Recliners and Motion Furniture More Popular Than Ever

by: Michael O'Brien

No longer just your father’s easy chair, sales of recliner chairs have been growing steadily over the past decade. After falling out of favor during the 1990’s, recliner sales have been boosted by a combination of style, quality and technology. The most important factor driving the surge in recliner and motion furniture sales is the demand by consumers for bigger, better recliners.

Since the days when the recliner market was dominated by brand names such as Lane, Barcalounger and LayZBoy, recliners have long been associated with classic styling and quality. In fact words Barcalounger and LayZBoy have become part of our national lexicon as generic, almost ubiquitous substitutes for the common recliner. Today the market for recliners and motion furniture has been expanding in ways few people anticipated fifteen or twenty years ago.

In 2005, recliner sales in the U.S. top $3.5 billion and roughly 6 million American households made recliner purchases. In an interesting geographic twist, recliners were most popular in the South and the Midwest. Demographically, women made their purchase decisions with an emphasis on style over price. Fabrics such as velvets and vinyl have been replaced by chenille and new micro-fabric. Conversely, men placed a greater emphasis on price over style and leather is still a favorite among males. Gender aside, consumers have placed a greater value on quality.

The Baby Boom Generation was the first age group to grow up with television. Unlike radio, television is a visual medium. From the simple black and white sets of the 1950’s to today’s high definition home theaters, our television viewing habits have changed dramatically over the years. Subsequent generations have fully embraced the technological advancements made in home entertainment industry.

Movies and video games have been fully integrated with a high tech audio experience making the average American living room an entertainment center. The result has been a completely new market for recliners and motion furniture which enhance the home entertainment experience. So much has changed in recliner technology that the recliner chair has, in some cases, become integrated into the visual and audio experience of the home theater.

Shake Rattle, Roll and Recline

Modern ergonomic designs can be found in many quality recliners and when combined with improved materials, the results can be a more comfortable recliner.

The video game has transformed the American living room with an impact topped only by the invention of the television. Game controllers shake and rattle in response to the action of the screen, adding a touch of realism to the gaming experience. Now, thanks to consumer demand, the recliner chair has been integrated into video game technology. Recliner companies have sprung up that cater almost exclusively to this new technology. With full body massage and sophisticated remote controls, these recliners are a must for the serious gamer.

Perhaps its Baby Boomers wanting more in the way of creature comforts, but sales of massage recliners have grown. Improved over early massage recliner designs that merely shook the chair, modern massage recliners feature heat and massage that the user can access through remote control. Massage recliners can help take the edge off of a hard day. For those folks who do not mind spending a little on their massage recliner, some models evens feature a reversible ottoman that wrap around the lower legs, massaging the calves. The ottoman can be reversed, providing a traditional flat surface.

About the Author

Michael O'Brien is Staff Writer for HeavyDutyRecliners.com