in structure but it's 100% polyester. Think Color - I always claim this "smoke" as the magic color because it has undertones of grey and brown so it will compliment almost any other furniture in the space. If light colored fabrics scare you - buy yourself a green machine so you can live guilt free.
Rachel from Beautiful Treasures Blog owns the Overly sofa and dodged the bulky loveseat/console by pairing it with a stationary sofa instead. Seating doesn't all have to match! Her pillows compliment other things in the room and the Overly just acts as a canvas, love this living room! I can only imagine how cozy it is in action.
This is a great solution for anybody that currently has a reclining sofa set that they're itching to update. Consider putting the loveseat in the basement or spare room and updating one piece of seating in the room instead of both!
Supply and demand must be catching on because recliners are getting "prettier". The Austere is new to Ashley furniture and has a rolled arm with nail head trim. Although this material is fabric it has polyurethane built in so it can be easily cleaned and looks similar to suede or aged leather. If you read my last post about my best sellers for 2015 - you've heard me rave about this stuff!
Think manual or power - Most motion furniture is available in power, which everyone prefers! Manual recliners usually click in place to 3 positions, where as power can be positioned how ever you want. Not to mention vivid memories of getting stuck in recliners when I was pregnant because I didn't have the leg power to get out. Ha ha very funny! But realistically recliners accommodate to lots of needs for people who suffer injuries or pain and not having it in power defeats every purpose.
Hopefully this is beneficial to anybody trying to incorporate motion furniture into their home. With everything there is to see, it helps to have some help when you invest in furnishing your home. E-mail me to book a consultation!
The Atrium,
Dartmouth, N.S.
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